Leaving Las Vegas

1995 "I Love You... The Way You Are."
7.5| 1h51m| R| en| More Info
Released: 27 October 1995 Released
Producted By: United Artists
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.mgm.com/title_title.do?title_star=LEAVINGL
Info

Ben Sanderson, an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his drinking, arrives in Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he meets and forms an uneasy friendship and non-interference pact with prostitute Sera.

Genre

Drama, Romance

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Director

Mike Figgis

Production Companies

United Artists

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Leaving Las Vegas Audience Reviews

Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
Clevercell Very disappointing...
Evengyny Thanks for the memories!
Roxie The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
classicsoncall To call Nicolas Cage's character an alcoholic would be a disservice to alcoholics everywhere. I mean, even a raging drunk has to come up for air sometimes, but Ben Sanderson (Cage) knocked down bottles of booze with the speed of The Flash, torching the memories of his past and sliding into the darkest oblivion imaginable. There's some measure of humanity in the story when Ben discovers a Las Vegas street walker named Sera (Elizabeth Shue), who offers him her love and friendship because of an ethereal connection she makes with the down and out former screenwriter. Yet even their tender moments together and the poignant background music do little to hide the fact that these two damaged souls are derelicts from the human race, and as it turns out in Ben's case, beyond saving both spiritually and bodily. The film may be of service to demonstrate how low one can go before succumbing to the depths of despondency and despair, and that there may be hope around the corner if only one were to reach out and recognize a helping hand. But this one goes in the other direction, and serves as a reminder that relentlessly abusing one's body and spirit can only end one way.
waltblagdon I have always felt this was Nick Cage's best performance. We watched this today (2018) with a forgiving eye as we expected the movie to not really hold up after all these years. Although some of the film showed it's age, it held up just fine. Liz Shue was terrific. This really stands alone for us as a classic sleeper movie. I can see us watching it again in 5 years and still enjoying it.
Floated2 Leaving Las Vegas was delivered by the Academy given the Best Actor in a leading role to Nicolas Cage and after watching this film, one can succeed and see as to how his performance was powerful and delivered. But more than anything, the heart of the film is in the performances. Also Elisabeth Shue plays Sera, and she really comes out as an angel. She has many rough scenes, but Shue achieves to keep her character deeply human and good. It's an exceptional performance. She could have hold the film by herself, but that isn't considering her opposite, Nicolas Cage. Show cases that he's truly one of the most gifted actors of his generation. This was probably the most impressive performance of his career. Compared to the present time, as most of his recent films appear to be non Hollywood films and straight to video where he phones it in for paychecks, this film is where the praise in which fans have considered about in.
FilmBuff1994 Leaving Las Vegas is a decent movie with a reasonably well developed storyline and a stellar cast. The highlight is without a doubt Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue, Cage delivering his usual over the top acting that suits him perfectly and Shue portrays a troubled woman with pure realism, the chemistry between the two of them is top notch. However, I found the plot very thin, I understood that it was heavily revolved around these two character's relationship, but it never made enough effort to keep an actual story moving forward, any scene that was merely felt forced, like the director was really not interested. My biggest issue is that the two main characters are unlikeable, we are meant to support them without being given a reason to, Ben is a man who threw his career down the drain with alcoholism, while Sera is a prostitute who regrets the decisions she has made, I could not sympathise with them, their suffering was common sense, not a reason for me to feel supportive for these leads. It will appeal to many people and I understand how, but Leaving Las Vegas did not pull me in as I would have hoped, I would not recommend it. An alcoholic befriends a down on her luck woman after moving to Las Vegas. Best Performance: Elisabeth Shue