Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

To call Nicolas Cage's character an alcoholic would be a disservice to alcoholics everywhere. I mean, even a raging drunk has to come up for air sometimes, but Ben Sanderson (Cage) knocked down bottles of booze with the speed of The Flash, torching the memories of his past and sliding into the darkest oblivion imaginable. There's some measure of humanity in the story when Ben discovers a Las Vegas street walker named Sera (Elizabeth Shue), who offers him her love and friendship because of an ethereal connection she makes with the down and out former screenwriter. Yet even their tender moments together and the poignant background music do little to hide the fact that these two damaged souls are derelicts from the human race, and as it turns out in Ben's case, beyond saving both spiritually and bodily. The film may be of service to demonstrate how low one can go before succumbing to the depths of despondency and despair, and that there may be hope around the corner if only one were to reach out and recognize a helping hand. But this one goes in the other direction, and serves as a reminder that relentlessly abusing one's body and spirit can only end one way.

This movie is not a fun watch. It's not about a guy that loses it all and starts to drink. He's already lost it and is a semi-functional alcoholic.Some really fantastic performances from Nic Cage and Elizabeth Shue here. It will probably stand as their most dramatic roles since they both have gone on to do a lot less heavy material. I had seen Cage turn in some decent performances here and there but I was really impressed with Elizabeth Shue. When the focus swings around to her I wasn't sure if the movie would fumble but she brings so tragedy and sadness to Sera I was both riveted and wanted to look away.It's tough to recommend but it is undeniably powerful and moving. See it for the performances and watch something fun after. You'll deserve it.

I sat on writing this review for a few weeks, the reason being my initial reaction to the movie was just "WOW". So I had to synthesize something more useful, right? Well that probably won't crystallize exceptionally well, but here it is. After lurking for almost a decade and the boards being shut closed, this is the time and the movie I HAD to write my first review about.The movie is shot on 16mm film instead of 35mm for budget reason, but oh Lord, is there anything to suggest so. What a beautiful piece of cinema making. None of the pretentious bullshit, just brilliant art, angles and lens play.I dislike using clichés, but what a quintessential emotional roller coaster. People describe me as one that rarely shows emotion, so when a movie tears me up at least three times and throws me into bursts of laughter in between, I consider that a magnificent piece of art.Other reviewers go out to say the movie should not be looked at as an entertainment, given that it is a sad movie. And oh man, is it sad. But I beg to differ on the former. I never lost interest in it for a second. And by God, Nicholas Cage is a god of acting and I will be forever adamant about that.The way the movie toys with your emotions, the abrupt halt of the culmination pool scene, the way it was structured post that... just superb. I believe this film drove a large portion of alcohol abusers to sobriety. I really do. I feel it's that influential. It bears such great metaphors about the people who care about you, but your first and true love remains the bottle. The smallest of nitpicks I had was her unreasonable interest she developed for him, but sometimes you find somebody as broken as you and something magical entails.I was afraid to see the ending. And I was given good reasons to. And deep down I knew, but I was at peace with it.If by some miracle, somebody interested in the movie is reading this, I hope I am not ruining it for you and I gotta tell you this. It's a sad movie. But a sad movie you MUST see.Elisabeth Shue gets naked.

Hollywood screenwriter Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage) is a hopeless drunk and self-destructing. He loses his job and his family. He decides to destroy everything in his home, drive to Las Vegas and drink himself to death. He runs into call girl Sera (Elisabeth Shue) and hires her. Her abusive pimp Yuri (Julian Sands) had followed her out from L.A. He's broke and on the run from a gang. Ben and Sera begin a relationship accepting each other's flaws. However these flaws overtake them in the end.This is a movie about a drunk and a hooker with a heart of gold. Cage and Shue make this more than the simple cliché it sounds like. They infuse these characters with humanity. They give two great performances.