Nicolas Cage stars as a suicidal alcoholic in Los Angeles who, having lost his family and been recently fired, has decided to move to Las Vegas and drink himself to death. Months after the show aired and before it was officially canceled a source told TV Guide that if Las Vegas failed to receive a sixth season pickup, Duhamel and Simms would appear in the. Drunk and stumbling out of his car, he requests her services on the streets of Vegas. Harvard College Accepts 3.41% of Applicants to Class of 2027. And that's the end of the season. Contact me | Privacy policy | Join the mailing list | Links. The strange thing about Leaving Las Vegas is, despite the terrible subject matter, the love story is genuinely touching. Interviewing Director Mike Figgis, Cage Did Serious Research For Alcoholic Role, 'Vegas' Stars Cage, Shue Ponder Chances for Oscar, 'Leaving Las Vegas' reminds us performance counts, 'Leaving' Preconceptions Behind? Required fields are marked *. After losing his family and job, Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage) moves to Las Vegas to slowly drink himself to death. Minutes later, brought back to life by alcohol, he is trying to pick up a woman at a bar: "You smell good," he says. Learn how your comment data is processed. Sera returns to find them in her bed and throws Ben out. Synopsis Ben Sanderson (Cage) is a Hollywood agent who has lost everything because of his alcoholism. Just stay, he beseeches to a baffled Sera. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action. We brush those objections aside, because they have nothing to do with the real subject of this movie, which is that we must pity one another, and be gentle. And we think Leaving Las Vegas nails this perfectly, as Cages performance is quite outstanding. camera in my face was liberating because it's much smaller, so you don't feel as intimidated by it. But beneath its dark surface theres a touching love story and a lot of black humour. The story is about two wounded, desperate, marginal people, and how they create for each other a measure of grace. Now the turn has come for "The Fountain" at Bellagio. That's why I did Mr. Jones, because I think manic-depression is a fascinating, sad, and amazing phenomenon. John O'Brien (novelist) - Wikipedia Are they dead? Continuity mistake: When Nicholas Cage is in the pool and in a couple of other scenes where he is wearing a shirt you can clearly see a tattoo on his back, but when filmed without a shirt the tattoo is gone. Leaving Las Vegas: Directed by Mike Figgis. Directed by: Mike Figgis. "[8] Cage researched by binge drinking in Dublin for two weeks and had a friend videotape him so he could study his speech. "[5], Figgis had problems because permits were not issued for some street scenes. All of the sudden from out of frame, Cage's arm grabs Caruso's shoulder from behind and we see Cage emerge. Elisabeth Shues performance is also excellent. With deliberate resolve, he burns the remnants of his life and heads for Las Vegas to end it all in one final binge. So, some substance abusers can lead lengthy careers within a company before the hammer falls. And much like him I also convinced myself the only cure for that pain was at the bottom of another glass. From classic literature like Tolstoys Anna Karenina to the Safdie brothers Uncut Gems, self-destruction has long been a common artistic trope. During the opening credits, a mans voiceover echoes against a black screen and foreshadows the self-destruction to come: Have you ever had the feeling that youre that close to losing your mind? An ironically upbeat score accompanies a montage of Ben Sanderson (Nicholas Cage) placing dozens of bottles of liquor into his shopping cart, an apt introduction to his alcoholism. 7 biggest mistakes in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, The 20 biggest mistakes in The Wizard of Oz, 40 biggest mistakes in The Big Bang Theory, 6 Cool things you've never noticed in movies, The biggest mistakes in the Harry Potter movies, 25 mistakes you never noticed in great movies, 7 mistakes in Beetlejuice you never spotted, More questions & answers from Leaving Las Vegas. How anyone can watch Leaving Las Vegas and still want to drink afterward is beyond me. [21] The video cassettes were distributed on November 12, 1996 in two languages, English and Russian, while the DVD was distributed on January 1, 1998 in English for USA and Canada. After limited release in the United States on October 27, 1995, Leaving Las Vegas was released nationwide on February 9, 1996, receiving strong praise from critics and audiences. There, he meets and forms an uneasy friendship and non-interference pact with prostitute Sera. Dean Cain also starred. Well also close by adding we think Mike Figgis (who also wrote the script) offers a thoroughly genuine account of mental health struggles here. She sees Ben clearly, and decides to stick with him for the rest of the ride. With nothing left to live for, and a sizable severance check from his boss, he heads to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. Its so frightening because Cages performance expertly captures the psychological temperament and physical disintegration of alcohol addiction. Ben instructs Sera never to ask him to stop drinking. Leaving Las Vegas was filmed in super 16 mm[4] instead of 35 mm film; while 16mm was common for art house films at the time, 35mm is most commonly used for mainstream film. Once there, he develops a romantic relationship with a sex worker played by Elisabeth Shue and the film shifts to include her narrative perspective. When Billy, the group's sworn bachelor, finally proposes to his thirty-something (of course) girlfriend, the four head to Las Vegas with a plan to stop acting their age and relive their glory. He accepts and moves in, even if Ben is passed out unconscious on her doorstep when Sera arrives home. In his lucid moments between the mania, talking to Sera as he walks the Strip, you can tell he had the assertive charisma necessary to be a Hollywood player. He was the floppy-haired heartthrob of the 90s, but by 2018, Grant found ways to poke fun at the very fabric of actorly charm as Phoenix Buchanan. Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. [2], On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received an approval rating of 91% based on 53 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10. Cage said having a 16mm camera in his face was less intimidating and made him less tense than when he dealt with 35mm cameras. Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Leaving Las Vegas. If acting is just professional pretending, Cage plainly chooses to take that one step beyond. He moves from Hollywood to Las Vegas after he has failed to keep his family or his job in the movie industry as a direct result of his drinking. It is Sera who picks up broken glass from the concrete and is berated by an angry hotel owner who demands they evacuate the premises by morning. Cage may have a reputation for unusual actorly choices and erratic tics, but his methodology is perfectly suited for fully embodying the grotesque presence of a man slowly, purposefully killing himself. Sera visits Ben, and the two make love, and he dies shortly thereafter. You can unsubscribe at any time. His editorial work has been featured on the BBC, NPR, Rue Morgue Magazine, Film School Rejects, and One Perfect Shot. Polish mobsters are after Yuri, so he ends his relationship with Sera in fear that the Poles may hurt her. We just know his wife is gone, along with his son. The limited budget dictated the production and Figgis ended up filming in super 16mm and composing his own score. Since a producer asked Figgis to take the added therapy scenes out, he wanted to make sure they were absolutely necessary. One could also argue that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.). MB: Imagine that nihilistic montage, extended out over the. The two agree to not judge one another, but it doesn't take long for Sera to break their pact and try to put an end to Ben's suicidal bender, which prompts Ben to sabotage their relationship. Leaving Las Vegas - Rotten Tomatoes Your email address will not be published. From the music, the acting (Shue especially), the absence of any real story, the editing, it meanders, the characters lack any developmentI could go on. and our His wife has also left him, taking their son with her. Ben Sanderson, a Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his alcoholism, arrives in Las Vegas to drink himself to death. Based on the novel by John OBrien, the film deftly explores the challenge of caring deeply for a person with devastating flaws. She chastises him and walks away. However, it was always an absurd comedy. We think its great triumph is in the authentic portrait of manic depressive self-destruction. For obvious reasons, bottle labels had to be changed or reversed. Leaving Las Vegas Jump to Edit Summaries Ben Sanderson, a Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his alcoholism, arrives in Las Vegas to drink himself to death. Once there, he develops a romantic relationship with a sex worker played by Elisabeth Shue and the film shifts to include her narrative perspective. Leaving Las Vegas (1995) - User Reviews - IMDb But for me it looks a bit sleazy, I dont gamble, and Id want to visit more culturally invigorating sections of America. The film is perhaps the best cinematic argument for why, as a society, we should remain hyper-vigilant to how we romanticize alcohol. However, when extremely drunk in a casino one evening he has a violent rage where he tellingly screams, He is my son!. Lead actress Elisabeth Shue does a reasonable job as prostitute Sera, but nothing that would constitute a seemingly . Bens turbulence is mirrored by the profound unhappiness of Sera (Elisabeth Shue), a prostitute who acts as the films co-lead. To be sure this project wasn't compromised, Figgis shot it as an independent film, using Super 16 cameras to "grab" Las Vegas locations. And they're shouting, but it's quiet and they feel really stupid, because it's unnatural. Cookie policy. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Rot away in a room? It is the nonchalance with which Sera utters these words over the dinner table that make them so deeply disturbing. Reading the book. Nothing can reverse his belief that his life is not worth living, a conviction that extends the question: Was it even fair, then, for him to be with Sera? Nicholas Cage and Elizabeth Shue were so dedicated to the film that she interviewed several real Las Vegas prostitutes while he went on a drinking binge to experience what might happen to his cognition and speech patterns. Though every actor delivers a convincing performance, it is Shue who takes on the most emotionally demanding role and executes it flawlessly. He told Film Critic: "It was just a week and a half of rehearsal. As those two hit it off, Sera invites Ben to live in her flat. Sera and Ben reunite in a sleazy hotel room and have sex just before he dies. MGM/UA reportedly spent less than $2 million marketing the film, which included TV spots and ads in industry publications. The ending of 'Las Vegas'. When I watched this scene, I knew that Cages performance was more than just pretending to be drunk; this was an actor who understood the nuances of addiction, and how to make that torture appear and feel alarmingly real. