Leaving Las Vegas

Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: A nicely crafted movie. Watching Nicolas Cage slowing dying is depressing but it was an interesting movie. Greatly acted and directed.

Rating:
Summary: A powerful drama
Review: An extremely well acted intense drama that leaves a lasting impression . I doubt Nicholas Cage can top this performance .

Rating:
Summary: Agonizing, weighty love story...
Review: This film is modern Shakespeare...a quintessential tragedy. Even though it is painful to watch, and has one of the most unenlightening endings, I am compelled to watch it over, and over again. The characters are so dynamic and engaging. It is best viewed on DVD, not only for visual reasons...the soundtrack is outstanding. Director Figgis deserves deification for this effort. Most people don't realize this is a love story. It's not just some movie about a drunk and a whore. If you're intelligent and like finding meaning instead of having it spoon fed to you, I recommend this film.

Rating:
Summary: Very well done. The best desperation film I've seen.
Review: Elisabeth Shue gives the best performance of her career so far. In fact, she outshined Cage in spite of his credibility as a hopeless drunk. It is through her that the viewer comes to understand and respect the emotional beauty and complexity of human intimacy that exists and is crucial to even the most desperate and depressed of us. I unfortunately know life with a terminal alcoholic too well and was a little afraid to see this film after hearing about the stark realism in it. In fact, I was relieved that physically it was not nearly so grim and gross as the reality. However, emotionally the film is very realistic in portraying alcoholism and the conflicts of anyone who truly loves the alcoholic. I loved that it was unapologetic and unsentimental toward Shue's prostitute character. Compare this to 'Pretty Woman' (a frightening double feature, there!) to realize what a twisted fairy tale joke 'Pretty Woman' actually is. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is because there are a (very) few films that have just blown me away completely and I'll reserve the 5 stars for them. This one is excellent and powerful though.

Rating:
Summary: wrong author
Review: Just want to point out that the book is NOT by Nicholas Cage (Dagh!) but by John O'Brien. If it makes any difference to you... END

Rating:
Summary: Or, is killing myself a way of drinking?
Review: To me, this is one of the best romantic films that you can get your hands on. If you are interested in seeing a pure love, one that is not focused purely on sex, but instead emotional and mental connectiveness, then this is the film for you. While others will argue that this is not the best date film, I would beg to differ. Leaving Las Vegas would be a perfect choice for a first date film over anything that Meg Ryan or the recycle bin of Hollywood has to offer. It is a gripping story of realistic love, and the dramatic consequences of giving your heart to someone. It is about dreams, companionship, and the hurdles of everyday romance. This is a film that proves that the darker underbelly of our society still has a shimmering light of hope and love. Director Mike Figgis has done an outstanding job of giving these two rich characters the right elements to build upon the "classic" love-story moments, while giving it a flavor uniquely his own. Figgis' mixture of gritty Vegas with the beautiful jazz sounds really created the ambiance of love and pushed these two ugly ducklings closer towards their transformation into love. I think that is what really captured me on this film, was that it was similar to the love stories that Hollywood continually releases, except it gave us two tragic characters instead of these bubbly, money isn't everything, characters that seem to be repetitive cogs in the Hollywood machine.

Let me explain this further. When you think of a love story, what are the elements that you consider? You have a guy and a girl (normally), they have this coincidental moment where they find their common bond, they are held back by either an internal or external dilemma, there is a factor of insecurity, and finally the dramatic ending where the two rush together at a predisclosed location (normally an airport). Does that sound familiar in any way? These are all elements that you can find in LLV. I have seen this film at least a dozen times, and for some odd reason it was this viewing that it just seemed to click for me. This is the perfect American love story told with a darker tone. While most will see this as nothing more than the story of a drunk trying to kill himself and a graphic scenes with a prostitute, I saw it as the classic story of love. All the elements are present. Ben and Sera coincidentally meet one night, both seeking companionship and without the pressures of sex, they immediately form this bond that will never be broken. Through Ben's drunkenness, he remembers her and continually wants to see her. They both have internal factors that hold them back, Sera's is prostitution while Ben's is his drinking. Even through there are these factors, they still find themselves together. That feeling of insecurity is even there when Sera arrives home one night to find Ben with someone else. It all seems to fit. Then there is the amazing ending that will either have you in rapture or in awe. These two are in love, and it isn't this bubbly love between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, it is truths of America finding the dream of compassion.

