Sunday, July 13, 2008

Movie Of The Week - 1

So, lets kick the first week of "Movie Of The Week" off with a short explanation.

This section will showcase films that I love, and also films I feel it is important for all to see. Now, I know that I have posted many odd Japanese trailers and film reviews on this site. My taste does vary, so not all these films will be foreign. I will also try and keep the list of films local, when I say local I mean you can drive to your videostore, or Netflix and get them from there.

That being said, lets get into our first film...


Yes, even if you hate Nick Cage, you can't deny him this film.

Synopsis:
Because his wife left him and took his son with her, screenwriter Ben Anderson has started drinking, a lot. He's getting more and more isolated and he troubles women in bars because he wants to have sex with them. When he gets fired, he decides to leave everything behind and move to Las Vegas and drink himself to death. In Las Vegas he meets Sera, a prostitute with some problems as well who he moves in with.

Directed By:
Mike Figgis

Cast:
Nick Cage
Elizabeth Shue
Julian Sands

Trivia That Makes This Film Interesting:

Nick Cageresearched his character by binge drinking and visiting many hospitalized career alcoholics. Elisabeth Shue associated with prostitutes and interviewed them on the strip in Las Vegas.

Author John O'Brien, on whose novel this movie is based, committed suicide two weeks after the movie went into production. Director Mike Figgis contemplated abandoning the project, but decided the film would make a good memorial for O'Brien.

The "supermarket sweep" with Ben whistling his suicide death note scene was voted Empire magazines eighth greatest drunk scene in movie history (2005).

Ben doesn't eat a single thing during the entire film. This reinforces his dependence on alcohol as chronic alcoholics usually forget to eat or can't force food down. During the restaurant scene he puts spaghetti on his fork but doesn't eat it. And when Sera fixes him rice, he eats an ice cube instead.

Nick Cage won the Oscar for Best Actor In A Leading Role.

Trailer:

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