: As Acclaim Grows and Distribution Widens, 'Vegas' Seeks Mainstream Respect, Oscar Nominations Are Just One Surprise After Another, How Nicolas Cage Gambled on 'Vegas' -- and Came Up Big, Ebert & Scorsese: Best Films of the 1990s. The dynamism of his performances comes from this concentrated focus on making his imagination feel real, allowing himself to disappear both emotionally and physically into a character. Cage researched by binge drinking in Dublin for two weeks and had a friend videotape him so he could study his speech. Prior to his life falling apart, he was a successful screenwriter. Oh, this movie is so sad! You can also see Hollywood wasnt entirely sure how to deal with the film. [5] [6] Despite basing most of his screenplay on O'Brien's novel, Figgis spoke of a personal attachment with the novel, stating "Anything I would do would be because I had a sympathetic feeling towards it. [19] Leonard Klady from Variety wrote Leaving Las Vegas was "certainly among a scant handful of films that have taken an unflinching view of dependency. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. Not every wine mom binge drinks like Cages character does, but every time we normalize any level of alcohol dependency, we enable one more person to indulge in an unhealthy relationship to booze. Polish mobsters are after Yuri, so he ends his relationship with Sera in fear that the Poles may hurt her. Question: How did Nicolas Cage manage to keep his job for so long? And they're shouting, but it's quiet and they feel really stupid, because it's unnatural. And we think Leaving Las Vegas nails this perfectly, as Cages performance is quite outstanding. Despite their uplifting bond, it becomes increasingly difficult to condone Bens incompetence. The ending of 'Las Vegas'. Ben says he will not criticize her occupation either, and she thanks him. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Ask Dr. Moron: How do I tell if Im pregnant?, Hot Cross Buns: One a Penny, Two a Penny Foodstuff. Sera begs Ben to see a doctor, which he refuses. Most of her wealth comes from her roles in various movies and television series. Hed then film himself when drunk to get an understanding of the right body language, speech, and hand gestures. 7 biggest mistakes in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, The 20 biggest mistakes in The Wizard of Oz, 40 biggest mistakes in The Big Bang Theory, 6 Cool things you've never noticed in movies, The biggest mistakes in the Harry Potter movies, 25 mistakes you never noticed in great movies, 7 mistakes in Beetlejuice you never spotted, More questions & answers from Leaving Las Vegas. One hell of an actor when he wants to be (check out Pig from 2021), hes also eccentric and leads an extravagant lifestyle. However, Ben is very clear about his drinking intentions and Sera promises not to interfere with his goal. But the way he discusses Nouveau Shamanic today offers some insight into how he brought his terrifying drunk to life. He moves from Hollywood to Las Vegas after he has failed to keep his family or his job in the movie industry as a direct result of his drinking. He tries to excuse his tremors by lying about a recent brain surgery, but he gives up and downs an early morning gin and tonic to steady his hand. John OBriens father described his sons 1990 novel as his suicide note. Instead, hes very smart, witty, and engaging. Later, Sera explains to her therapist that she accepted Ben for who he was and loved him. Significant cuts in the U.S. version needed to be made for Seras Fat Hairy Man speech. If acting is just professional pretending, Cage plainly chooses to take that one step beyond. The factors that make this film depressing include seeing a once-successful man on a fast downward spiral, intent on killing himself. First it was "The Volcano" at Mirage. Bens turbulence is mirrored by the profound unhappiness of Sera (Elisabeth Shue), a prostitute who acts as the films co-lead. While Sera is working, Ben goes to a casino and returns with another prostitute. The film also received nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director. This is a brutal tale of a middle-aged alcoholic man named Ben Sanderson (Cage). Extended Video with Filming Locations of the movie "Leaving Las Vegas" with Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue as main actors.The scenes were filmed in and and . We think this is the powerful force behind the film. The story is about two wounded, desperate, marginal people, and how they create for each other a measure of grace. Sera returns to find them in her bed and throws Ben out. It's the morning after the world premiere of "Leaving Las Vegas" at the Toronto Film Festival in September, and I am still under the spell of this remarkable film.It stars Nicolas Cage as a man who loses his family and his job, and moves to Las Vegas with the intention of drinking himself to death.. And while he is there he meets a prostitute, played by Elisabeth Shue, and they fall in love . Ben Sanderson is an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter who has lost his job, family, and friends. At first, the pair are happy but soon become frustrated with the other's behavior. She later was nominated for an Oscar for playing Sera. You will not see two better performances this year. And we never found out what happened to Delinda, Danny and their in-danger baby. When Sera suggests a weekend getaway, he quickly