Genres

Visitors Review

2013-05-20 16:52:59

THE ONLY MOVIE TO EVER MAKE ME CRY

i could go on and on but i wont, the facts are a) this is probably the most dramatic movie ever made and b) nic cage is the best actor on the planet. holy smokes was he amazing in this and elisabeth shue is perfect by all standards. i also dig "the third man" tributes in there - good job all around tonite i decided this is my favorite movie....which might last a week but it will remain top five forever. I know its a little late but seriously...congrats nic cage you kick ass.

Nick 2013-05-20 07:15:29

great great film

figgis is a genius at creating mood, that lingering, dwelling, lamentingsort of mood that is so perfectly made ... story of two pathetic peoplegetting together (she even says "i'm using you", while taking him intoherhome and buying him gifts upon gifts, only further reinforcing thedesperation of this sad life they have made for themselves and the smalllight that is made when they get together ... at the filmschool i was atiwas always told that a good movie is one that you can actually say "iwish ihad made this" ... out of all of the hundreds or thousands of films ihaveseen in my short life, i can say that this is a film I WISH I HADMADE

2013-05-18 15:31:19

3.5 stars out of 4

The Bottom Line:A pair of virtuoso performances and innovative direction help elevate this story from a simple story of boy-meets-girl to something far more profound and affecting; though the "interview" scenes with Elizabeth Shue don't really work, the meat of the movie is a powerful drama recommended to just about every adult.

moonspinner55 2013-05-18 00:37:08

It takes awhile to get its bearings, becomes a moving human tragedy...

Well-produced, well-acted drama about a miserable alcoholic hoping todrink himself to death and the Las Vegas prostitute who tries to be hisguardian angel. Opening moments with Nicolas Cage losing his job andElisabeth Shue running afoul of her pimp are painfully under-directed.When he has no one to ground him, Cage can be a rambling, ramshackleboor (even doing a little shimmy in the supermarket aisle, he is less acharacter than Nicolas Cage just cutting up). Once the pimp is out ofthe way, Shue's character takes on some shadings, and she's very movingin the scene at the desert motel, picking up glass with the manager.There are some fancy directorial flourishes and odd, half-comic bits,but by the second hour the pieces start falling into place. Cage getsto do some great, high-wire dramatic acting (which won him the Oscar)and "Leaving Las Vegas" eventually gets to be the moving human drama itinitially aspired to be--it just takes some time to find its niche.**1/2 from ****

2013-05-16 20:36:54

"You can't learn to be real. It's like learning to be a midget."

Not quite a great film, per se, but still just about perfect movie.A square-jawed explorer in a 1930s studio comedy becomes smitten with a woman in the audience and magically steps off the screen to meet her. This sparks problems for the other characters, for the theater owner and his patrons, for the up-and-coming actor who plays him and, most of all, for the object of his affections -- a bullied and beaten-down naif who uses the movies to escape both of her depressions.The funniest and smartest of Allen's supernatural tales works on a variety of levels, most importantly in the way it celebrates the power of fantasy but also subverts it. The ending is like a terrible punch to the heart, not softened in the least by its obvious inevitability.

turing77 2013-05-16 02:48:10

Not as good as it was made out to be.

This movie was wildly overpraised when it came out, and went on to win someOscars. However, it does paint an accurate portrait of Las Vegas as theseedy, slimy, lowest-common-denominator place that it is. The acting wasdecent, with Shue doing good work, but Cage hammed it up a bit, I thought.The story is simple and depressing, and the director is a bit tooheavy-handed at times. There are some very graphic scenes, and the shot ofElisabeth Shue bleeding in the shower was in poor taste. Not a film I'drecommend paying to see, but if it's on cable it might be worth a look forShue's performance.

2013-05-14 16:10:47

The depressive anguish in the ever lightened evasion city!

The life and times of a depressive drunkard (superbly played by Nicholas Cage), who gradually losses the essential connections with the real world to live the most awful of the thinkable nightmares. A real fall to the depths of the moral degradation and the swampy sewers of the life.This abrupt descend will involve a love affair with a pros (Elizabeth Shue) who eventually will do her best she can for trying to rescue him from his inner dragons but the effort will be useless.A very bold film that inevitably recalls us the eternal beacon in the darkness: Billy wilder 's Lost weekend with Ray Milland (a winner too), Blake Edwards ` Days of wine and Roses with Jack Lemmon (a nomination , he lost with Peck) and finally that jeweled film of the early sixties, Le feu follet (Fire within) with Maurice Ronet and directed by Louis Malle. To set such tragic portrait in the middle of Las Vegas was a top-notch punch, and so show us the analogy of the contraries. FOOTNOTE: If there has been a true sense of fairness, this Prize as Best Actor had to be shared with the unforgettable acting of Massimo Troisi in Il Postino (The Postman), who was posthumously nominated. I am absolutely convinced this decision was not well received in Italy and to emend this mistake, years after Life is beautiful was excessively overprized to try to compensate this slip. Anyway, this is part of the story.

