Review of Leaving Las Vegas (1995) by Devin R — 30 Sep 2008

Leaving Las Vegas is a very gloomy film; light a candle slowing burning out, the film is a gloomy death march. It focuses on a deeply troubles and beyond all hope alcoholic named Ben (Cage), who, after loosing his job (and possibly his wife), comes to Las Vegas to begin to drink himself to death.

One night he meets an equally troubles hooker named Sera (Shue), and somehow forms an uneasy relationship with her. While Ben wastes himself away, constatly drinking, this relationship is doomed from the start, and they both know it.

The performances by Cage and Shue are impressive, and are easily the only mildly redeeming quality the film offers. I can't say I enjoyed the film, even Requiem for a Dream, as dark and depressing as it was, at least it had real twists and artistic merit for what it set out to do.

Leaving Las Vegas, not so much. It's in love with its gloom and heartache, like a drunk sitting at the bar, staring down in the bottom of a half-empty drink, and it's hard to find love for it, but if you must, then it'll be for the performances alone, and nothing else.