Stream it:
|
Own it:
|
Search for streaming:
    
|
With: Nicolas Cage, Elizabeth Shue, Julian Sands
|
Written by: Mike Figgis, based on the book by John O'Brien
|
Directed by: Mike Figgis
|
MPAA Rating: R
|
Running Time: 111
|
|
Date: 15/09/1995
|
|
|
|
Drink on Me
By Jeffrey M. Anderson Buy Leaving Las Vegas on DVD. Director Mike Figgis shot this overrated 1995 movie on 16mm to give it an extra-gritty look and feel, and the effect goes a long way in covering up the film's weaknesses. Nicolas Cage took home the Oscar for his role as Ben, the suicidal alcoholic who cashes in everything he has left for a stockpile of liquor, with which he plans to drink himself to death. But not before he meets Sera (Elizabeth Shue), a beautiful Las Vegas hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold who inexplicably falls in love with him. Julian Sands appears from time to time as Sera's ridiculous pimp who tries to spoil their fun. Most of the film follows the off beat couple as they party, drink and talk -- and never before has a malnourished suicidal depressive been so charming, so healthy and so in love with life. Figgis pretends to go all the way to the edge with this potentially devastating material, such as showing Ben's twitching DT fits, but he never leaves the comfort of his own artistic self-awareness. Mostly, Figgis is content to show off his own low-down jazz score and his love for pretentious sleaze. Figgis adapted the book by John O'Brien, who committed suicide just before shooting began.
|
