Teaser Tuesdays – Leaving Las Vegas
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
On October 27, 1995, “Leaving Las Vegas” hit the movie theaters, and audiences followed the story of Ben, a screenwriter in an alcoholic tailspin who decides to go to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. Nicolas Cage won an Academy Award for his performance. Elisabeth Shue, playing a prostitute who connects with Ben at his five minutes to midnight, showed she had come a long way from her adventures in babysitting, getting an Academy Award nomination for her work. Mike Figgis, the director and screenwriter, was nominated as well for his directing and screenplay, adapted from the novel by John O’Brien.
The teaser below marks Ben’s arrival in Las Vegas; the night before this, he had incinerated a pile of his belongings in his backyard in Los Angeles – photographs, marriage certificate, divorce papers, postcards, and the like. The morning after the fire, a huge line of garbage bags together with all of his furniture were out at his curb, and he dropped off his bicycle on the doorstep for the boy next door before driving out to the desert.
INT. MOTEL RECEPTION – NIGHT
Ben waits to check in while the manager explains the house rules to a family of large white people from the Midwest.
MANAGER
All rooms to be paid a week in advance, maid service is optional, use of the pool is at our own risk, there is no lifeguard on duty.
Above the manager’s head is the name of the motel, The Whole Year Inn. Ben stares at it and then smiles.
Ben’s POV – The sign has changed to The Hole You’re In.
- p. 36, “Leaving Las Vegas” by Mike Figgis
© 2009, A Few Minutes With Michael. All rights reserved.
Thanks to Mishel at mis(h)takes
Thanks to Deb at Bookmagic
5 comments
LOl! That’s pretty funny. Here is mine
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It’s all about perspective. That was a powerful movie – I remember being disturbed my so many things and feeling helpless. Just like they wanted me to feel.
Bumbles´s last blog ..ON BOOKS ~ A Tree Grows In Brooklyn…
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This was such a wonderful yet chilling movie. How interesting to read the screenplay. I wonder if it evokes those disturbing emotions when read.
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I haven’t looked to see what the screenplay was until just now and imagine my surprise when I saw The Big Sleep as an option. Jason & I just watched half of it earlier this evening and hope to finish tomorrow night. I have no excuse not to get this done! I have seen the first two and liked them very much.
Stacy´s last blog ..Teaser Tuesday – The House on Tradd Street
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I’m not familiar with this movie, but interesting teaser.
kaye´s last blog ..Tuesday Tales: You Made A Difference
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