Ok.....so my friend Raj bought Leaving Las Vegas on DVD and needed to try to work out in her head what she had just seen. Knowing her usual film taste, this seemed somewhat of an odd choice for her to pick and she wanted to talk about this with someone else. The someone else being me. I have never personally watched the film before, despite its credentials, I just never felt the urge to watch it.
But being a dutiful friend, I felt I would give this a go and give her the much needed feedback she required. I had also just finished reading the Director Mike Figgis' book 'Digital Filmmaking' (an excellent read for amateur filmmakers) and due to my enjoyment of his book and the references to the film within the text, I thought it quite apt to give it a viewing.
Unfortunately as much as I wanted to like the film (due to my new admiration for Mr Figgis) I could not say it was an experience I enjoyed. And perhaps this is the point -a story about an alcoholic and his relationship with drink and a prositute he meets hardly screams feelgood factor. Yet for all the downbeat misery that the film evokes, there is much to admire within the frame. Figgis directs expertly creating a living neon nightmare for his protaganists, set within the backdrop of the garish faded soul of Las Vegas. The music (which Figgis was responsible for aswell as directing) enhances the narrative, the score mixing between bluesy jazz melancoly and sweet melodic sounds that almost conjures up shades of a lullaby.
Nicholas Cage went on to win the Oscar and all the plaudits for his portrayal of Ben, a man who is sleepwalking (or perhaps sleepdrinking) through life after his wife leaves him and he loses his job, his last goal in life, to literally drink himself to death. Yet to me, the heart of the film belonged to Elisabeth Shue as Sarah (or Sera as she likes to spell it), the prostitute, who wants to love and be loved in return. The cliche of the tart with the heart may loom, but Shue plays this with such conviction that an already depressing film, turns into near heartbreak as she cannot make her simple dream come true. She is the centre of the narrative, exuding compassion and empathy rather than the nihilistic Ben, whom she latches to when she is cast aside by her abusive pimp. Shue's character will remain in the memory when the films hangover has worn off.
Leaving Las Vegas is a difficult watch, there is no Hollywood ending and no cinematic gloss to comfort the viewer. It is the anti fairytale of girl meets boy, one where no one will be saved, though a form of redemption may be found for Sera. It is a bold, brave film but like an alcoholic beverage that you have overconsumed, it is one I would not re-stock in my booze cupboard.
