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What Happens in Vegas Lives On in the Movies

by Kevin Gardner

Las Vegas is synonymous with wild times, gambling, hidden regrets and, sometimes, crime. Is it any wonder that Sin City has become one of Hollywood's favorite film locations? Set a story in the gambling capital of the world and the script almost writes itself! Of the many films set in this desert mecca, here are a few that capture the many facets of the city that never sleeps.

Hangover

This movie is the wild party trip to Vegas you've always dreamed of - on steroids. It relates the misadventures of 4 friends who have gathered in Vegas for a bachelor party and goes completely off the rails from there. After a drunken evening, one of the group goes missing and the rest have no memory of what happened. For the rest of the movie, the friends retrace their steps, slowly discovering the outrageous events of that wild night and trying to find their missing friend. It's a wild ride of a movie with some real belly laughs and a few heartfelt moments as well. If you're planning a similar trip in the future, you might find yourself in need of a few good Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys before you're done.

Ocean's 11

You may not know it, but this film has actually been made twice. The original was made in 1960 and starred a whopping 5 members of the Rat Pack, including Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and the king of cool himself, Frank Sinatra. The Rat Pack was a group of Hollywood heavyweights known for their suaveness, hard partying and womanizing. Ocean's 11 was the perfect venue for this tight-knit group. It told the story of a group of friends who planned and executed the robbery of several of Las Vegas's top casinos.

Flash forward nearly 40 years, and director Steven Soderbergh made the decision to gather a new generation of dashing Hollywood actors to remake the film. Starring the likes of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, and Matt Damon, the movie was a huge hit. It paid homage to the original Rat Pack and celebrated the glamour and sophistication of Las Vegas at its best. If you're looking for style, humor and a great story, you can't go wrong with this one. If you really love it, it inspired two sequels that you might want to check out as well.

Leaving Las Vegas

This film is a deep dive into the seedier side of a city where all that glitters is definitely not gold. The lead characters are a suicidal alcoholic played by Nicholas Cage and a kindhearted prostitute played by Elizabeth Shue. The film gives an unflinching view into the hopelessness of depression and alcohol dependency and the power of unconditional love. Cage won Best Actor awards at both the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. Shue was nominated for Best Actress by both organizations. Leaving Las Vegas is difficult to watch and isn't for those looking for something light, but the film techniques and the acting make it worth putting on your list of films to watch.

Showgirls

This is the saga of a ruthless showgirl who will stop at nothing to claw her way to the top, losing her friends, her morals and her humanity along the way. This movie has become famous for being so unrelentingly bad that it has become a cult favorite. The acting is over the top, the dialogue is awful, the story itself is pointless and it was so widely panned that it effectively destroyed the lead actress's career. You must watch it at least once!

Las Vegas is a city that has many faces. It's simultaneously opulent, sophisticated, seedy, ruthless, wild and exciting. Nothing can compare with enjoying a Vegas weekend in person. If you can't get away to experience the real thing, mix up some martinis, dress up in your fanciest clothes and spend an evening with friends watching some of these great movies.