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. Film acting is a learning experience about how to get over that, but I don't know that you ever really do. 'Palm Springs' Movie Ending, Explained by the Filmmakers - Vulture Chosen answer: On the contrary, the social contacts at work typically tolerate, sympathize with, and even enable alcoholics and other substance abusers, because many of the other employees are also similarly (and secretly) engaged in addictive behavior of their own to varying degrees. When he finally does show off to the teller how capable he is at signing his name, we once again get to see the person Ben was before alcoholism consumed his life. Am I missing something. [10][14][15] United Artists distributed the film in North America, while RCV Film Distribution and Atalanta Filmes handled the European release, and 21st Century Film Corporation distributed the film in Australia. About why did james caan leave las vegas. Mike Figgis brings his directorial eye to this very theme in his romantic tragedy "Leaving Las Vegas" (1995). "Leaving Las Vegas" (1995) The movie is not really about alcoholism. Mike Figgis brings his directorial eye to this very theme in his romantic tragedy Leaving Las Vegas (1995). No shame if it's just not your thing. It is sad not because of the tragic lives of its characters, but because of their goodness and their charity. The low-budget film is a challenging work, dealing with addiction, depression, and death. He also visited hospitalized career alcoholics. The plot doesnt make it clear if this is due to Bens drinking, or if them leaving has led to him drinking. Leaving Las Vegas - Wikipedia Leaving Las Vegas. And we never found out what happened to Delinda, Danny and their in-danger baby. Elisabeth Shue and Nicolas Cage. As the bank teller asks him to sign his name, he clasps his hands around his arms and shakes uncontrollably. He interviewed alcoholics and sought out their experience with Delirium Tremens, but the greatest source of inspiration came from his family friend: the proud drunk Tony Dingman. Perhaps Figgis's whole point, however, is the frustrating codependence of the protagonists. And they're shouting, but it's quiet and they feel really stupid, because it's unnatural. It is sad not because of the tragic lives of its characters, but because of their goodness and their charity. In this entry, we examine the Academy Award-winning performance from Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas. [23][24] The DVD contains a supplemental "Hidden Page" menu feature. You put them up against a couple of trucks, with it all happening around them, and their voices become great". Figgis called Albert Finney, star of Under the Volcano, on Cages behalf to ask if Finney was actually drunk when he acted in the film. The following day, Sera is spotted by her landlady returning home bruised and is evicted. But for Cage's Ben, rather than asking for help, he ties that rope into. Related Topics: Leaving Las Vegas, Nicolas Cage, The Great Performances. The Oakland A's Say They're Leaving for Las Vegas - WSJ On his second day in Las Vegas, Ben looks for Sera, introduces himself, and offers her $500 to come to his room for an hour. In the year before I got sober, blackouts were an everyday thing. Not your standard Oscar fair. He plans to drink his way into oblivion with the remaining money he . That was directly due to the low budgetthe camera was created by Swedish cinematographer Rune Ericson in 1969. The practical details are not quite realistic - it would be hard to drink as much as Ben drinks and remain conscious, and it is unlikely an intelligent prostitute would allow him into her life. Significant cuts in the U.S. version needed to be made for Seras Fat Hairy Man speech. Leaving Las Vegas: Challenging Drama About Mental Health He is shaking. Their vacation is ruined, however, when an inebriated Ben breaks a glass table by the pool. In a kind of existential way. Sera works for the abusive Yuri Butsov (Julian Sands), a pimp, whos bumped off early in the film leaving her as a free agent. One hell of an actor when he wants to be (check out Pig from 2021), hes also eccentric and leads an extravagant lifestyle. Extended Video with Filming Locations of the movie "Leaving Las Vegas" with Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue as main actors.The scenes were filmed in and and . Sera is a prostitute working for abusive Latvian pimp Yuri Butsov. Find him on Twitter here: We unlock the reasons why Cages Academy Award winning performance is as stunning as it is deeply uncomfortable. Censors also thought Yuris (Julian Sands) buttocks were too strong when he was in bed with Sera. Why not experiment? Nouveau shamanic is nothing other than trying to augment your imagination to get to the performance without feeling like youre faking it.. Leaving Las Vegas - Lonely Teardrops - YouTube After one particularly rough bender where he downed a pint of hard liquor in one agonizing swallow, he goes to a bank to try and cash a check. Even in that far-gone state, losing stretches of time while making excuses for why my consumption was normal, I still believed I had everything under control. Sera receives a call from Ben, who is on his deathbed. Cookie Notice At one point, after it is clear that Sera really cares for him, he tells her, "You can never, ever, ask me to stop drinking."