MovieChat Forums > Leaving Las Vegas (1996) Discussion > No one's done justice to this film...yet

No one's done justice to this film...yet

posted 13 years ago by drjude518
7 replies | jump to latest

I found this movie very difficult to watch.
Shue is gorgeous. And palpably in real emotional pain. Her face is tortured. She falls immediately for a damaged, physically unappealing man (think falling-apart body, halitosis, literally rotting inside out, neurological problems, hallucinations, DTs etc). Why would a reasonable, beautiful, sex worker/hooker fall into this pit unless she herself was equally as damaged?

I found Nick Cage horribly miscast. Or maybe I should say as ugly to watch as Shue was beautiful. I know the world loves Nick Cage, and I sure did in Moonstruck, but I found him so unappealing in this film. But maybe that's the point.
And in spite of their implicit agreement that she wouldn't try to change him or stop him she did ask him to see a doctor.

And I'd like to add one note about Laurie Metcalf who does an amazing job of playing against type; a twitchy, highly neurotic, repressed motel owner.

Has anyone read the book on which the movie is based?
Where do the scenes in which Sera appears to be talking to a counselor fit in to the story? The book may shed light on this.
There is a part of Las Vegas that no one ever sees that has to do with addiction; debasement in all its forms; drugs, gambling, sex; it's all there. And it exists all over not just in L.V. The sad sad story of the human condition and the emptiness within that begs to be filled.

I intend to live forever. So far so good.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] drjude518 13 years ago

No not a more handsome actor. I am merely stating that a man killing himself with alcohol is a truly grotesque physical condition to be in. A handsome man is not what I was implying. It's just me; I couldn't warm up to his character. Having known too many alcoholics, I suppose.
Who could play his part? How 'bout Billy Bob Thornton. It's a dream role for many a player.

About Sera-- she really didn't accept him at faith as she did ask him to see a doctor. I actually never said anything in my original post about her relationship to Ben.

I was mostly interested in finding out something about the book since I don't have a library at my fingertips.

I intend to live forever. So far so good.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] WhenGreyjoysCry 12 years ago

Have to disagree. I think you are letting your personal feelings about Cage affect your judgement. First, he won the Oscar for male lead for this part...If that isn't evidence he was perfectly cast and gave a masterful performance, I don't know what is.

Cage catches a lot of grief for some of his roles. I think one of his problems is he is just not good with money and does a lot of movies (good and bad) to support his lifestyle. Some of his better efforts in addition to LLV in my opinion:

Lord of War
Matchstick Men
Adaptation
Wild at Heart.
Raising Arizona

He has also had a lot of success with action.

Gone in 60 seconds
The Rock
Con Air
National Treasure I-III

all did well at the box office.

“There are no ordinary moments. There is always something going on.” – Peaceful Warrior

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] endelbendel 12 years ago

That agreement to leave his drinking alone was EXplicit. And, yes, she did ask him to see a doctor. This was her single honest moment in the relationship (honest with self). She finally asked for something. See my other, more inclusive comment under the 'rape' thread. In context of the scene she was asking him to see a shrink, suddenly aware of what the viewer knows and accepts all along, that his self-destruction is intentional and real. This movie is as perverse about meaningful life - perversity hidden beneath the skirts of vulnerable sweetness - as is war when handed to us wrapped up in the pretty pictures of patriotism.

[–] IMDB_Vits 12 years ago

Why would a reasonable, beautiful, sex worker/hooker fall into this pit unless she herself was equally as damaged?

You just answered yourself. They were both lonely and full of problems, so they formed a co-dependant bond.

Where do the scenes in which Sera appears to be talking to a counselor fit in to the story? The book may shed light on this.

I don't know about the book, but the film left it open for interpretation. Maybe it was to show that his death had a deep effect on her, so she started seeing a therapist in order to overcome her inner demons.

There is a part of Las Vegas that no one ever sees that has to do with addiction; debasement in all its forms; drugs, gambling, sex; it's all there. And it exists all over not just in L.V. The sad sad story of the human condition and the emptiness within that begs to be filled.

Aside from being a real story, I don't think that the setting was a coincidence. Las Vegas is known as the center of all adictions.