Nov. 18, 2002 - 7:44 pm
i can't remember what made me come around to wanting to see this film. i had seen parts of it before and remembering that it looked really good. anyway, i picked it up and it's a really really good movie i think. definitely the best film that i've seen either of the two leads in. both Nicholas Cage and Elizabeth Shue were nominated for Oscars for their performances. Cage won.
what happens is that Ben is an alcholic and he loses his job at the beginning of the family. he's amazingly lonely since his wife has recently left him and he feels that he has nothing left to live for. he becomes obsessed with sex, alcohol and dying. so he moves to Las Vegas in order to drink himself to death. when he gets there, he meets a prostitute who is also amazingly lonely and sees something worthwhile in him. although he hates himself, he loves her. and for some reason she loves him back. great idea for a film.
this is really just a great movie. ok, it doesn't make you feel that great when it's finally over, but it's so worth the watch. just be sure if you're going to watch it you aren't easily disgusted by the cruel things that people can do to themselves and each other, because you're going to see it. if you can take it, you should see Leaving Las Vegas.