Leaving Las Vegas

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Cage and Shue make these cliches into unforgettable people.

Variety Leonard Klady

The film pulls no punches, takes no prisoners and flies in the face of feel-good pictures.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

At best, Leaving Las Vegas is pure alchemy -- it makes of flawed humanity a hymn, and of forlorn hope a beacon.

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

Dark and giddy at the same time, Leaving Las Vegas takes us into dreamy, intoxicated places that no movie about an alcoholic has gone before.

Film.com Robert Horton

Furiously uncompromising, and therefore absolutely alive.

Newsweek David Ansen

Anyone who cares about ravishing filmmaking, superb acting and movies willing to dive into the mystery of unconditional love will leave this dark romance both shaken and invigorated.

The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

Mr. Cage digs deep to find his character's inner demons while also capturing the riotous energy of his outward charm. [27 October 1995, p. C3]

Film.com Keith Simanton

Stands on its grim integrity and the astonishing performances of the leads.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

A uniquely hypnotic and haunting love story sparked by Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue at their career best.

Film.com Sean Means

Cage again proves himself the most fearless actor now working in movies.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Draws its audience along a rarely-traveled path whose scope can only be fully appreciated in the silence of the aftermath.

Mr. Showbiz Anne Harris

Leaving Las Vegas may not be a top choice for an upbeat outing, but there's something oddly poetic about the simplicity of Ben's mission and Sera's acceptance of it.

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

I don't see how you can get away from calling Cage’s performance a great one. [10 November 1995, Friday, p.C]

Washington Post Rita Kempley

Doesn't go down smooth, but it doesn't promise to.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

What keeps the film (adapted from the late John O'Brien's harrowing semi-autobiographical book) from being completely unbearable are the extraordinary performances.

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

An amazing, bracing, funny, audacious, tender, and sobering piece of filmmaking. Few movies have ever dared to be this remorseless in their portraits of addiction.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Cage's great performance is matched by Shue, who becomes the focus by the middle of the picture.

USA Today Mike Clark

Deliberately downbeat, it's best as a two-person character study, stumbling a bit whenever it extends its parameters.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

Beautifully put together, sensitively acted by Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue, directed by Mike Figgis with assurance and style and making exceptional use of its musical score, this doomed romance is finally not as satisfying as all of that would have you believe.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Needless to say, the plot goes nowhere, but under the pornographic circumstances Figgis, Cage, and Shue all do fine jobs.

San Francisco Examiner G. Allen Johnson

Nicolas Cage gives one of the best performances of his strange, courageous career.

TV Guide Harlan Jacobson

Leaving Las Vegas is special. A courageous plane wreck of character study.

Time Richard Schickel

A movie that may be just a bit too pleased with its own artful bleakness.