Leaving Las Vegas

Everyone connected with this sleeper sensation hit the jackpot. Nicolas Cage, as the man who wants to drink himself to death, won the Academy Award for Best Actor. As the prostitute who takes him in, fellow-nominee Elisabeth Shue shattered her image as the perky blonde from such films as Adventures in Babysitting. Mike Figgis was nominated for Best Director and for his adaptation of John O'Brien's novel. Every so often, the film flirts with bleak chic (as witness the posed shot of the lovers cuddled on a pool deck watching The Third Man on a portable TV), but for the most part, this is the undiluted hard stuff. Highly recommended. (K. Benson)[Blu-ray Review—May 24, 2011—MGM, 112 min., not rated, $19.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1995's Leaving Las Vegas features a solid transfer with DTS-HD sound. There are no bonus features. Bottom line: a welcome Blu-ray debut for a gritty film featuring powerhouse performances by Oscar winner Nicolas Cage and Oscar nominee Elisabeth Shue.]