meeza 2013-05-14 00:13:25

BEST FILM OF ALL TIME

It is a classic. Without a doubt, the best film of all time. Everythingabout this film was classic. Shame on the Academy for not even giving it aBest Picture nomination. Shame on You! Nic Cage did deserve his Oscar andElisabeth Shue should have won instead of Susan Sarandon. Mike Figgis! Youare my hero!

Joe-290 2013-05-08 17:20:04

the most realistic movie ever

Now, this movie is the most relaistic movie ever. There is many relaisticfilms such as 'The Field' and 'in the name of the father' but this is one ofthe best. Everything in it is so true. All sadness and depressing butportraying real life. It is the true art of film, no happy ending. Peoplecan forget their Star Wars because this is what real film is about. Thesoundtrack is also very well done. Nicholas Cage, not one of my favouriteactors does a magnificent job in this film as an alcoholic who goes to LasVegas after losing his job and wife to drink himself to death. The title isgood as well as he goes to Las Vegas to leave it. What an amazing movie.This is one to watch but I should let you know, its all sadness and heartache and depresion - what life really is.

J. Wellington Peevis 2013-05-08 09:32:09

I don't get it

This is good? The direction is good, actually better than good but thestoryis completely zhazhun. I'm sorry but someone convincingly playing a drunkdoesn't impress me. I've never acted, but I just can't see the genius init.I'm more impressed with drunks who are able to act sober in front of acamera quite honestly. Besides, Nicholas Cage's acting style alwaysremindedme of someone with a hangover anyway. Where's the Oscar validation? Wellitwas an unusually crappy year for films was 1995. But in retrospect, giventhat Russell Crowe won for Gladiator, Mel Gibson should have won forBraveheart...anyways...back to this. Don't bother with it. It'sdisturbingwithout being revealing, and who needs that? A guy who chooses to drinkhimself to death doesn't get my sympathy. Sorry.

Emerenciano 2013-05-01 20:09:00

Campina Grande, Brazil

It's been a long time since I last saw such a beautiful movie. The story isseemed to be dull when I first heard of that, but once I pressed "play" inmy vcr I saw how wrong I was. Nicolas Cage and Elizabeth Shue surprised mewith their talent and sensibility. The direction, by Mike Figgis, is alsoresponsible for the enchanting rhythm of the film. The idea of makingElizabeth Shue's character narrating the story in front of the camera wasbrilliant.

2013-05-01 13:50:42

So stark, it might cause liver damage

Few movies will leave you with a deeper sense of gloom than this one. "Leaving Las Vegas" does not try to reinvent the addiction movie, it just provides a fresh slant to a very old problem. There are no attempts to coat alcohlism with a romantic sheen or to romanticize it. Addiction needs no Hollywood script writers to provide drama, the affliction comes replete with it by nature.The success of this story may lie in its simplicity. Nicholas Cage plays a man who has seen the end of his rope slip through his fingers. His decision to drink his way to a swift oblivion is strangely understandable, though grim to watch. Though it is a little difficult to accept Elisabeth Shue as a seasoned hooker, Cage nails the role of a deadend drunk driving to his doom without a flicker of brake lights."Leaving Las Vegas" should be placed high on the list of the greatest booze movies of all time, joining "The Lost Weekend" and "The Days of Wine and Roses" as the kind of stark realism that might leave you with a hangover.

Anxa PV 2013-04-26 16:31:08

great tenderness

If I talk about this film, I should emphasize in the tremendoustenderness hidden beside a dramatic story of sickness. Sera means theterrible salvation when you don't want to be saved, the one you loveand you hate at the same time. Not many times you can see a script soperfect and so sincere performances.After more than ten years, I can still remember the cinema, the season,the hour, and Sting's music. Great tenderness, a real love story andtwo perfect actors. Highly recommended if you believe in loyalty.Great film, great story, great music and a killing pain behind reallove.Just see it and forget everything else. Get into the movie and into theskin of both characters.

James Kendrick 2013-04-26 03:10:36

A great film, one of the best of the year. If you can stomach it, it is a moving experience that says something about humanity and human experience.

2013-04-16 15:21:45

Leave this one alone!

This movie is dreadful! It's pointless and depressing! What a waste!

