MovieChat Forums > Leaving Las Vegas (1996) Discussion > The ending - realism

The ending - realism

posted 10 years ago by sth78
7 replies | jump to latest

Is it realistic that Ben would die that way? From what I have heard from people in the environment (hospitals) most alcoholics that are so far gone that there is no way of saving them, vomit blood almost bucket-wise before they die. They are in agonizing pain for the final moments of their lives.

Those who are in the state of delirium tremens (DTs) can't lie still for a moment, but scream, hallucinate and pass out from exhaustion. Then there is a possibility that they die from it.

But in this movie, Ben not only goes out quietly, but even acheives an erection and has sex right before.

Is it realistic to die so peacefully from alcohol abuse?

[–] Chrsmassiah 10 years ago

The Boost with james woods & Sean Young gets my vote watched it one xmas solo. Less than zero also comes to mind.

[–] EveryDayFriend 10 years ago

I'm with you, sth78. Maybe not a woody but a wobbly. (Drunks don't typically get erections worth a damn, but can ejaculate under some conditions!)

Ben's death made me think of Andy Gibb. A raging coke head for all of his 20s, whose autopsy showed he had kicked the habit. But having put his fortune up his nose, he was broke. So he turned to something cheap and easy to get: he became a drunk. He died after just turning 30 from a heart attack due to myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle; likely from a virus his condition couldn't handle). Whenever a person "too young" kicks -- cocaine's the suspect. It really does a number on the heart. It gives out.

Let's talk about the portrayal of mortally sunk drunks in film, shall we?

The only ONLY movie/show/etc. I recall seeing a true slow-death from booze is currently SHAMELESS with Willam H. Macy. Cirrhosis of the Liver is a slow-burn putrefaction of the body. In this process, the liver gives up, swells/distends and stops. The body's internal status is poisoned by the inability for the liver to function. The kidneys follow. Hopeless. The hijacked, pissed-off body swells til it seems it will explode...a Hindenburg of toxicity... and the drunk looks as though he's 12 months pregnant. The blood vomits, the bleeding out any orifice due to the internal destruction...all of it... we never EVER truly see in a film. It's candy-coated in Hollywood. Until --

SHAMELESS, which might do a true public service as we will FINALLY see a "real" portrayal of the slow death from booze.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] djtruff 8 years ago

Well - it's a movie. Not a documentary about alco problems.

[–] sth78 8 years ago

Isn't it? To my knowledge it is based on the author of the book by the same name as the movie, John O'Brien, and his descent into alcoholism.

He tried to drink himself to death, but couldn't make it work, so he shot himself, whilst this movie was being filmed.

So albeit not a documentary, it is supposedly autobiographical.

[–] djtruff 8 years ago

It's true. But don't you think it'd be a bit crazy to show all the horrors of drinking? Like internal organs failure, blood vomiting, etc. I, personally, don't mind, but if some people complaining about the rape scene, imagine what they are going to say about those crazy scenes.

[–] sth78 8 years ago

Yes, it would definetely not be for the squeamish. But I still think we need a movie like that, which is stark enough to portray the ultimate demise by alcoholism. This movie comes close, but it lacks the worst parts of it.

Hopefully we will get one in the near future. With the proper warnings, of course.