StudioCanal’s 4K restoration of Mike Figgis’ Leaving Las Vegas brings gorgeous new life to a melancholy masterpiece. Based on the novel by John O’Brien, the film follows Nicholas Cage’s Ben as he decides to drink himself to death in Las Vegas. A chance encounter brings into his life Elizabeth Shue’s Sera, a sex worker escaping from an abusive relationship with her pimp (Julian Sands). With nothing better to do and nowhere else to go, they decide to explore their burgeoning attraction to each other in one last bender.
Figis’s style is at once gritty and elegant, shooting Las Vegas like Michael Mann shoots LA. The high-definition restoration of the original Super 16mm film fills the frame with noise; the film grain is visible in the softly lit motel interiors where a great deal of the action takes place. Outside on the street, bright neon is set against a blue-tinged night, transitioning into obtusely filmed golden casino interiors where our characters are lost in bleary-eyed rapture. It is only in this haze that our two characters are able to find each other and Figis’ almost documentarian style is crucial to making sense of Cage’s larger-than-life performance and the turmoil that engulfs Shue’s character. This is a near-death dream in which two lost souls cling to each other on their descent to the bottom.
Meanwhile, the harsh morning sunlight coldly illuminates the pair’s haggard skin tones, the restoration highlighting their sickly hues and darkened eyes. One oasis of beauty and tranquillity exists in the pair’s most erotic interaction. As Sera indulges Ben’s greatest fantasy, blending his two great lusts for alcohol and sex into one act, the light illuminates Shue’s skin and the golden glow of the beer she pours down her body. It’s a scandalous moment completely deflated by the ensuing fall through a glass table, snapping the couple and us, the audience, back to reality.
The soundtrack highlights the complex mix of Figgis’ and Anthony Marinelli’s downbeat jazz score and the raw dialogue, captured on location. At the expense of complete coherence, the sound has a hazy quality that builds the verisimilitude of the piece, even as Cage practices his eccentric “mega-acting”. The soft synths and ambient piano blend with Sting’s vocals to craft a soundscape that amplifies the tragic romance.
Exploring the film further, the disk features a making-of feature that resembles the old press packs sent out on video to journalists of the time to inform their coverage of the film. Some behind-the-scenes footage is paired with interviews with the cast, yielding some interesting insights into the filmmakers’ and actors’ processes. The disk also features b-roll and raw interviews, which offer a slightly longer look at the material utilised by both making-of features. There are a few more insights, but it’s “The Shoot” that is the jewel of the set’s special features. 
Far more interesting is a piece titled “The Shoot”. Also seemingly produced at the time, the hour-long feature follows the crew throughout principal photography. We see how Figis works with actors, how the crew worked so closely with the actual nightlife of Vegas, and how sadness surrounded the production. A particularly poignant moment sees O’Brien’s family visit the set as the cast and crew stage the tale of self-destruction he wrote just before his suicide.
Figis’ tale of two wounded outsiders destroying themselves in the city of lights has never looked and sounded better, and though themes of isolation and despair make it a difficult watch, Cage and Shue’s performances and Figis’ bold humanist aesthetic make this an important addition to any collection.
LEAVING LAS VEGAS 4K UHD & Blu-Ray are available on 18 May
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leaving-Vegas-Anniversary-Blu-ray-Region/dp/B0GLHX98CD/ref=tmm_frk_swatch_0