Review of Leaving Las Vegas (1995) by David P — 20 Nov 2010

Nicolas Cage is the real star of this film, but I really don't think that director Mike Figgis got the emotional side of this film right.

Leaving Las Vegas is about a man named Ben and he has one goal: go to Las Vegas and drink himself to death. But for a proper reson for him not to kill himself a hooker name Sera is introduced and after spending a night together, she falls in love with him and with time he has left, desides to look after him. The first 10 mins tell us kind of why Ben wants to kill himself. Its the usual wife died, got depressed then lost my job and now I have nothing to live. Those first 10 mins are the best part of the film because after that the film keeps going in a circle around Las Vegas and every senrio seems to be the same. Also, somewhere in the middle, the film spends alot of time with the hooker, wait a minute, I thought this was about Ben, not this hooker? Sera just isn't that intresting and when scenes where just about her I was sighing. Ben and Sera's relationship is kind of like Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise's in Rain Man; like Dustin's character he doesn't change through the film. He wants to die at the start and he still wants to die at the end. And like Tom's character, this had a big change on Sera's life and her personality. Ben is very like-able but Sera just isn't. I also don't understand why at certain parts in the film Sera is talking to someone as if she's being interviewed about what just happened. The story just isn't as gripping and emotional as it tries to be, but Ben is a great character.

The acting is great from the whole cast. Nicolas Cage won his Academy Award for playing Ben and it certianly shows why he got it. Because Ben is always drunk, he keeps having these random fits, sometimes he says some really random shit, others he's very depressed and he keeps shaking constitly; Nicolas nails this, which makes his performance very belivable. Even though I really don't like the hooker Sera and I think her character is quite pointless, Elisabeth Shue is equally as good as Nic. Our two leads are great and thats all that matters.

The lights and sounds if Las Vegas are captured perfectly with the great cinematography and the film has a relaxed jazz like soundtrack. The editing and techniques used on some of the scenes are very effective and help us understand Ben a little better. The screenplay is also quite good, the dialogue isn't amazing but it helps move the film.

Overall; my biggest gripe with the film though is the story and how unintresting Sera is, I mean we need to spend a good amount of time with her, but I found myslef no caring for her. Ben however is a great character and I cared for him, even though he doesn't change through out the film. Also director Mike Figgis does I think try too hard to make the film emotional and it just didn't get to me. I say see for Nicolas Cage's performance, see why he won the Oscar and it certainly a better performance then the shit he's in now.

6.8/10.

BBFC rating: 18 - For very strong language, strong sex and sexual violence.