MovieChat Forums > Leaving Las Vegas (1996) Discussion > She would never have cared about him

She would never have cared about him

posted 6 years ago by Mydarkstar (108)
10 replies | jump to latest

uh, no prostitute would care about some drunk idiot acting like a total f*** up in Las Vegas. They see hundreds of idiots like that every day. Would she hang out with him while he's handing her money ? Of course. But she would NEVER invite him to stay in her place ! She would just keep showing up at his hotel every night, drinking his liquor, and milking him of his money until he passed out. It would be the easiest trick of her life.

He showed absolutely no qualities which would cause a street walker to suddenly fall for him. And he even clearly stated that he had no intention of doing anything but get more and more f****d up.

Boy, that's adorable. Come crash at my place !

[–] Utpe (658) 6 years ago

I suppose if you want to look at it from a different perspective, Ben could've made Sera up in his mind.

At that point, he was already hallucinating (The Whole Year Inn vs. The Hole You're In). He was also shouting random words. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch if Ben thought Sera up as a way to cope with dying from alcoholism. But one could argue it kinda throws a wrench into that theory with Sera still being there at the end after Ben had passed away.

Realistically, I don't think somebody in her line of work would fall in love, but it's not entirely implausible. Perhaps she saw something similar in Ben and actually thought she could help him. Not every prostitute is incapable of having feelings.

It's two damaged people from far distances ultimately finding each other. It's what the real life Ben Sanderson (John O'Brien) wrote in his novel before committing suicide.

[–] Wuchak (8776) 4 years ago

The secret of their affinity is revealed in the powerful scene where he paid for her services for the next several hours and she was performing fellatio on him in his room when he surprisingly says that she didn't need to do that or any sexual service; he just wanted her to stay with him and fellowship for the evening. Finally, a man who didn't just want her for her body, not to mention a man she understood and gelled with on a deeper level.

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

I doubt that a man just wanting to talk rather than screw would thrill a prostitute, because being polite to their client while they blather on is a part of their regular job.

Now if a client wanted to listen rather than talk, that might be something!

[–] Wuchak (8776) 4 years ago

Yes, that's why I added "not to mention a man she understood and gelled with on a deeper level."

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

Point taken.

[–] Wuchak (8776) 4 years ago

I took it as they each met their "soulmate," which might only happen once or twice in a lifetime.

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

I admit it's been years since I've seen the movie, but I don't remember them as being soulmates! Mainly, I remember her pitying him and trying to make things all better.

[–] Kowalski (76345) 4 years ago

TWO PEOPLE AT THE DEADEND OF OF LIFE FIND A BRIEF MOMENT OF SIMPATICO.

[–] Wuchak (8776) 4 years ago

I don't remember them as being soulmates! Mainly, I remember her pitying him and trying to make things all better.

I just saw it last night so it's fresh in my mind. They clearly had a profound connection despite their dissolute lifestyles, Sera even says so in a flashforward with her therapist. In other words, Ben wasn't just another pitiable 'John' to her.

Likewise, sometime after their first night together (wherein they hanged out & communed rather than have sex) Ben admits on a bench at night that he was specifically looking for her as opposed to just any alluring prostitute.

Furthermore, Sera asked Ben to move in immediately because she wanted him home with her so she could see him every day and every night when she got home from her dubious job. Obviously Sera was more than attractive enough that she could have any number of men already living with her, if she wanted, which wasn't the case. Ben was different; he was her soulmate and vice versa, despite his extreme alcoholism and her prostitution.

[–] Paperboy (142) 14 days ago

I can see that Sera was just Ben's figment of imagination, but they should have explained that better. It just came off as sloppy writing. No way it was real, not considering how attractive Elisabeth Shue is.