LEAVING LAS VEGAS
US, 1995, 111 minutes, Colour.
Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands, Richard Lewis, Stephen Webber, Carey Lowell, Danny Houston, Lou Rawls, Xander Berkely, Ed Lauter, R. Lee Ermey, Laurie Metcalfe.
Directed by Mike Figgis.
A really pessimistic film (again about life and death in Las Vegas).
Based on an autobiographical novel by John O'Brien (who committed suicide during the film's production), it is the story of a young alcoholic with a death wish. He leaves his job and goes to Las Vegas to drink himself to death in a month. He does find a friend, a prostitute played with depth by Elisabeth Shue. Nicolas Cage won an Oscar and many awards for his portrayal of the alcoholic.
This is an intense film, a film that asks us to look at an alcoholic and try to understand, especially since he does not want to be rescued. If this man were dying of cancer, people would want to be around to help and comfort. Alcoholism is a disease that people want to avoid. How can one be compassionate towards an alcoholic?
Not a film you would say you would like, nor do I suggest that you must see it. But there is a place for films tackling the underside of our society, challenging us.
1. The many awards, the Oscar for Nicolas Cage? A film of the 90s?
2. The work of the director, his writing and directing this film, his experimental films and drawing on this?
3. The strong cast, the Oscar, the nominations?
4. The themes of alcohol and drinking? A serious portrait? Alcoholic behaviour, attitudes, the reasons and motivations? The death wish? The need for support? Self-destruction?
5. The world of prostitutes and pimps, the work, the clients, the money, the risks and the violence, the women being used, yet making their choices? Becoming what the client wants? The physical abuse? It are personal life and needs?
6. Nicolas Cage as Ben, the opening with him shocking shopping, buying the drinks, his collapse? His wife leaving him, taking his son? In need of money, going to the restaurant, meeting his friends, wanting to borrow, the clash with him, his being ousted, promise of repayment, going to the bar, his talking with the girl at the bar, the attitude of the bartender, his bravado? The flashbacks, seeing him as a writer, jovial in the office, with the bosses, there are challenging him about the drink, his reaction, chaos in his life, fired? His burning his material? Wanting to cash the cheque, the girl at the counter, her hard line, his return?
7. Driving to Las Vegas, stocking up with drink, Sera? They’re talking? Going to the hotel, dingy, settling into the room, going out and around in Las Vegas, finding Sera in the street? Her not want him to offer money in the street because of the police? Their driving, talking, the agreement about the payment, going to his room, his talking, sleeping?
8. Sera, seeing her with Yuri, his Latvian background, the pimp, the group sex, his own sex with Sera,his demanding her money when she did not bring enough, seeing him later, the fear of attack, his leaving?
9. The hotel, the clerks, the owners and receiving Sera and Ben, at the pool, their being loud, excluded?
10. The gallery of minor characters and top actors: the bank teller, the thugs on the road to Vegas, the girl at the bar, Yuri, taxi drivers, the proprietors of hotels and boarding houses?
11. Ben, his talk, is intending to die, and enough money for the four weeks, taking Sera for the meal, walking around the city, moving in, their sharing, the possibilities of a relationship? They’re going to the casino, his gambling, the attack, his collapse? Sarah seeing the girl in the apartment and walking out, kicking him out?
12. Ben, by himself, lying at the gate, in the room, physically going down, his death? Her support of him?
13. Sera, the scenes of interview with the psychologist? Explanations of herself, her profession, her conducting herself, the attraction to Ben, being able to talk with him? Her future?
14. A sombre and all-too-realistic portrait of a desperate alcoholic?
