Leaving Las Vegas (1995) - Excellent performances in stirring alcoholism-themed classic

♥♥♥♥♥

 

A hype-filled poster with one great still from the film, Mike Figgis' Leaving Las Vegas

A down-on-his-luck, recently divorced and fired alcoholic man decides to burn everything and drive to Las Vegas to drink himself to death, but on his way there he meets a caring prostitute, who takes care of him.

 

Leaving Las Vegas is written and directed by great English filmmaker Mike Figgis (Stormy Monday (1988)), who also co-composed the score. The film is an adaptation of the same-titled 1990 novel by John O'Brien (Stripper Lessons (1997, posthumous).) 

It is an unexpectedly realistic and serious depiction of the problems that arise when loving an alcoholic. Figgis' musical choices may at times feel too chipper for the awful images. But the performances from especially Nicolas Cage (Adaptation. (2002)), who is impressive in this career high-point, and Elisabeth Shue (Link (1986)), who is also terrific, buoy this classic drama.

Excellent editing and cinematography (by Declan Quinn (Admission (2013))) also do their part in making this substance abuse film highly recommendable.

Shue talks about her career and role in the movie on The Late Show with David Letterman here

 

Cost: 3.5-4 mil. $ (different reports)

Box office: 49.8 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned between 12.45-14.22 times its cost)

[Leaving Las Vegas premiered 15 September (Toronto International Film Festival) and runs 111 minutes. O'Brien committed suicide (gunshot to the head) two weeks after learning that the film was in production. Cage was paid 240k $ for his performance. Shooting took place from September - October 1994 in California, including in Los Angeles, and in Nevada, including in Las Vegas. The film opened #20 to a 70k $ first weekend in 7 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #5 and in 1,510 theaters, grossing 32 mil. $ (64.3 % of the total gross). It was nominated for 4 Oscars, winning one, for Best Actor (Cage's only win to date). It lost Best Actress (Shue) to Susan Sarandon for Dead Man Walking, Director to Mel Gibson for Braveheart and Adapted Screenplay to Emma Thompson for Sense and Sensibility. It was also nominated for 3 BAFTAs, won 4/6 Independent Spirit award nominations, 1/4 Golden Globe nominations and 2 National Board of Review awards, among many other honors. Roger Ebert gave the film a 4/4 star review, translating to a notch over this one. Figgis returned with One Night Stand (1997). Cage returned in The Rock (1996); Shue in The Trigger Effect (1996). Leaving Las Vegas is certified fresh at 89 % with a 7.60/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Leaving Las Vegas?