Ben leaves the Old World (Los Angeles), a place where he was living a lie, to the New World (Las Vegas), a place where he chooses to live — and die — per the truth. It’s not a happy ending. And Sera is a temptress — in more ways than one — to divert Ben from his own inner truth.
What happened to Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas?
The movie I’m talking about is 1995’s Leaving Las Vegas. Leaving Las Vegas tells the story of Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage, who I promise is terrific in this film), a depressed and manic Hollywood screenwriter. Ben’s alcoholism has become uncontrollable, causing him to lose his job, family, and friends.
Why did Ben move to Las Vegas?
Ben’s alcoholism has become uncontrollable, causing him to lose his job, family, and friends. Believing that there is nothing left to live for, Ben decides to move to Las Vegas and drink himself to death, spending all of his money on alcohol and refusing any assistance to stop.
What is the movie Leaving Las Vegas about?
Leaving Las Vegas tells the story of Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage, who I promise is terrific in this film), a depressed and manic Hollywood screenwriter. Ben’s alcoholism has become uncontrollable, causing him to lose his job, family, and friends.
What happened to Ben in the hole you're in?
He then leaves for Las Vegas. As he drives his BMW drunkenly down the Las Vegas Strip, he almost hits a woman in the crosswalk (who turns out to be Sera) who chastises him. Ben checks himself into a sleazy motel called The Whole Year Inn. However, as he looks at this the wording changes to "The Hole You're In".
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Did Nicholas Cage die at the end of Leaving Las Vegas?
Nicolas Cage stars as a suicidal alcoholic in Los Angeles who, having lost his family and been recently fired, has decided to move to Las Vegas and drink himself to death....Leaving Las VegasBox office$49.8 million16 more rows
What is the message of Leaving Las Vegas?
Mike Figgis brings his directorial eye to this very theme in his romantic tragedy “Leaving Las Vegas” (1995). Based on the novel by John O'Brien, the film deftly explores the challenge of caring deeply for a person with devastating flaws.
Why was Nicholas Cage drinking in Leaving Las Vegas?
Nicolas Cage wanted to drink through Leaving Las Vegas. “He wanted to do the entire film drunk,” says writer-director Mike Figgis. It was a level of realism, perhaps, that wouldn't have mixed well with the low-key production. “The schedule was tight,” Figgis explains.
Who was the woman in Leaving Las Vegas?
Elisabeth ShueThe woman's name is Sera (Elisabeth Shue). You will not see two better performances this year. Midway in the film someone offers Ben the insight that his drinking is a way of killing himself.
Who won an Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas?
CageAfter several lacklustre films in the early 1990s, Cage earned critical acclaim with his Oscar-winning performance as a self-destructive alcoholic writer in Leaving Las Vegas.
Did Elisabeth Shue win an Academy Award for Leaving Las Vegas?
Academy Award for Best Actor...Independent Spirit Award for Best Fe...Golden Globe Award for...Screen Actors Guild Award for...National Society of Film Critics...National Board of Review A...Leaving Las Vegas/Awards
What does the ending of pig mean?
It's a symbolic touch that emphasizes how the entire chase for his truffle-hunting pig was more of an escape from his grief than a real way of dealing with it — and that the only way to completely move forward and change is to confront his loss directly.
How does Ben meet Sera in Las Vegas?
Ben Sanderson, a Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his alcoholism, arrives in Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he meets and forms an uneasy friendship and non-interference pact with prostitute Sera.
What is the story behind Ben Sanderson leaving Las Vegas?
After losing his family and job, Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage) moves to Las Vegas to slowly drink himself to death. Along the way, in Mike Figgis’ movie adaptation of John O’Brien’s semi-autobiography, he befriends and moves in with a prostitute named Sera (Elisabeth Shue).
What happened to John O'Brien in Leaving Las Vegas?
On the 20th anniversary of the film's release, here are some life-affirming facts about Leaving Las Vegas. 1. JOHN O’BRIEN KILLED HIMSELF BEFORE THE FILM BEGAN PRODUCTION. John O’Brien’s father described his son’s 1990 novel as his suicide note.
Who played Shue in eating Las Vegas?
Instead of an alcoholic, Eating Las Vegas was about a corpulent man (Johnny Cocktails) who comes to Las Vegas— where "the buffets never close"—to eat himself to death. Julie Benz played Shue’s character, who in this version was bulimic. Dean Cain also starred.
Did Nicolas Cage wear the same watch as Ben Sanderson?
Cage told Roger Ebert he found it “creepy” that while he played Ben Sanderson, he unknowingly ended up wearing the same watch and driving the same model BMW as O’Brien. The late author’s family informed him of the coincidence on set. 3.
What is leaving Las Vegas based on?
Mike Figgis based Leaving Las Vegas on a 1990 autobiographical novel by John O'Brien, who died of suicide in April 1994, shortly after finding out his novel was being used as the basis for a film. Despite basing most of his screenplay on O'Brien's novel, Figgis spoke of a personal attachment with the novel, stating "Anything I would do would be because I had a sympathetic feeling towards it. That's why I did Mr. Jones, because I think manic-depression is a fascinating, sad, and amazing phenomenon. It's not a coincidence that some of the greatest artists have been manic-depressives. That made it, to me, a fascinating subject that, alas, did not come out in the film."
Why does Ben end his relationship with Sera?
Polish mobsters are after Yuri, so he ends his relationship with Sera in fear that the Poles may hurt her. On his second day in Las Vegas, Ben goes looking for Sera, introduces himself and offers her $500 to come to his room for an hour. Sera agrees, but Ben does not want sex.
