Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Ben Sanderson, a Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his alcoholism, arrives in Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he meets and forms an uneasy friendship and non-interference pact with prostitute Sera.

Director:

Mike Figgis

Writers:

John O'Brien (based upon the novel by), Mike Figgis (screenplay by)

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands

Won 1 Oscar. Another 31 wins & 28 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage	...	Ben Sanderson
Elisabeth Shue	...	Sera
Julian Sands	...	Yuri
Richard Lewis	...	Peter
Steven Weber	...	Marc Nussbaum
Kim Adams	...	Sheila
Emily Procter	...	Debbie
Stuart Regen	...	Man at Bar
Valeria Golino	...	Terri
Graham Beckel	...	L.A. Bartender
Albert Henderson	...	Man at Strip Bar (as Al Henderson)
Shashi Bhatia	...	Hispanic Prostitute
Carey Lowell	...	Bank Teller
Anne Lange	...	Business Colleague
Thomas Kopache	...	Mr. Simpson

Storyline

Because his wife left him and took his son with her, screenwriter Ben Sanderson has started drinking, a lot. He's getting more and more isolated and he troubles women in bars because he wants to have sex with them. When he gets fired, he decides to leave everything behind and move to Las Vegas and drink himself to death. In Las Vegas he meets Sera, a prostitute with some problems as well who he moves in with.

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Plot Keywords:

prostitute | alcoholism | alcoholic | las vegas nevada | falling in love with a prostitute | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality and language, violence and pervasive alcohol abuse

Details

Official Sites:

MGM [United States]

Country:

France UK USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

9 February 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Adiós a Las Vegas

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,600,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$31,968,347

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lumiere Pictures, A Lila Cazès Production, Initial Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (Digital)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the American Film Institute's 1998 list of the 400 movies nominated for the Top 100 Greatest American Movies.

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Goofs

In the bar scene with Terry, the bartender calls Ben, "Bill," when he says, "That's it Bill, we're closing up now."

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Quotes

Ben Sanderson: I came here to drink myself to death.
Sera: How long will it take you?
Ben Sanderson: I'd say about three to four weeks.

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits do not appear until fifteen minutes into the film.

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Alternate Versions

LaserDisc version is unrated and contains more sexually explicit footage. First pressings of the VHS versions also contained this footage but later pressings did not. The Unrated Edition has also been released on DVD and runs 112 min.

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Connections

Referenced in Difficult People: Difficult Christmas (2015)

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Soundtracks

You Turn Me On
Written by Jacques Morali (as Jacques Merali) and Alain Bernardin
Courtesy of The Crazy Horse Saloon, Paris

User Reviews

Bravura Cage & Shue; latter day "Days of Wine & Roses"; flawless tragic love story

LEAVING LAS VEGAS (1995) **** Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands. (Cameos: Richard Lewis, Steven Weber, Carey Lowell, French Stewart, Julian Lennon, Mariska Hargitay, R. Lee Ermey, Ed Lauter, Danny Huston, Lucinda Jenney, Lou Rawls, Laurie Metcalf, Shawnee Smith, Bob Rafelson,Xander Berkley). Uncompromisingly bleak and powerful portrayal of unconditional love between two tragic misfits. Cage in a bravura performance, that justifiably garnered him a Best Actor Oscar, vows to give up on life and heads to Vegas to drink himself to death where he meets and falls for pretty victimized hooker Shue (the performance of her career, and Best Actress nominee) who decides to love him for what he is. Excellent rapport and believably realistic performances and excellent adaptation of John O' Brien's semi-autobiographical novel of total despair. O' Brien committed suicide shortly after his novel was being produced into a film. Filmed in grainy 16MM and blown up to 35MM gives it an all too natural look. Look sharply for the film's director Mike Figgis as a goateed thug after pimp Sands.