Review of Leaving Las Vegas (1995) by Tony's F — 14 Jan 2011

Nicolas Cage won an Oscar for his transformative portrayal of an alcoholic, former movie bigwig who spends his final weeks of life in the company of an odd soul mate, a stripper (Elisabeth Shue, who is devastating), in this relentlessly depressing pity-party.

Both Cage and Shue are absolutely wonderful, although they're gifted performances cannot hide the fact that their characters are terribly under-written. Mike Figgis (who also wrote the sultry, jazzy score, which is wonderful) makes excellent directorial choices, but with Cage, Shue, and Figgis all acting at the top of their games, the film never manages to be much more than a "woe is me" ordeal.