accepts. It's in a select category of films along with Million Dollar Baby, Monster where I really respect the cinematic achievement, but I'll hopefully never have to watch again. Nicolas Cage said it was bittersweet that the author, who was 33 years old when he died, never got to see the film based on his noveland life. Its an out-of-time moment, where the audience is unsure if hes actually speaking to her or if this is simply a drunk conversation he is having with himself. For Cage, the success opened the door to bigger projects. Nicholas Cage stars as Ben Sanderson in "Leaving Las Vegas" (1995), directed by Mike Figgis. "[18] Ebert named the film "best of 1995" and included it in his "best of the decade" list in the number 8 spot. The film also received nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director. His work in Leaving Las Vegas is staggering because its an unglamorous depiction of an addict at the end of their rope. It is sad not because of the tragic lives of its characters, but because of their goodness and their charity. Always the outside-of-the-box thinker, Cage has, over the years, developed his own acting technique, which he calls Nouveau Shamanic. As Cage told The Independent: I just watched Tony. After losing his family and job, Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage) moves to Las Vegas to slowly drink himself to death. Rated R The website's critical consensus reads, "Oscar-awarded Nicolas Cage finds humanity in his character as it bleeds away in this no frills, exhilaratingly dark portrait of destruction. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. [27] The soundtrack also included three jazz standards performed by Sting and excerpts of dialogue from the film. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. He accepts and moves in, even if Ben is passed out unconscious on her doorstep when Sera arrives home. Leaving Las Vegas - Ending Scene. He told Film Critic: "It was just a week and a half of rehearsal. The actors may have been a little inebriated while filming the most infamous disasterpiece of 1993, but their off-screen bonding only helped make their on-screen relationship feel real. Drunk and stumbling out of his car, he requests her services on the streets of Vegas. Months after the show aired and before it was officially canceled a source told TV Guide that if Las Vegas failed to receive a sixth season pickup, Duhamel and Simms would appear in the. Max and I would say it was like a death-bender movie in the vein of Leaving Las Vegas. Also, the setting is perfect. Reading the book. Cast : Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian SandsScreenplay : Mike FiggisRelease : October 27, 1995Director : Mike FiggisGenre : Drama, RomanceCountry : USAStream NowTim's Rating : Bang for your Buck : Leaving Las Vegas (1995) Posted by Tim Brayton Posted on Jun - 3 - 20170 Comments To live and die in L.V. Are they dead? I don't know if you've a boyfriend, or a girlfriend, but I thought maybe we could get some dinner. What moves me the most in movies is not when something bad happens, but when characters act unselfishly. After one particularly rough bender where he downed a pint of hard liquor in one agonizing swallow, he goes to a bank to try and cash a check. A lot of communication in the year before we made the film. Shue's prostitute is however the crucial role, because Sera is the one with a choice. Sera, a prostitute, and Ben, an alcoholic, stumble together and discover in each other a respite from their unforgiving lives. Months after the show aired and before it was officially canceled a source told TV Guide that if Las Vegas failed to receive a sixth season pickup, Duhamel and Simms would appear in the background of the then-new NBC series Knight Rider, holding their newborn. Leaving Las Vegas is a 1995 American drama film written and directed by Mike Figgis, and based on the semi-autobiographical 1990 novel of the same name by John O'Brien. [22] The video cassettes were distributed on November 12, 1996 in two languages, English and Russian, while the DVD was distributed on January 1, 1998 in English for USA and Canada. The man's name is Ben (Nicholas Cage). He also watched four movies: The Lost Weekend, Days of Wine and Roses, Arthur, and Under the Volcano. And much like him I also convinced myself the only cure for that pain was at the bottom of another glass. Sera and Ben reunite in a sleazy hotel room and have sex just before he dies. Nicolas Cage stars as a suicidal alcoholic in Los Angeles who, having lost his family and been recently fired, has decided to move to Las Vegas and drink himself to death. Perhaps she likes Ben because he is so desperate and honest. Although theres no happy ending. So Romantic. Thats because he creates an alternate reality for himself that is vivid and alive, helping him ground any of his off the wall quirks. Shue spent time interviewing several Las Vegas prostitutes.