Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Director:

Mike Figgis

Writers:

John O'Brien (novel)
Mike Figgis (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 October 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Shower Scene | Female Nudity | City Name In Title | Pity Sex | Las Vegas Strip

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 25 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

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
Al Henderson	...	Man at Strip Bar
Shashi Bhatia	...	Hispanic Prostitute
Carey Lowell	...	Bank Teller
Anne Lange	...	Business Colleague
Thomas Kopache	...	Mr. Simpson

Also Known As:

Leaving Las Vegas (France)

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

France | USA | UK

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Philippines:R-18 | USA:R (certificate #33977) | Brazil:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Chile:18 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/18 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Bally's Casino Resort - 3645 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Initial Productions

Trivia:

The "supermarket sweep" with Ben whistling his suicide death note scene was voted Empire magazines eighth greatest drunk scene in movie history (2005).

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: The level of liquid in Ben's glass when he's packing to move to Sera's place. Ben is emptying bottles in the glass and drinking from it while he packs, which explains the different levels.

Quotes:

Ben Sanderson: Don't you think you'd get a little bored, living with a drunk?
Sera: Well... that's what I want.
Ben Sanderson: You haven't seen the worst of it. I knock things over... throw up all the time. These past few days I've been very controlled. You're like some sort of antidote that mixes with the liquor and keeps me in balance. But, that won't last forever.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Super Size Me (2004)

Soundtrack:

It's A Lonesome Old Town

beautiful cinematography

I remember seeing this film when it came out, not really knowing what to expect. the only thing i knew about the film was that Nicolas Cage was in it. i saw it with my girlfriend and i remember that throughout the movie nobody made a sound, no annoying popcorn munchers, no one getting up to go to the toilet, just complete silence. And after the film was finished and the credits were rolling across the screen people still sat quiet in their seats. The film is beautifully played and directed. The sober jazz music from sting fits like a glove. To this day my girlfriend want let me see leaving las Vegas again because i get mellow and "preoccupied" for several days.