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Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

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4 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Alcoholic scriptwriter Ben (Cage) is blowing his options. Our first glimpse sees his beyond-niceties collaring of an agent friend in a smart restaurant to demand drink money, a symptomatic preamble to what's staring him in the face: a 'sadly, we have to let you go' dismissal from his studio job. Figgis sets the crap game running here: the pay-off finances a one-way ticket to oblivion or, to give hell its name, Las Vegas, city of permanent after-hours. Cash the cheque, burn the past, take the freeway - we're in the booze movie, that most fascinatingly flawed form of the modern urban tragedy. This modestly budget masterpiece pools the Vegas streets with reflected neon and watches Ben drown. Shue is good as the young hooker he falls for, but Cage is extraordinary, producing an Oscar-winning performance of edgy, utterly convincing suicidal auto-destruct. In fact, Figgis makes of him something of an existential saint, a man for whom terminal self-knowledge leads to a kind of grace. If the film lacks the depth and structural sophistication of, say, The Lost Weekend (it was shot fast, with Declan Quinn's saturated Super-16 photography blown up, which may explain its kinetic buzz), it certainly has the courage of its convictions.

Author: WH

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

dennis said...

Posted on Jun 19 2011 06:54 Totally convincing charcaters made from superb acting. You are made to care about both of these very sad people. A powerful and unforgettable film.

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Tim said...

Posted on Jul 31 2010 06:11 You have got to be kidding! This film just doesn't work...who really wants to watch as a lloser, alcoholic destroys his life and those around him...is this really what we go to the movies for....trashy and predictable and dull!

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Dicky said...

Posted on Apr 01 2010 20:02 A discussion about another film made me think of this one. I can't agree with Ben Ross more ... this film is exceptional. Nick Cage completely deserved the Oscar he won for his performance. I've only seen the film once but can clearly remember most of it 14 years on - it's that striking. Superbly acted by Cage and Elisabeth Shue.

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ben ross said...

Posted on Feb 21 2009 16:35 well, wot a mighty piece of art this film is. nicholas cage gives one of the most amazing performances i've evr seen...think brando, he really is that good. mike figgis creates a masterpiece, this, to me is an important film. i cud just go on and on about how good this film is but forget it, i can't do it justice. just watch it...

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