Leaving Las Vegas
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- For other uses, see Leaving Las Vegas (disambiguation).
Leaving Las Vegas is an MGM film made in 1995 with Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue directed by Mike Figgis. It is based on a novel by John O'Brien.
Two weeks after the production of the film had started, O'Brien committed suicide. A halt of the project was considered, but work on the film was continued as an in memoriam of sorts.
The film is notable for having been filmed in super 16mm, a tour-de-force since this format is not usually considered suitable for commercial theatrical-release movies.
Primary cast
- Nicolas Cage - Ben Sanderson
- Elisabeth Shue - Sera
- Julian Sands - Yuri, Sera's Latvian pimp
- Richard Lewis - Peter
Award wins:
- Academy Award for Best Actor : (Nicolas Cage)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama : (Nicolas Cage)
Award nominations:
- Academy Award for Best Actress : (Elizabeth Shue)
- Academy Award for Directing (Mike Figgis)
- Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay (Mike Figgis)
Plot synopsis
Ben Sanderson (Cage), an alcoholic, lost his job in Los Angeles. He goes to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. He meets Sera (Shue), a prostitute. A deep friendship and understanding develops between them. Their love, however, is ultimately doomed. Sera has to promise Ben that she will never ask him to stop drinking. Ben on the other hand is not allowed to mention Sera's occupation. However, after spending some time together, they both become more and more frustrated with the other's behaviour. One night Ben sees Sera with one of her customers, and in turn takes a prostitute back home for the night. Sera comes home early and catches Ben in bed with one of her workmates, later forcing him to move out of her apartment. Ben calls Sera on the night before his death. She goes to visit the already very ill alcoholic, who will die by the morning.
External links
- Official Website (http://www.mgm.com/leavinglasvegas/)
- Template:Imdb title
- Movie Tome (http://www.movietome.com/movietome/servlet/MovieMain/movieid-2729/)