Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'Leaving Las Vegas'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Despite the fact that film has given us memorable and flawed characters that we are drawn to and love, there is still a certain level of mystique and fantasy that has to remain with our motion pictures. Our antiheroes have to be lovable and no matter how hard the going gets, we want either a resolved or happy ending. 

We simply don't often enjoy films that show us people at their darkest hour, or that are completely devoid of hope because let's be honest, the key here is to be entertained. There's nothing wrong with that, it just means that if a filmmaker wants to tell a dark tale about the ugly side of our world, they're going to have to figure out how to do it in a manner that is compelling and terrifying all at once. Thankfully, one such film released in 1995, managed to find a way to make all of that happen in order to tell one man's sorrowful tale in Leaving Las Vegas.

Ben Sanderson has lost everything. His job as a Hollywood Screenwriter is gone, as are his wife and child all because Ben is a raging alcoholic. He cannot escape the drink, he knows of its dangers and he has recently made a powerful, life changing decision. With nothing left to live for, he is heading to Las Vegas and will spend the rest of his days there, drinking himself to death. But a chance encounter with another lost soul, Sara, will complicate the matter for Ben since their friendship becomes closer than either of them ever expected.

This is just, an incredible film. It tackles so much and yes, it is as dark as they come. I mean come on, we are witness to a man losing the battle to his alcoholism, willingly in fact. We watch poor Ben slowly slip away before our very eyes minute by minute and it is an utterly heartbreaking experience. Not to mention that Sara's story isn't exactly uplifting either. She is a ghost in many ways, using the advantage of her career 'choice' as a prostitute to escape from any parts of life she deems too much to handle.  
They're not bad people by any means, just completely and utterly lost and well, in everyday life, many people would avoid folks like Ben and Sara like the plague, so how on earth is this a film worth watching?

Well, despite the fact that these two have given up on life for the most part, Sara sees Ben as someone worth saving and her love for him, makes this film completely and utterly beautiful. See this one if you haven't, you won't be disappointed, especially since this movie also features Nicolas Cage's finest performance to date, one in fact, that snagged him an Academy Award and really, the true wonder of this film, when all is said and done, is that despite the tears you will shed while watching this movie, when the end credits roll, you'll surprisingly find yourself filled with hope.  

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