Destructive Love

A love affair in Vegas between an alcoholic and a prostitute doesn't sound like material for a film anybody would ever call 'beautiful' ... but that's exactly what this is. It's the story of a man on the verge of suicide and a woman terrified of forming any kind of real human relationship, and how they eventually lead each other to some form of internal salvation.

The casting here is really spectacular -- this is probably the best Nicholas Cage performance you'll ever see, and Elisabeth Shue is completely believable in a difficult role. How many living actors could have played these roles better? Not many.

This is basically 'Lost In Translation' for drunks and hookers, and the film never tries to shy away from the reality of either. At times this makes for uncomfortable viewing, but it's all necessary to create the portraits of these characters and exactly what the relationship means to both of them. If you're in the mood for an honest, brutal romance, don't miss this.