Wow, this is a film that will churn in your guts.
This is an extremely gritty and sad story of an out-of-control alcoholic (Nicolas Cage) and a Las Vegas Prostitute (Elizabeth Shue).
Cage has relocated to Las Vegas to drink himself to death where he happens upon Shue. The story follows the two as Cage continues to spiral toward oblivion.
Where this film really grabs the viewer is that neither Cage or Shue's characters are necessarily unlikable. It's quite the opposite. We want to like them very badly despite their obvious shortcomings and mistakes. They aren't anti-heroes or heroes in disguise. In fact they're very normal and identifiable.
All in all this film will chew you up and spit you out, and make no apologies for it after the fact. It is easily one of the most sad and depressing stories to witness, surpassing even Requiem for a Dream in that we feel more empathy for the key players.
This is an extremely gritty and sad story of an out-of-control alcoholic (Nicolas Cage) and a Las Vegas Prostitute (Elizabeth Shue).
Cage has relocated to Las Vegas to drink himself to death where he happens upon Shue. The story follows the two as Cage continues to spiral toward oblivion.
Where this film really grabs the viewer is that neither Cage or Shue's characters are necessarily unlikable. It's quite the opposite. We want to like them very badly despite their obvious shortcomings and mistakes. They aren't anti-heroes or heroes in disguise. In fact they're very normal and identifiable.
All in all this film will chew you up and spit you out, and make no apologies for it after the fact. It is easily one of the most sad and depressing stories to witness, surpassing even Requiem for a Dream in that we feel more empathy for the key players.