Review of Leaving Las Vegas (1995) by Garrett R — 21 May 2010

This movie is so heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. Its extremely well made and the acting is great, with Cage knocking it out of the ball park. I wasnt quite sure what I was going to be watching when I saw this coming on the television but saw Nicolas Cage had won an oscar for his performance so I decided to give it a shot. I couldnt believe how much I loved it.

One thing you hear a lot of is how depressing this movie is, and I partially agree, but feel a lot of people miss a big underlying feel of warmth. Ben and Sera each have their vices, and its only a matter of time before these vices wear them down and destroy their lives. Ben is an alcoholic set on drinking himself to death in Vegas and Sera is a prostitute. Now the warmth I was refering to earlier is, even with these glaring flaws each character has, that will probably destroy both their lives, they completely accept each other and refuse to change the other. Its love in its purest, simplest form and I think its beautiful. Thats not to say they dont have fights and bumps along the way but thats any relationship for you, even with the person you love.

Leaving Las Vegas is a film I will suggest to anyone who asks. Even if you find it depressing, you should watch it simply for Cage's great performance. I give it a 10/10 and truely hope anyone who reads this and hasnt seen it will give this movie a chance.