[9]. Sera doesnt seem to quite understand this and later attempts to stop Ben from drinking, which leads to the relationship coming to an end. Leaving Las Vegas was filmed in super 16 mm[5] instead of 35 mm film; while 16mm was common for art house films at the time, 35mm is most commonly used for mainstream film. [12] This caused him to film some scenes on the Las Vegas strip in one take to avoid the police, which Figgis said benefited production and the authenticity of the acting, remarking "I've always hated the convention of shooting on a street, and then having to stop the traffic, and then having to tell the actors, 'Well, there's meant to be traffic here, so you're going to have to shout.' What moves me the most in movies is not when something bad happens, but when characters act unselfishly. And they're shouting, but it's quiet and they feel really stupid, because it's unnatural. Figgis called Albert Finney, star of Under the Volcano, on Cages behalf to ask if Finney was actually drunk when he acted in the film. She chastises him and walks away. Beneath their occupations are their souls. After the pair split, their lives take a sudden downturn in fortunes. That made it, to me, a fascinating subject that, alas, did not come out in the film. [8] Cage recounted that he found the use of 16mm liberating as an actor stating in a 1995 interview with Roger Ebert: .mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, "As an actor, having a 16-mm. With nothing left to live for, and a sizable severance check from his boss, he heads to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. As those two hit it off, Sera invites Ben to live in her flat. [13], Leaving Las Vegas had a limited release on October 27, 1995. She is proud of the way she controls her clients and sets the scenarios. Not because I dont remember the date I quit it was two weeks shy of the Twin Peaks: The Return premiere but because I literally cant remember it. I had been just like Ben, ashamed of the violent tremors that coursed through my hands. Clearly inwardly distraught, he decides to abandon everything, head out to Las Vegas, and drink himself to death. When Billy, the group's sworn bachelor, finally proposes to his thirty-something (of course) girlfriend, the four head to Las Vegas with a plan to stop acting their age and relive their glory. In a kind of existential way. You sense an observant intelligence peering from inside the drunken man, seeing everything, clearly and sadly. The details would not help, because this is not a case history but a sad love song. Ben extends companionship and kindness to Sera during her most vulnerable moments. feels like an aside. The strange thing about Leaving Las Vegas is, despite the terrible subject matter, the love story is genuinely touching. Brief Synopsis Read More An avowed alcoholic, Ben drank away his family, friends and, finally, his job. Throughout the opening montage of scenes, were given an idea of the scope of Bens addiction. The film was a success at the box office, particularly considering its budget, grossing $49.8 million. Director Mike Figgis sprinkles the film with a laconic sense of humour, which is evident as Ben checks in. Is he divorced? Sera agrees, but Ben does not want sex. He commences to nonsensically scream, Im like a prickly pear! before staggering, drunk, into their room. A lot of communication in the year before we made the film. We really liked having you around, Mr. Simpson says as Cages eyes fill with terror and regret. Yet he manufactures desperately inane chatter, dropping famous names. Their relationship is tragically asymmetrical: While Sera endures violence and abuse from customers to make money, Ben crashes for free on her sofa, drinking himself into a dreamy stupor. That's why I did Mr. Jones, because I think manic-depression is a fascinating, sad, and amazing phenomenon. It is unclear to what extent he fully understands his circumstances. the film's attempts to explain her inextricable bind to that world are . Well, that did not happen, meaning no closure for us. Why cant we tear our eyes away from the emotionally devastating interplay between Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell across Martin McDonaghs films? Cookie policy. However, her career never really took offa shame given the talent she showed in the film. Staff writer Isabella B. Cho can be reached at isabella.cho@thecrimson.com. She chastises him and walks away. After limited release in the United States on October 27, 1995, Leaving Las Vegas was released nationwide on February 9, 1996, receiving strong praise from critics and audiences. Along the way, in Mike Figgis' movie adaptation of John O'Brien's. Interviewing Director Mike Figgis", "Cage Did Serious Research For Alcoholic Role", "Oscar Nominations Are Just One Surprise After Another", "How Nicolas Cage Gambled on 'Vegas' -- and Came Up Big", "Ebert & Scorsese: Best Films of the 1990s", "Leaving Las Vegas (1995) - All releases", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leaving_Las_Vegas&oldid=1147514134, "Ben Pawns His Rolex/Sera Talks to Her Shrink" (dialogue), "Sera Talks to the Cab Driver" (dialogue), This page was last edited on 31 March 2023, at 13:12. Both characters possess identities stigmatized by society. Famously, director Figgis used a super 16-mm camera for the whole shoot. With nothing left to live for, and a sizable severance check from his boss, he heads to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. But for Cages Ben, rather than asking for help, he ties that rope into a noose so he can hang himself. Nothing can reverse his belief that his life is not worth living, a conviction that extends the question: Was it even fair, then, for him to be with Sera? Director Figgis filmed many scenes on the Las Vegas Strip. [17], Roger Ebert from Chicago Sun-Times and Rick Groen from The Globe and Mail gave the film high marks.
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