How much did leaving Las Vegas cost?
The film was a success at the box office, particularly considering its budget, grossing $49.8 million.
What year was the movie "Leaving Las Vegas" made?
Box office. $49.8 million. Leaving Las Vegas is a 1995 American drama film written and directed by Mike Figgis, and based on the semi-autobiographical 1990 novel of the same name by John O'Brien. Nicolas Cage stars as a suicidal alcoholic in Los Angeles who, having lost his family and been recently fired, has decided to move to Las Vegas ...
What happened to O'Brien in the movie?
O'Brien committed suicide after signing away the film rights to the novel.
When did "Leaving Las Vegas" come out?
After limited release in the United States on October 27, 1995, Leaving Las Vegas was released nationwide on February 9, 1996, receiving strong praise from critics and audiences. Cage received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama and the Academy Award for Best Actor, while Shue was nominated for the Golden Globe Award ...
Who is Ben Sanderson?
Ben Sanderson is an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter who has lost his job, family, and friends. With nothing left to live for, and a sizable severance check from his boss, he heads to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. One early morning, he drives drunkenly from his Los Angeles home down to the Las Vegas Strip; he nearly hits a woman, Sera, on the crosswalk. She chastises him and walks away.
Mistakes
Continuity mistake: When Nicholas Cage is in the pool and in a couple of other scenes where he is wearing a shirt you can clearly see a tattoo on his back, but when filmed without a shirt the tattoo is gone.
Quotes
Ben Sanderson: I'll tell you, right now... I'm in love with you. But, be that as it may, I am not here to force my twisted soul into your life.
Trivia
Trivia: Nicholas Cage and Elizabeth Shue were so dedicated to the film that she interviewed several real Las Vegas prostitutes while he went on a drinking binge to experience what might happen to his cognition and speech patterns.
Questions
Question: How did Nicolas Cage manage to keep his job for so long? You'd think he'd get fired for coming to work drunk the first time.
Who played Ben and Sera in the movie?
The movie tells the story of Ben and Sera, played by Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue.
Who was the alcoholic in the Lost Weekend?
Of other famous movie alcoholics, Ray Milland's in "The Lost Weekend" was a case study, seen from outside, and Albert Finney's in "Under the Volcano" lacked Ben's self-knowledge. The movie was made quickly, inexpensively, close to ground level.
Is leaving Las Vegas a love story?
Mike Figgis ' "Leaving Las Vegas" (1995) is not a love story, although it feels like one, but a story about two desperate people using love as a form of prayer and a last resort against their pain. It is also a sad, trembling portrait of the final stages of alcoholism.
Did Shue win Dead Man Walking?
Shue did not win ( Susan Sarandon did, for "Dead Man Walking"). It is impossible to imagine one performance without the other, and Shue is the emotional center of the film, because the Cage character is on a set trajectory and beyond the possibility of change.
Overview
Leaving Las Vegas is a 1995 American drama film written and directed by Mike Figgis, and based on the semi-autobiographical 1990 novel of the same name by John O'Brien. Nicolas Cage stars as a suicidal alcoholic in Los Angeles who, having lost his family and been recently fired, has decided to move to Las Vegas and drink himself to death. He loads a supply of liquor and beer into his BMW …
Plot
Ben Sanderson is an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter who has lost his job, family, and friends. With nothing left to live for, and a sizable severance check from his boss, he heads to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. One early morning, he drives drunkenly from his Los Angeles home down to the Las Vegas Strip; he nearly hits a woman, Sera, on the crosswalk. She chastises him and walks away.
Cast
• Nicolas Cage as Ben Sanderson
• Elisabeth Shue as Sera
• Julian Sands as Yuri Butsov
• Richard Lewis as Peter
Production
Mike Figgis based Leaving Las Vegas on a 1990 autobiographical novel by John O'Brien, who died of suicide in April 1994, shortly after finding out his novel was being used as the basis for a film. Despite basing most of his screenplay on O'Brien's novel, Figgis spoke of a personal attachment with the novel, stating "Anything I would do would be because I had a sympathetic feeling towards it. That's why I did Mr. Jones, because I think manic-depression is a fascinating, sad, and amazin…
Release
Leaving Las Vegas had a limited release on October 27, 1995. After praise from critics and four Academy Award nominations, the film was released nationwide February 9, 1996. United Artists company distributed the film in North America, RCV Film Distribution with Atalanta Filmes in Europe, and in Australia 21st Century Film Corporation distributed the film.
Reception
The film was a success at the box office, particularly considering its budget, grossing $49.8 million. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received an approval rating of 89% based on 54 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Oscar-awarded Nicolas Cage finds humanity in his character as it bleeds away in this no frills, exhilaratingly dark portrait of destruction." It also holds a score of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 23 critics, indicatin…
Home media releases
Video cassettes and DVD of the film were distributed by MGM Home Entertainment. The video cassettes were distributed on November 12, 1996 in two languages, English and Russian, while the DVD was distributed on January 1, 1998 in English for USA and Canada. Australian and UK editions later were released. The DVD contains a supplemental "Hidden Page" menu feature. The film was also released on Blu-ray, HD DVD and LaserDisc.
Further reading
• Litch, Mary M. (2010) [1st ed. 2002]. "9. EXISTENTIALISM – The Seventh Seal (1957), Crimes and Misdemeanors (1988), and Leaving Las Vegas (1995) [pp. 209–226]". Philosophy Through Film (2nd ed.). London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415938754. {{cite book}}: External link in |orig-year= (help)