Anupam Satyasheel 2013-04-16 08:01:30

A Lump of Gloom

Watching 'Leaving Las Vegas' can be an experience that takes a gloomysadness to the interiors of your existence and keeps you immersed init. As human beings, we consistently put the highest premium on ourbeing alive. Experiencing the intensity of a despondent Nicolas Cagecommitted to taking his life by drinking himself to death, can triggeroff a question as to what can prepare someone for such an act ofself-destruction. Intriguingly enough we get no clear answers thoughthere is a clear hint as to it might have been a profound sense of lossor failure.Singular focus on the moribund obsessions of Cage would be grossinjustice to the incredibly touching love and empathy that he shareswith the lead female protagonist - Elisabeth Shue - who plays ahooker's role with levels of dexterity rarely attained. There is a verydeep understanding and mutual acceptance between the two leadcharacters that is in many ways the true highlight of this movie.Interestingly, we see no reasons for this to exist but such is thearticulacy of characterization that not even for a second does one findthis profound relationship unrealistic.'Leaving Las Vegas' is an iconoclastic love story whose control overthe audience is fascinating. Such is the brilliance of the performancesthat you feel a lump in your heart by the end of the movie - and thislump transcends into the depths of your being - to stay there and toremind you that unconditional love exists and so does the capability toinvite your own death to walk up to you - gradually and consistently.'Leaving Las Vegas' is a movie that would haunt you for its portrayalof love intertwined with morbid realities of life.

2013-04-10 06:50:54

Dramatic and Moving

Leaving Las Vegas is a dramatic and moving commentary on the low point of human existance. Incredibly performed Nicholas Cage and Elizabeth Shue will draw you in as they spiral to lows beyond what many of us can imagine.* not appropriate for children

2013-04-09 10:09:12

beautiful cinematography

I remember seeing this film when it came out, not really knowing whatto expect. the only thing i knew about the film was that Nicolas Cagewas in it. i saw it with my girlfriend and i remember that throughoutthe movie nobody made a sound, no annoying popcorn munchers, no onegetting up to go to the toilet, just complete silence. And after thefilm was finished and the credits were rolling across the screen peoplestill sat quiet in their seats. The film is beautifully played anddirected. The sober jazz music from sting fits like a glove. To thisday my girlfriend want let me see leaving las Vegas again because i getmellow and "preoccupied" for several days.

2013-04-06 22:25:23

beautiful

This is moving and lovely, and a lot of fun too

PeachHamBeach 2013-04-06 16:36:32

Somewhere between enchanting and disgusting...

CAUTION****MIGHT BE SPOILERS...This is a really dark movie that won't leave you with a warm fuzzy feelingor a happy smile. It can be really depressing. It's relentlesslyrealistic.You don't know what happens to those who survive.Ben (Nicolas Cage) is a Hollywood screenwriter whose wife and kid havelefthim because they can no longer deal with his heavy drinking and drunkenbehavior. Devastated, he decides to go to Las Vegas and drink until hedies. It is not explained why he does not try rehab/AA and try to beatthedisease. Perhaps, before the opening credits, he has already tried severaltimes and failed. All we know is that Ben has given up. He wants to die.Andhe wants to go to Las Vegas, party a little, drink, maybe get laid a fewtimes, and have some fun before he dies.There is no doubt the disease has hold of him. Whenever he tried to stopcold turkey, the detox tremors and hallucinations and horrible pain wouldseize him. Addiction to alcohol is not merely mental, it'sphysical...yourblood demands it after a point. He has most probably developed cirrhosisofthe liver and maybe even gastrointestinal bleeding. Some of Nic Cage'sscenes of screaming and doubling over in pain suggest this. I do believeCage deserved his Oscar for this work. Too bad he went on to stupid movieslike CON AIR and THE FAMILY MAN after this brilliant film.Elisabeth Shue in the role of Sera, a jaded, tired call girl in Vegas waseven more deserving. I think she took a great many more risks than Cagedidin this film. This work will be remembered, we hope, much longer thanADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING or THE KARATE KID.Some of the language is really explicit, as are some of the scenes ofdrinking. There is some lesbian sex and hetero sex that some might findoffensive. There is a very disturbing scene toward the end involving Shueand some college punks looking for some depraved fun. The whole tone ofthismovie, need I say again, is very dark and depressing, and some might evensay it's disgusting in some ways.Still, the friendship/romance that develops between Ben and Sera istouching. Almost like an enchanting fairy tale in reverse, a dark, dismal,fairy tale in which the sleeping beauty doesn't get awakened by anything,including love's first kiss.Can't deny it's an outstanding piece of film.