Leaving Las Vegas

Not for kids unless they drink booze. This movie shows the progression of alcoholism. It starts impacting your life and you lose your job. You keep drinking even more now that you don't work. Your hands shake. You get sick when you don't get enough. You plan your day around having enough to drink. And then you decide to drink yourself to death even after a beautiful woman befriends you and cares for you. You fall in love with her but your body loves alcohol more. Guess who wins! 5 stars for being real and maybe a movie that will save a few lives.

I love this movie, plain and simple. If you don't understand alcoholism and self destructive behavior, then you will have some real insight after watching this film. Both actors are truly fantastic in these roles. I can't imagine anyone other actors in this film giving such a believable performance.This was a film that was made for Nicholas Cage, before he started being so weird and over the top. His character is meant to be over the top so he really does it justice.The film is heartbreaking, but authentic. Worth the watch.

Warning: you might find traces of the plot/cast here. If that bothers you, you might want to read this review after you watched or stopped watching the movie.For one, two of the three sentences that have been in just about every movie since 1981, two are recurring here. (1)"Oh, my God!" from people who do not believe in God. (2) "Are you all right?" seems to be a seal of approval for the powers that allow movies to appear through distribution. Strangely, the third sentence, (3) "Everything's gonna be all right" is missing. But what the heck.The protagonist, the actor who has owned six islands near New Zealand well before the hype among the uber-rich, is supposed to represent an "alcoholic" (well, there is no stable definition for that), who wants to drink himself to death in four weeks. I am from a place where LOTS of people drank themselves to death, but it took them at least 10 years and, most of the time, 20.So, you are supposed to feel sorry for the drunk, who is probably too sorry for himself to remember the reason why he is drinking, and a streetwalker who, as opposed to the real world where more than half of them are bought/traded/forced, could have walked out of her lifestyle.If your life is already in ruins and are feeling sorry for yourself, this might work as a tearjerker, although it does not offer you a way out or any form of consolation.Well, good luck to enjoying this sorry piece of goodness-knows-what.The sad thing is that this was a critically highly-acclaimed piece at the time and, it looks like, it still is.

I saw a video yesterday regarding the acting style of Nicholas Cage, and this was one of the titles which they mentioned and said was particularly worth watching. I have, until now, only really seen his newer stuff where, while he may be a high-energy, intense character, it is not at the hilarious levels of campy character which he plays in this film. Be warned, it does deal with alcoholism and prostitution, so it would not be appropriate for certain people. I am amazed by Nick Cage's performance in this because he really does capture the words, actions, behaviors, and very essence of that of an alcoholic. He also had a guy who was an alcoholic live with him for awhile so he could study him and craft his character around his example. It certainly shows. As someone who has dealt with alcoholism of loved ones, while there are still parts that are difficult to watch. However, the fact that Nick Cage takes the basic character of a joe schmoe alcoholic, then adds all of the Nicholas-Cage-style eccentricity to create his character, Ben, is amazing to see. I highly recommend this film. It is one of those that you have to watch at least once, although I could see myself coming back to it later and rewatching it.

It's one of those movies that's come to mind repeatedly in my life since I saw it. It's sad and I'm sensitive. I also feel like it was daring about some basic boring things that people didn't want to dramatize. Having Las Vegas in the title might make you think that it is a non-stop party. But it's very different. And I respect that there are a lot of Las Vegans who aren't vegan but I digress... a lot of Las Vegans who are not part of the addiction scene at all, and those who have gotten through it or work with those going through it (relapse/recovery cycle). This movie also says a lot about friendship, in that who's-still-with-you-when-you're-at-your-worst kind of way... Might bring everyone down but the sentiment of that kind of love, attachment and affection (so questionably real because of the alcohol abuse etc) for another person is so profoundly displayed in this film, hidden inside so many mundane moments that it catches you well off-guard. I can't believe it's been so long since this movie came out & I still think about it several times a year. Thank you for making it available.

I didn't see this film for at least 10 years until after it came out, and even then it was because I had traveled to Las Vegas for the first time. It was a strangely fascinating town, much the same in 2005 as it was depicted in the film. Everything is bright and splashy, yet surrounded by the low and desperate. In many ways, that dichotomy explains the relationship of these two characters, Ben and Sera. Neither is complete without the other, and both are so hopelessly lost in the extremes of their own words, that the only light they can see out is with each other's smile. This movie is far from perfect, but it doesn't much matter. Sometimes cinema need only concern itself with genuine human frailty, rather than some kind of pompous attempt to present reality. Despite the efforts of the writers, director, and even the stars to create something more than what it is on occasion, they can't put the cork back in the genie bottle. This movie is like a excellent rendition of an old song that speaks some of the truest possible words about the human condition.

This film is one that I am really fond of. Leaving Las Vegas has many warnings of how alcohol candominate a life. Can make someone self destruct and fall fromgrace. Nicolas Cage gives a fine performance as the man who goes tothe bright and dazzling arena of Las Vegas to drink himself intothe grave. The situations the character finds himself in are all trademark,alcoholic experiences. Becoming lost and embarrising to in public bars. Tobeing washed up and alone in a swanky hotel. The fact that the character Cage plays so well meets and becomes emotionallyinvolved with a lady who is all part of the Las Vegas scene at first seems a positivemove. But the drink does not leave any good future tidings for Mr Cage's character,and any relationship which develops soon hits the rocks. A Fine Film and some excellent acting.ThanksCraig : >

yes a good film. very sad about a young man who is a alcoholic due to his wife and kid leaving him. decides to go to las vegas to drink himself to death. then he meets a prostitute falls in love but decides to keep drinking shes ok with that. would recommend .

Despite this film being made in 1995 the storyline will live forever. Our human frailties.Ben, starring the brilliant Nicolas Cage, is an alcoholic who loses his family and job. And so Ben runs off to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he later befriends a beautiful prostitute called Sera, played by Elisabeth Shue. Both are trapped in a world which controls them and there appears no way out except through the deluded snatched happiness of their intimate and needy relationship.Most of the scenes are set in Las Vegas adding an almost glamorous respectability to Ben and Sera's relationship. Yet these are good people for whom the role of life's dice is slowly bringing them to the brink of destruction.The string of emotions governing this film will have you laughing one minute and biting your lip the next. Director Mike Figgis portrays a no holds barred insight into the sometimes brutal world of prostitution and the self deluded state of alcoholism. Yet there are many moments of extreme tenderness that endears you to these two characters simply for who they are, what they have become. And the need they have for each other.Accompanying this film are some great musical tracks sung by the very talented Sting. For me it is this very music which inspires the emotional content so important to the journey of Ben and Sera.This is a DVD for both the sexes. And you will love it.

Harrowing stuff. Nicholas Cage plays a brilliant part. The emotional and mental connection, chemistry and bond between Cage and Shue is electric, pure unconditional realistic love which is not focused or based on sex despite Shue being a high class hooker.Leaving Las Vegas is alcoholism extradonaire, pain, isolation and honesty, two people caught up in waves of self destruction.Ironically the author, John O'Brien committed suicide in 1994 just weeks after selling the movie rights. The film was a semi-autobiographical story. Director Mike Figgis completed the film as a tribute.A powerful and emotional film 9/10.

fantastic film , cage is stunning and without doubt its his career defining acting all round performance , shue gives a quite brilliant performance to .if you haven't watched the film your certainly missing out on a fabulous production , the subject for .obvious reasons is a bleak .venture but from the start its an engrossing plot and would be up there with many classic films I have watched cage deserved his Oscar without doubt first class all round .