MovieChat Forums > Leaving Las Vegas (1996) Discussion > What happend to him that lead to this? (...

What happend to him that lead to this? (SPOILERS)

posted 8 years ago by Vismyname
16 replies | jump to latest

I watched the whole movie and waited, waited and waited for the movie to explain what caused all of this, but it didn't. I wanted to have some sort of explanation that can explain why he wants to die, but the movie did amazing and in it's silence, explained clearly: There is no back story to this, he did it to himself.

He was a failure.

Probably his screen writing pilots went from bad to worse and he found himself lost in the drinking game. His wise decided he had enough and left, while he started drinking and drinking more and more.

Imho, I think this is what happend to him based on the first scene with the two executives/actors.

Remember, remember the 5th of november

[–] boloyolo 8 years ago

John Obrien wrote the script. His life on film. Shortly after he found out his life was going to be filmed. He blew his brains out !

[–] frogca 8 years ago

>John Obrien wrote the script. His life on film. Shortly after he found out his life was going to be filmed. He blew his brains out !

I still don't know how much of what you've said is true. Yes, he wrote the novel (not the script) and yes he committed suicide the year after this movie came out.

I'd just like to know what else is true. I'm guessing he was an alcoholic, but what else? No doubt the events of the movie are fiction, but I'm curious to try and find that novel, and more about the author's actual life, as well.

[–] TearofLys (2398) 2 years ago

Yes, he was a severe alcoholic. I suspect his suicide had more to do with his inability to overcome his demon than it did with the film

[–] ConstipatingFool 8 years ago

There actually might not be a specific reason. He might have depression or another mental illness. I've had depression on and off for 16 years now. When I'm not depressed I'm actually a pretty popular guy with lots of friends. But when I'm depressed I hide from everyone and sometimes think about killing myself. Literally two completely different people.

As someone who knows what it feels like to be normal but also what it's like to be clinically depressed it's hard to explain to a normal person just how it feels. Imagine the worst day you've ever had, say breaking up with someone you love or a loved one died and the world seems really miserable, but instead of that going away after a few days and weeks it's constant from the moment you wake up and the only way you can escape is if you fall asleep. Basically every waking moment is a nightmare. People can understand if a leg breaks you can walk on it, but if the mind or brain breaks it's the same but with psychological consequences.

For me the trigger wasn't anything specific, had a great job, great girlfriends. I can trace it back to my mom neglecting me as a kid and my stepdad scaring the *beep* out of me. Even though I know I should logically get past that as a grown adult, something from my childhood screws me up badly from time to time, and nothing bad actually happens to trigger it.

Nicolas Cage's character clearly had it going for him, wife, kid, great job. But once the downward spiral starts it can get out of control. He gets depressed, he drinks, his relationship with his wife gets worse, he drinks more, then his work is affected, he's worried about work so drinks to deal with the stress, his wife leaves him, he drinks more to cope. Usually works that way, the thing that relieves the worry and stress for him also makes his situation worse. He should have just worked out lol, that's how I get out of depression, force myself to get some exercise so I get more endorphins.

Btw I'm not an alcoholic, I can see why some people get that way that's all. Other people self destruct with drugs. I'm just lucky I never got addicted to drugs or alcohol.

[–] kmags84 8 years ago

Abuse, neglect and many other things that our Parents inflict on us are usually the main thing we can point to as Adults to what causes our mental (in)stability... Depression and Manic or Bi-polar behavior are definitely incredibly hard to explain, especially because we all suffer and deal with it in different ways. I can look back to so many instances as a Child, some of which I have NO CLUE how I remember and can apply it to my current behavior. My mother was/is an Alcoholic. Her brothers all are too. It becomes a lifestyle. Poor or rich, it doesn't matter at all. Paul Schrader(Writer of Taxi Driver and many others) stated that while he wrote Taxi Driver, there was a huge moment where he realized that Loneliness isn't just something we endure, it's something we end up helping to achieve. We literally PUSH everyone away, family and friends alike. 'Leaving Las Vegas' is no different in that sense and it resonates with me. If it were easy to explain, Billions wouldn't be spent on Dr's and Drugs. What's even harder to explain is what's going through someone ELSE'S mind. This film does a good job of showcasing just that. Exploring the behavior is what the film does. Reasoning is an afterthought

[–] WhenGreyjoysCry 8 years ago

His progressively worsening alcoholism led to this. There was no other hinted at reason. In fact, it was suggested he had a great life (good job, beautiful wife and family), but he followed this downward path despite all of that.

[–] PussyCrusher_Principal 8 years ago

There is no explanation, and it's not important - he loves to drink and be drunk, although it has destroyed his life. One of the themes of the book and film is, This is the way his life is and he wants to follow this to its logical conclusion - Death. There's no thought of quitting, in fact Elisabeth Shue's character promises to never even ask him to quit. In the book, there's a passage where he remembers doing coke one night, although he didn't like to, presumably because he finds it messes with the "purity" of the alcohol high. I thought that she'd a bit of light on it.

