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Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.7/10
Reviews Counted: 47
Fresh: 42 | Rotten: 5

No consensus yet.

100

Average Rating: 8.2/10
Critic Reviews: 12
Fresh: 12 | Rotten: 0

No consensus yet.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 52,594

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Movie Info

Mike Figgis' grim drama documents a romantic triangle of sorts involving prostitute Sera (Elisabeth Shue), failed Hollywood screenwriter Ben (Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage), and the constant flow of booze which he loves more dearly than life itself. Arriving in Las Vegas with the intention of drinking himself to death, Ben meets Sera, and they gradually begin falling for one another. From the outset, however, Ben warns Sera that no matter what, she can never ask him to quit drinking, a condition to

R, 1 hr. 52 min.

Drama, Romance

Directed By: Mike Figgis

Written By: John O'Brien, Mike Figgis

In Theaters: Oct 27, 1995 Wide

On DVD: Feb 24, 1998

United Artists

Leaving Las Vegas Trailer & Photos

Cast

Nicolas Cage
Ben Sanderson
Elisabeth Shue
Sera
Julian Sands
Yuri
Richard Lewis
Peter
Valeria Golino
Terri
Graham Beckel
Bartender
Kim Adams
Sheila
Susan Barnes
Desk Clerk
Xander Berkeley
Cynical Cabbie
Michael A. Goorjian
College Boy
Mariska Hargitay
Hooker at Bar
Albert Henderson
Man at Strip Bar
Lucinda Jenney
Weird Woman
Thomas Kopache
Mr Simpson
David Kriegel
Hotel Manager
Anne Lange
Business Colleague
Ed Lauter
Mobster
Julian Lennon
Bartender at Biker Bar
Carey Lowell
Bank Teller
Laurie Metcalf
Landlady
Sergio Premoli
Stetson Man at Casino
Paul Quinn
Biker Guy
Lou Rawls
Concerned Cabbie
Shawnee Smith
Biker Girl
Tracy Thorne
Waitress at Mall
Steven Weber
Marc Nussbaum
David Brisbin
Landlord
R. Lee Ermey
Conventioneer
Danny Huston
Barman
Waldemar Kalinowski
Mobster
Bob Rafelson
Man at Mall
Stuart Regen
Man at Bar
Marc Coppola
Dealer
Gordon Michaels
Security Guard
French Stewart
Businessman
Vincent Ward
Businessman
Bill Thompson
Midwest Man at Poolside

Critic Reviews for Leaving Las Vegas

All Critics (47) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (6) | DVD (9)

We're not talking high, morally instructive tragedy here, just a hard lesson in postmodernist outlawry and its sad little anarchies.

September 19, 2008 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

| Comment

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

The film pulls no punches, takes no prisoners and flies in the face of feel-good pictures.

February 11, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Leonard Klady

Variety

Top Critic

The plot goes nowhere, but under the pornographic circumstances Figgis, Cage, and Shue all do fine jobs.

February 11, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment (1)

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Small, searing film.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

A uniquely hypnotic and haunting love story sparked by Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue at their career best.

May 12, 2001 Comment

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

A film laden with virtues but difficult to embrace.

February 13, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times

| Comment

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

Figgis puts a desperate drunk front and center and demands we deal with him and the Jungian shadow he casts. [Blu-ray]

July 19, 2011 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews

| Comment

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews Source: Groucho Reviews

Figgis' film, one of the few to show the sleazy flip-side of the glossy city of Las Vega, offers an unblinking portrayal of alcoholism.

September 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

It's a relief when so dark a film refuses to preach, trusting the viewer to draw his own conclusions about the roots of America's self-destructive funk.

February 11, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

Harlan Jacobson

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Figgis presents disintegration as a state of grace.

September 24, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment (1)

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

Overrated.

July 1, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

It certainly has the courage of its convictions.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

An uncompromising, surprisingly poignant skid-row love story.

January 23, 2006 Comment

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Grim yet compelling, downbeat but not really depressing, Mike Figgis' multi-nuanced portrait of an alcoholic, splendidly played by Oscar winner Nicholas Cage, is easily is most accomplished and haunting picture.

July 1, 2005 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

A haunting, heartbreaking film.

December 5, 2004 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

| Comment

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Leaving Las Vegas

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Nick Cage loses his shit and wins an oscar...what a movie! The story and his acting blend in such a intriguing way that you have to appreciate it!

October 26, 2011

paul oh

Super Reviewer

This will make you feel like shit and really not want to have sex.

April 14, 2009

Coxxie Mild Sauce

Super Reviewer

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