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Leaving Las Vegas
Movie Stats & Links |
| Starring: |
Nicholas Cage, Elizabeth Shue |
| MPAA Rated: |
R |
| Date Movie: |
Sure |
| Gratuitous Sex: |
Some |
| Gratuitous
Violence: |
Not really |
| Action: |
Not really. |
| Laughs: |
It's a movie about an alcoholic
and a prostitute - I don't think so. |
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Leaving Las Vegas
A Video/DVD Review |
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Rated - R |
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It's 1:51 Long |
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| A Review by |
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Stu
Gotz |
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I've never been one to follow the advice of others, especially when it comes to advice from my friend Benny. When Benny
tells me to do something I do the opposite. I'm no superior mental
snob, but Benny has no brains or class. I mean this guy has a hard
time following the story line of a comic book I actually once had a
conversation that ended with Benny saying "OK... Let me get
this strait, Sam likes green eggs and ham?" So, when Benny made
the comment that "Leaving Las Vegas" sucked, I ran out to rent it.
I'm glad I didn't follow Benny's advice because "Leaving Las Vegas"
was a pretty good movie. But, be warned... if you're like my friend
Benny (that is to say everything must be spelled out to you and you
like "Die Hard" type action with a happy endings) don't rent this
movie. It's much too intellectual for you. Go grab "Happy
Gilmore" instead, which I do highly recommend). But, if you've
got half a brain and can draw your own conclusions, this may be for
you. Or. better yet... You're trying to score with some perky,
liberal, University of Chicago, bleeding heart, save the world
college coed, bring her to you room and pop in this movie and
impress the shit out of her by making the following comments:
"I really enjoyed the movie. it made me think."
"I was taken back a bit at first with the editing of the
film using flashbacks, but in retrospect it helped put the movie in
perspective."
"Bravo to the cinematographer for going light on the make
up. I'm so tired of movie stars looking perfect. These characters
seemed dingy and real."
I enjoyed Sting doing the sound track for this movie. He had a
Tony Bennett like quality."
"I thought the end was a bit of a cliche' when Ben looked at
Sera, let out a breath, his hand fell, and in the next scene she's
sobbing on the edge of the bed. They could have left out the last
look and breath."
"How about that ending? So sad, but it had to be that way.
If Hollywood would have put in a happy ending it would have ruined
the movie, just like the movie Sea of Love with Pacino and Barken
was ruined by a happy ending." (Major score points for this
comment)
If you haven't figured it out by now, Leaving Las Vegas is not an
up-beat movie. It a story about a guy, Ben, whose life is in ruin.
His wife took off with the kid, he lost his job, and is becoming an
alcoholic. The poor slob just gives up in life and decides to sell
everything and go to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he
meets a prostitute whose life is in turmoil also. Ben buys Sera one
night, but not to have sex, just to talk. Both of them need this
because they are desperately alone in life. Sera is overwhelmed with
"lost puppy dog syndrome" and takes Ben in. This
arrangement works because they respect each other for who they are.
Sera's a prostitute and Ben's a drunk. They eventually fall in love.
Some may think it is a cruel fate for Sera, to fall in love with a
drunk who has a death wish, but it is this circumstance that gives
them both what they need. Ben need's to feel loved before he dies
and Sera needs to be loved before she can live.
I recommend Leaving Las Vegas for mature adults who like to use
their heads. I give this movie 4.5 stars out of 5. |
