[.ca] Leaving Las Vegas (Widescreen/Full Screen) (ISBN 0792838068)

From Amazon.com:
One of the most critically acclaimed films of 1995, this wrenchingly sad but extraordinarily moving drama provides an authentic, superbly acted portrait of two people whose lives intersect just as they've reached their lowest depths of despair. Ben (Nicolas Cage, in an Oscar-winning performance) is a former movie executive who's lost his wife and family in a sea of alcoholic self-destruction. He's come to Las Vegas literally to drink himself to death, and that's when he meets Sera (Elisabeth Shue), a prostitute who falls in love with him--and he with her--despite their mutual dead-end existence. They accept each other as they are, with no attempts by one to change the other, and this unconditional love turns Leaving Las Vegas into a somber yet quietly beautiful love story. Earning Oscar nominations for Best Director (Mike Figgis), Best Adapted Screenplay (Figgis, from John O'Brien's novel) and Best Actress (Shue), the film may strike some as relentlessly bleak and glacially paced, but attentive viewers will readily discover the richness of these tragic characters and the exceptional performances that bring them to life. (In a sad echo of his own fiction, novelist John O'Brien committed suicide while this film was in production.) The DVD features uncut, unrated footage that was not included in the film's theatrical release. --Jeff Shannon

THE ONLY MOVIE TO EVER MAKE ME CRY:
i could go on and on but i wont, the facts are a) this is probably the most dramatic movie ever made and b) nic cage is the best actor on the planet. holy smokes was he amazing in this and elisabeth shue is perfect by all standards. i also dig "the third man" tributes in there - good job all around tonite i decided this is my favorite movie....which might last a week but it will remain top five forever. I know its a little late but seriously...congrats nic cage you kick ass.

Something different-not for the kiddies.:
I like this movie and recommend it. Something to watch when you're alone late at night. Good acting by the talented Cage & Shue. Makes an impression on you.

Leave This movie:
Mike Figgis directs this indie offbeat drama that presents the strange and unusual relationship between Ben (Nicolas Cage), a lonesome alcoholic, and Sera (Elisabeth Shue), a crestfallen prostitute. They get to know each other in Las Vegas, since Ben went there to spend all his money and die. What we have here is an intriguing premise that fails to recieve a compelling development, delivering a melodramatic, dull, repetitive and annoying love story between two uninteresting characters. Nicolas Cage spends half the screen time drunk, making his character an irritating and sappy individual, and Elisabeth Shue gives a fine performance in a movie that doesn`t deserve it. "Leaving Las Vegas" tries to be subtle, introspective, intelligent and moving, but it ends up being contrived, boring, patchy and disposable. This film deserves a skip.

Gripping but depressing:
After reading several reviews about this film I feel that many people are missing the point of it. This is NOT a movie about alcoholism. If it were then it would be about Ben's battle against alcohol, or at the very least Sera attempting to persuade Ben to battle it, but other than a few feeble attempts (asking Ben to go see a doctor, asking Ben if he wants her to help him) she leaves Ben alone, much like she promised. This is a love story, and a great one at that. This is a different kind of love story than you usually come across because both Ben and Sera accept one another for who they are, they do not try and change one another even if it would be for the better. It's not that the characters are pleased with each other's problems, or even that they are indifferent about them, but they accept them. They learn to look past the other's flaws and are able to find love. This movie shows that anyone is able to find love, no matter how screwed up their lives may be. It shows that you often find love when you are least expecting it. After all I'm sure Ben's suicide would have been much quicker had he not met Sera. And if Sera hadn't have met Ben she wouldn't have to feel the pain of losing someone she loves. But they found each other anyways and for those couple weeks that they were together they seemed happy. The depressing part of this film is that it also shows that love is simply not enough. Even though Ben loved Sera it was not enough to save his life. I would give this film 4.5 stars if it were an option, it loses the half star because of the soundtrack. While many people may love the soundtrack I don't care for it, even though it is fitting and really sets the atmosphere, it becomes repetitive and at times drowns out some of the dialogue. Regardless, I still recommend watching this film at least once, even though at times it can be difficult to watch. I rarely come across films that hit me this hard and stay with me for this long. It is one of the most powerful films you will ever see.

BOOOORIIING:
This movie is one of the most boring ones I have ever seen. Cage is drunk through the entire movie, and the woman he's with is a prostitute. I normally love Nicholas Cage movies, but this one was an insult to his talent as an actor. Instead of renting this movie, slam your fingers in a door repeatedly. That's free, and less painful than sitting through this stinker.