Leaving Las Vegas

Two weeks after the production of the film had started, O'Brien committed suicide. A halt of the project was considered, but work on the film was continued as an in memoriam of sorts.

Notable cast:

• Nicolas Cage - Ben Sanderson
• Elisabeth Shue - Sera
• Julian Sands[?] - Yuri, Sera's Latvian pimp

Awards

• Academy Award (1996) for best actor: Nicolas Cage
• Nominated: Academy Award for best actress (Shue), Directing (Figgis) and screenplay (Figgis)
• Golden Globe (1996): Nicolas Cage

Plot synopsis

Warning - Wikipedia contains spoilers

Ben Sanderson (Cage), an alcoholic, lost his job in Los Angeles. He goes to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. He meets Sera (Shue) who is a prostitute. A deep friendship and understanding develops between them. Their love, however, is ultimately doomed. Sera has to promise Ben that she will never ask him to stop drinking. Ben on the other hand is not allowed to mention Sera's occupation. However, after spending some time together, they both become more and more frustrated with the other's behaviour. One night Ben sees Sera with one of her customers, and in turn takes a prostitute back home for the night. Sera comes home early and catches Ben in bed with one of her workmates, later forcing him to move out of her apartment. Ben calls Sera on the night before his death. She goes to visit the already very ill alcoholic, who will die by the morning.

External links:

• Official Website (http://www.mgm.com/leavinglasvegas/)
• IMDB (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0113627)