Leaving Las Vegas

About This Movie

Leaving Las Vegas is a raw exploration of addiction and human connection. Mike Figgis' direction creates a haunting atmosphere, the neon-lit Vegas backdrop almost feels like a character itself. Nicolas Cage delivers a gut-wrenching performance as Ben, embodying the despair of alcoholism with unsettling authenticity. Elisabeth Shue's Sera, a complex and wounded soul, balances the film's dark themes with a touch of vulnerability. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the weight of each moment to settle in, making the emotional beats hit harder. There's a gritty realism that permeates the film, enhanced by its handheld cinematography and minimalistic score, which makes the characters' struggles feel painfully immediate. It’s not an easy watch, but that’s part of what sets it apart.

Released by MGM in 1996 on VHS and LaserDisc · Criterion released a Blu-ray edition in 2016 · Cinematography by Mike Figgis and Declan Quinn · Nicolas Cage won an Oscar for Best Actor