The only unnecessary moments that I felt could have been fine-tuned were those involving Julian Sans. I just couldn't capture his character. I needed a bit more back-story or perhaps more interactions between him and Sera. Something was missing that distracted from the scenes that they shared. Outside of this one element, the rest of the film was purely flawless and even at times carnal. For example, when Sera has the opportunity to be on her own, she chooses to forego her independence and be with Ben. Shue and Figgis both demonstrate that perhaps Sera is not in love with Ben, but instead the concept of a man wanting to be with her because of who she is. It is obvious that Sera seeks companionship, and probably has never had it all her life, when suddenly Ben struts into the picture. This may explain why she continues to work when she doesn't have to. She is used to the job, she thrives for the intensity, and perhaps uses it to fall deeper in love with Ben. Figgis doesn't come out and give you a reason why Sera continues along her path, but instead leaves it up to your imagination and enjoyment. Leaving Las Vegas felt like a combination Breaking the Waves, Love Liza, and All the Real Girls. This is a love story with so many different human elements coming to you at once that the average viewer would probably ignore the signs and see this as a depressing film. While it isn't the lightest film of the ages, it does prove that "Love is a very splendid thing".

I cannot end this review without at least mentioning the amazing acting done by both Nicolas Cage and Elizabeth Shue. The chemistry between them is rare in Hollywood. I felt that these two really made this film and were just not placed in their roles to sell tickets. Cage really felt comfortable and understood his character while Shue fit perfectly with her secrets and heart. It is obvious why Cage won the Oscar for his role in this film, and while I am sure we will never see him take a role like this again (thanks to summer blockbusters), it was good to see him take a role that really redefined the romance genre. The same goes for Shue. While she hasn't really made another film like this one in a very long time (outside of Adventures in Babysitting), it is good to know that she can take on roles like this and have the guts to follow through.

Overall, this was a very powerful and emotional film for me.

Grade: ***** out of *****

Rating:
Summary: The Gloomy Side of Las Vegas
Review: "Leaving Las Vegas", starring Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue, is a great hardcore dram-packed film released in 1995. It received four Oscar nominations, including Best Director (Mike Figgis). This film follows the lives of Ben and Sera. Ben's wife and son left him because of his severe drinking habit. He recently was fired from his job, and now he relocates to Las Vegas to "drink himself to death". Meanwhile, he meets Sera, a prostitute equally emotionally dying. The moment they begin dating, their relationship moves faster than the average couple. Their chemistry and mutual acceptance proves that they are destined for each other.

Its plot contains heavy depth that keeps the emotional stance intact. The unique storyline of two people on the verge of death who fall in love makes this film like no other. This love affair combines passion and darkness that few have made fit together so well. As the characters fall deeper into their suicidal spiral, the drama continually builds leading to a powerful climax. The characters' painful pasts gives the film events a more powerful theme. Such themes offer a more new meaning to Las Vegas.

Nicolas Cage (Ben) and Elisabeth Shue (Sera) are the top performers of this film. Neither actor had performed in a dark-themed film before. However, their chemistry between one another and the film proves great. This would propel their careers to greater levels. Cage, in his Oscar-winning performance, gives new meaning to the term alcoholic. His character's witty, charming, and aggressive personality combine well. His performance proved highly difficult considering Ben was drunk through 99% of the film. Shue's powerful Oscar-nominated performance (which she should have won) is the breakthrough performance of the year and of her career. Sera's emotional stance offers new depth territory to the film. Her deep emotional pain, loneliness, and hardships express themselves in great levels. Shue mastered acting out many difficult issues and events (rape, assault, harassment, endangerment, and more), which makes this much more amazing.

"Leaving Las Vegas" is a great film for any hardcore drama fan. This will surely keep audiences interested for a long time. Those interested in this film must watch it a few times to fully understand the deep crutial details.

