Film Review : LEAVING LAS VEGAS * * * *
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
CAST Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands, R. Lee Ermey, Richard Lewis
DIRECTOR Mike Figgis
The one thing that is certain for all of us is the fact that we are alone with ourselves. No matter the status of our life. We may have many friends, a good spouse, children, family and friends, yet one unescapable reality is that we are left with ourselves at the end of the day. Coming to terms with our aloneness is the focus of Mike Figgis' Leaving Las Vegas.
Nicolas Cage stars as Ben, a bonified alcoholic who loses his cushy job in Los Angeles. He gets a nice severance check from his boss, and when asked the question of what he's going to do now, he replies move to Las Vegas. It is there he decides to drink himself to death. He meets a lonely hooker named Sera, played by Elisabeth Shue. In the beginning she is under the thumb of a possesive pimp played by Julian Sands. He is in deep trouble and quickly becomes a non factor. She meets up with Ben, and they develop an odd romance. Sera is aware of Ben's plans to kill himself through drinking, and in one of the most emotional scenes of the film, he asks her to never ask him to quit drinking. Sera accepts his plan, but is never really comfortable with it. Shue's performance is so deep and thoughtful, that without saying the words, we know she really doesn't want to lose him. Two people so utterly alone, they only wish to be alone together.
The performance by Nicolas Cage as Ben is spotless. Cage is one of the finest working actors today, yet he still seems to get no respect. Shue is equally brilliant as Sera. The depth of emotion she brings is incredible. Most of the story is narrarated by Sera. Mike Figgis, one of the best directors to emerge in the last twenty years or so, lets the actors dive in to their roles. He shows a tremendous gift of patience, allowing the story to unfold piece by piece, bit by bit. Films like this are hard to make. Expressing such feeling and mood that we are mesmerized by the films texture. I'm looking forward to seeing much more from this talented director.
