5/5 the greatest love film ever made
  by Kevin Hughes
He falls love with a prostitute, she loves him too. Right up my alley love it hope it happens to me. Dega would have been proud. but he drinks himself to death. don't know why he could not have quit for her.

5/5 Could not have had a better actor to play this role. Exeptional movie!
  by Kenneth T. Weaver
I would hihgly recommend this video to anyone, especially if you happen to be a chronic alcoholic!

By the grace of God I quit drinking 5-1/2 years ago. However this movie shows precise details on how much an chronic alcoholic suffers, and what to do just to keep the shakes, convulsions, and seizures down and stay alive for the day. These are all things I have experienced personally and even not being able to eat. I used to watch this movie when I drank, and I occasionally watch it now, just to remember how the bondage of alcoholism becomes your medication for survival, even if one truly wants to quit.

There are just somethings that non-alcoholic's well never ever understand what drives us alcoholic's to drink. Many view alcoholic's as "they are doing it to themselfs etc.." To be honest with you, I don't know if it is inherited from family. All I do know is, when I had my very first beer at the age of 19 - It was like the remedy for my soul. From that point it just started to increase and takes the person over, even when we fight with everything we got, to stay functional and social drinkers when it can never happen, the alcohol will win and has a cold hard bed with a toe tag awaiting!

If you are a true alcoholic, this is a must buy! If you have loved one or a friend that has a bad alcohol problem, I would recommend buying this film for them. Personally I had spent over 60k in rehabs and admitted myself into the hospital for detox 17 times! - I really wanted to quit, truly I did, but there was nothing that mankind had to offer and it is not about will power in the fight for ending your alcoholic career.

Now I actually help others who are in bondage to alcoholism, and show them how I found the way true way out through Christ! You can find free help and visit choiceforchrist.com - No alcoholic is ever to far gone for recovery if they are still breathing!

This movie exploits the truth and pain as you see Nicolas Cage playing the role of this Acadamy Award Winning true story.


5/5 Truth, art, and entertainment converge for this gem!
  by Prince Lazar (Hamilton, Ontario, Canuckistan)
This film is a good anecdote for the jaded masses who diet on typical hollywood fare. An original, brilliant, beautiful, and visceral film that will push your buttons like few others can. Even though it ultimately portrays alcoholism as the dead end that it is (this story does not end happily), it is more complex than that, delving into those issues which concern us all: love, lonliness, despair, and hope. In fact, the film is a roller coaster ride through all of these (much like real life) and by the end you will be drained and ambivalent. Combined with incredible Jazz music, an original screenplay free of cliches, and unforgettable scenes, this is a movie you will not soon forget. One of my top ten favourites and I have seen many thousands.

2/5 When Soft-Porn Becomes Stylish
  by Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)

Most films about alcoholics aren't pretty and this was about an alcoholic AND a down-and-out hooker, so how much fun could it be? Well, I found it a pleasant surprise. Sure, the two people weren't exactly "winners" in life but the movie wasn't that depressing, was it?

And the film had style and good acting performances from the two leads Nicholas Cage and Elisabeth Shue. However........

I must have had too many drinks like "Ben" to like this movie the first time around. On my second look, I found it mainly a slickly-wrapped soft porn piece. It's Sleaze with, yes, a capital "S." I can't even describe half the stuff Shue described in this movie, casually discussing almost every sexual act you can think of. Maybe that's cool to critics like Roger Ebert, who thought this was the number one movie of the year but it isn't to most folks, so be forewarned. And, believe me, I am no prude.

Cage won the Academy Award for Best Actor here, and I don't have a problem with that. Shue was equally as good but I found out more than one viewing is like having too many drinks - "not good." It's sad to see soft-porn sordidness because stylish.

1/5 A Real Downer !!!
  by Robert U. Hablutzel (Castle Rock, Colorado)
If your idea of being entertained is to be brought as emotionally low as it is possible to feel, this is your perfect vehicle for getting there. Otherwise, do not waste your hard-earned money on this piece of garbage.