Leaving Las Vegas (DVD, 1998, Director's Cut; Contemporary Classics)

By Nick Farina

The greatest thing one can hope for in life is someone who loves them, and accepts them for who they are, whoever they are. This is, as it has come to be known, unconditional love. It’s something which has no founding in reason, and to all but those involved it is utterly stupid. Leaving Las Vegas is founded on the principle of this love.

Ben Sanderson is a drunk. In the opening moments of the film we see him filling a shopping cart with liqour, singing joyously as he does. We realize this is his life: whereas most people drink to forget their lives, Ben drinks as life. This was obviously onset by something traumatic we never see: Ben is no loser. He has a BMW, and a nice place to live. He does have a job, but in the opening scenes he is fired from it, presumably for showing up drunk every day. He also has a wife and child, seen only in old photographs. He decided to use his severance pay to go to Las Vegas, with the intent of drinking himself to death. As he burns work papers in preparation for his trip, he throws in the picture of his family. He looks at it with sad eyes… and he is off.

We are then introduced to Sera, a product of long days and lonely nights. A hooker by profesion, a sort of angel by heart, we first see her performing a lesbian strip show, seeming to enjoy it. Throughout the film, we see clips of her talking to an off screen therapist, and she tells how she enjoys have this sort of dominance over men. This is important to her, since he work is the most demeaning available. In her moments of powerlessness, it is a way to feel empowered.

Sera meets Ben. They form an instant sort of bond, though at first she treats him as an ordinary trick. But he is not interested in her sexual advances. He would rather talk. Of course, this takes her by intense surprise. But as they lay there are exchange casual words, she begins to smile. Genuinely, this time. She puts her head on his chest, and we are given the first glimpses of their relationship…

Figgis was in complete in control of the film, down to composing the film’s soundtrack, and it certainly shows. If ever a film showed a completely unfied vision, it is this one. Unfortunately, at times this vision falters, notably in terms of storytelling. The story itself if extremely powerful: to me nothing is more moving and beautiful than two lost souls extending to each other a healing touch. But the way the film is structured can come into the way of this… Figgis knows how to create moments of gripping power but ultimately they come off as disjointed and never form a cohesive, flowing whole work. While many consider this film a triumph of pure storytelling, I find it has the same wild, almost improvised feel of Figgis’ The Loss of Sexual Innocence. That derails the film’s dramatic tension in places. The worst example I can think of is the final 20 minutes. I would have liked to see more of Cage in the film’s closing scenes.

Another thing bothered me about the film: it was obviously aiming for stark realism, yet featured something far too cinematic. As Cage goes to a pawn shop to pawn his watch, we see a man standing next to him. Later that day, Shue hits on the same man in a bar. This is the stuff of movies, and though it would fit great in a P.T. Anderson film, it is decidedly out of place here.

That is not to say this is not a very strong film in many aspects. Cage and Shue give some of the finest, most nuanced performances I have seen on film. Cage has a way

This review is not a plot summary.
This movie was mentioned in a class I was taking on religion and pop culture as a realistic portrayal of alcoholism in comparison to Arthur, a comedy. When I saw it on the shelf at Blockbuster, I rented it, and decided that I should own it - not because I would watch it repeatedly, but because I knew I would want to lend it to others. This movie has stuck with me like few others can. Having studied the issue of prostitution and being able to spot when it is being portrayed falsely (i.e., Pretty Woman), I am satisfied with how this story gives a snapshot of the life of this woman mixed up with this man.
The story keeps you engaged, and it takes unexpected turns. You will love Elizabeth Shue (Who should have won the Academy Award she was nominated for in this role.). It is a love story about one person's pure and selfless love for another despite unspeakable offenses.
You must be warned: This is a very graphic, gritty portrayal of every vice that comes to mind. Do not watch this movie with your parents or your kids, even if they are grown. Let them watch it by themselves. I was reluctant to watch it with my wife even, but it made a lasting impression on us. You will learn to be sympathetic to people in the kind of situations it portrays and not treat them like everybody else does.

Nicholas Cage won and Acadamy Award for "Leaving Las Vegas". A man on a mission, he goes to Vegas to drink himself to death.

I have watched this movie three times, but this is the first time I have seen the uncut version. This really explaines why he decided to do what he did. I really couldn't figure out the "why" of wanting to kill himself in the regular screen movie.

Although he played the part amazingly well, I found this to be a very sad movie.

I do not recommend it for children as it is very graphic.

Excellent movie. Nicolas Cage is one of the greatest actors in Hollywood and this is his best film! Elisabeth Shue is a smoking hot prostitute in the movie and Cage drinks to no end. He decides to move to Las Vegas after losing everything and decides to hook up with the prostitute and have a relationship with her. Well nothing stops him from drinking but the movie is sad at the end. I bought it because I remember seeing it when it came out and always wanted to have it in my movie collection.

...to remind you of what We were like...what happened...and what We are like now!! It certainly did it for ME! Leaving Las Vegas also made me EXTREMELY GRATEFUL that I..but by the Grace of God...was spared the depths of misery that Ben (Nicolas Cage's character) suffered through, as well as the incomprehensible demoralization that Sera (Elisabeth Shue's Character)had to endure. No wonder it's an Academy Award winner!!...Co-dependence acted out so realistically, it's almost scary!!