Review of Leaving Las Vegas (1995) by Cyanurea — 04 Jul 2018
Self-indulgently tragic, the one thing that elevates Leaving Las Vegas are the signs that it understands the neurosis behind its romantic vision. "You can never ask me to stop drinking," the drunk tells the whore as they proclaim that they love that they won't try to change each other; early on she buys him a flask for a gift and he laughs, "you understand me"; later on she pleads for him to move in with her, let her take care of him, because she does want to save him after all.
After all, she came to Las Vegas hanging off of a man who mistreated her and now her loneliness brings her here. And the drunk, with a self-sabotaging nature that brought him here, brings that same nature to the final act.
It is indulgent tragedy and Greek tragedy in one. It's heady. It works.
This review of Leaving Las Vegas (1995) was written by Cyanurea on 04 Jul 2018.
Leaving Las Vegas has generally received very positive reviews.
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