Leaving Las Vegas

Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
Dir: Mike Figgis
Cast: Nicholas Cage, Elisabeth Shue

3 Kowen's out of 5

Its an Oscar winner. It has a super star as the lead and it is set in the loneliest city in country. What could be a more ripe setting for despair and death and acceptance?

Ben (Cage) makes a move to Las Vegas after losing his job, his wife and child in order to drink himself to death. He happens upon a hooker (Shue) who attempts, albeit at a comfortable distance, to distract him from his drinking and show him that love could and should conquer all. The hooker accepts Ben's depression and raging alcoholism and finds herself wanting only his attention, his acceptance. And it works. This movie really works.

Nick Cage actually delivers for only the second time in his career (his best performance by far - Adaptation). Fortunately for him he made this movie long before Gone In 60 Seconds and that pile of cow dung Next. His acting is spot on and never for a moment do I not believe his drunken bewilderment is not completely and absolutely real. He made me feel drunk, as if I'd been on a bender for 45 days as well. His performance is worthy of the Oscar that sits on his shelf.

But he problem, and the reason I couldn't give it 4 Kowens, is Elisabeth Shue. What a freakin' let down. Her character is so shockingly unbelieving Mike Figgis could have substituted the doll from Lars and Real Girl and still succeed in making a great flick. She cries at the right times, looks mad when she should look bad, but pales in comparison to Mr. Cage.

I would recommend this movie to anyone. It is worth the time, if only to watch Nicholas Cage drink copious amounts of alcohol while driving.