[–] joker4252 7 years ago

I've always thought the reason was because his wife and child had died.

The people around him seemed sympathetic to his situation, I think if he was just a drunk his boss wouldn't have seemed concerned.
The lady walking by in the casino seemed to know him and must have mentioned his boy because he was very emotional after that.

He will never have his old life back and that's why he wants to die,that's why he tells sera that she can never ask him to quit.
He doesn't just want to put a gun to his head,this is how he wants to do it. There is a bigger reason as to why,and I don't think the reason is that he is just a drunk.

[–] Lord Rake (3797) 2 years ago

This is the explanation I gathered from watching the film. That scene where he yells something like "don't talk about my son" and flips out made it seem like there was a sore spot. Also like you said everyone is sympathetic to the situation in the beginning. Alcoholics usually don't buy as much booze as we see him getting in the beginning, they buy some and run out and then buy some again. He seemed very intent on killing himself and I don't think it was because he lost his job.

[–] TearofLys (2398) 2 years ago

His wife and child didn't die. They left because he was an alcoholic and one doesn't need a reason to be an alcoholic, it just happens. For most, it is just a genetic predisposition.

[–] Lord Rake (3797) 2 years ago

Did it say in the film somewhere that they left him? There is also a difference between an alcoholic and someone trying to drink themselves to death.

[–] TearofLys (2398) 2 years ago

"There is also a difference between an alcoholic and someone trying to drink themselves to death."

As an alcoholic that almost drank himself to death, I will tell you unequivocally they are the same. No sane person would choose the long arduous path of drinking himself to death when it is so much easier to put a gun in his mouth and pull the trigger. People drink themselves to death because they would rather die than give up the drink.

[–] Lord Rake (3797) 2 years ago

Cage went to Vegas to drink himself to death, he did not go to Vegas just to keep getting drunk. An alcoholic is addicted to drinking in such a way that they will drink despite health problems arising from it. But their goal is not to kill themselves the majority of the time, they drink because they are addicted. If they wanted to kill themselves they would "like you say" put a gun in their mouth.

Still back on topic. In the casino scene the lady whispers something to cage and he flips out in a blackout kind of way yelling "I'm the father!". Also in the beginning we see him burning pictures of his wife and son. I just took that to mean his family died and he was going to drink himself to death because of it. Some think it means they left him I guess, I don't know why he'd burn the photos if they had just left but maybe.

[–] TearofLys (2398) 2 years ago

Very thoughtful response, which is rare for this board. To your first point, I think we are in agreement. Ben didn't actually want to die, but I would say he wanted to drink more than he wanted to live, and in a choice between life and the drink, he chose the drink. I can absolutely relate.

As far as his wife and his child leaving him, it wasn't his choice. She took their child and ran, which is understandable. He still loved them and that is why you saw him break at the casino where he was claiming he was the father. Again, I can relate. My fiancee while I was a full-on alchy(a tall blonde that had recently earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology) just dropped me because I was a drunk, and it *hurt*. Like Ben, I bottled that pain up and only very rarely would I let others see that pain.

To your last point, he didn't choose to drink himself to death because his family left him. They left him because he was already on that path and refused to get off, despite their pleas. This path was his destiny. Many of us on that path actually pull off, but this movie is about those that follow the path to the end and that is what makes it so beautiful. We all know about those saved through AA or some other organization (myself included), but this story is about those who followed the demon all the way down into the rabbit hole. It is rare, and it is what makes this film so special.

[–] snepts (11123) 2 years ago

Since this is now a current thread, I will give my answer to the OP here. Nothing profound or moving, mind you, but this film really impressed me so I like the opportunity to at least chime in.
I always figured the alcohol addiction itself was his problem, not some other antecedent like a tragic loss.
In my interpretation, he just didn't feel strong enough and confident enough to fight what he felt was inevitable after having driven away his family and losing his job. Stopping was unthinkable, and very sadly, not fighting it provided solace.
I also am glad the situation in the movie is presented in a way where it does raise questions, where things are not "pat" and simplistic. It may be confusing and depressing for a lot of people, but I like to think it was assembled in a very artful, thoughtful manner.

[–] TearofLys (2398) 2 years ago

I agree with your assessment. He chose this path because he believed it was the only one available to him. I have been down that deep dark hole, where I couldn't eat anything because the alcohol had burned away my stomach lining. Just giving in to the darkness seemed like the easy choice, and I almost acquiesced. But just some part of me wanted to live, so I fought my way out of that hole, which when I think about it, is still unbelievable to me.

Once I was out of that hole, I went on to earn a Ph.D. from one of the world's most prestigious institutions of higher education, and completed an Ironman triathlon. Keep in mind that at one point, I had great trouble getting up a single flight of stairs. I should write a fucking book. That "Million Little Pieces" guy made millions and he was lying out of his ass. My story is true.