Rating:
Summary: A Lump of Gloom
Review: Watching `Leaving Las Vegas' can be an experience that takes a gloomy sadness to the interiors of your existence and keeps you immersed in it. As human beings, we consistently put the highest premium on our being alive. Experiencing the intensity of a despondent Nicolas Cage committed to taking his life by drinking himself to death, can trigger off a question as to what can prepare someone for such an act of self-destruction. Intriguingly enough we get no clear answers though there is a clear hint as to it might have been a profound sense of loss or failure.

Singular focus on the moribund obsessions of Cage would be gross injustice to the incredibly touching love and empathy that he shares with the lead female protagonist - Elisabeth Shue - who plays a hooker's role with levels of dexterity rarely attained. There is a very deep understanding and mutual acceptance between the two lead characters that is in many ways the true highlight of this movie. Interestingly, we see no reasons for this to exist but such is the articulacy of characterization that not even for a second does one find this profound relationship unrealistic.

'Leaving Las Vegas' is an iconoclastic love story whose control over the audience is fascinating. Such is the brilliance of the performances that you feel a lump in your heart by the end of the movie - and this lump transcends into the depths of your being - to stay there and to remind you that unconditional love exists and so does the capability to invite your own death to walk up to you - gradually and consistently. 'Leaving Las Vegas' is a movie that would haunt you for its portrayal of love intertwined with morbid realities of life.



Rating:
Summary: VIVA LAS VEGAS........!
Review: This film is a masterpiece. It defines cinema in every way as being god-like. This is a warm one, a film full of overwhelming admirible quality. It is a drama with the tension of a horror film. It is a comedy with the hilarity of any Police Academy number ever made. It is a weepie with soul but still suitable for men. It is class.
This film stars an actor who within his career was defined to no brainers like Con Air and The Rock but no doubt about it this film is an exception, in this he is excellent as the alcholic Ben Sanderson, who after being fired he decides to go to Viva Las Vegas to drink himself to death - Lovely... This actor is teamed up with Elisabeth Shue who also excels herself, she is the prostitute who decides to find love in the mild-mannered alcholic. She is perfect for the role as Sera, and after mishap after mishap after mishap, even one where she is raped by a gang of 'college jocks' (anal intercourse involved - yep that's how bad this film can be) she still tries to find her man. Yet the ending is sad as the actor dies and it therefore ends, it is quite unpredictable, you'd probably hope for him to go and beat the crap out the rapists. It is original therefore making it even more interesting. Oh.. and if you haven't figured it out by now the actor is Nicholas Cage and he proves in this film that he can act properly, he deserved his best actor oscar I think although he did have competiton from The Usual Suspects so I suppose he was lucky. But even with this competiton it deserves a five star for its superb acting, soundtrack (by sting) and for its simply manificent presence on screen. Hail to Mike Figgis

Rating:
Summary: There's a lot of blood in the ER. You needn't go to know.
Review: I generally steer away from a Disney movie. And Mary Poppins for the Grandkids? I'll leave the room. Lifetime channel where all men are beasts and women are out on the front lines trying to preserve civilization. Keep it. But I also draw the line at 100 million dollar films that want to tell me that life is hard. I have learned this. And I've also learned that alcohol, in some hands, kills. It kills the person who drinks it and it often kills the people around him or her. It is as much a disease as cancer, MS or emphysema. I don't need a brilliant actor to show me what's under the rock. I've seen under the rock. It isn't very pretty. Nor should you.

That Nick Cage wins an oscar and Shue should have, should not be the criteria for this novel turned movie about two weak people who lacked the courage to turn their lives around. That's the movie. Human courage in the face of adversity. Failing. Losing. Not the ultimate giving up. Not the peddling of your flesh and your soul. I missed the gun at the head of Cage or the noose around the neck of Shue, urging them to continue degrading themselves. No. The criteria for this movie should be John O'Brien, the author, who committed suicide before the movie was completed.

Sorry. I don't get it. Struggled with it. I don't know why people would be interested in it. Tell me in 20 years if it's brilliant, or just a lot of Hollywood people jumping on the ooing and aahhing band wagon. People ought to come to their senses. 1 star. Larry Scantlbury