Las Vegas must-see movies
The luxury and grandiloquence of Las Vegas have not escaped Hollywood's notice, and the Dream Factory has repeatedly taken advantage of the city's many storytelling possibilities. To help you prepare for your trip, here are ten films and series to catch up on and learn more about Las Vegas in the movies.
Ocean's Eleven. The first 1960 version, starring Frank Sinatra, has a certain charm with its immersion in the Strip of those bygone decades. But in terms of humor and quality, Steven Soderbergh's remake with George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Andy Garcia, Bernie Mac and Matt Damon far surpasses the original. You'll easily recognize the Bellagio Hotel, while the Flamingo, Las Vegas' very first hotel, is the star of the 1960 version.
Viva Las Vegas. Sometimes titled Love in Fourth Gear, this film is often considered one of Elvis Presley's best. A romance and a car movie, punctuated by songs, where the complicity between the actor-singer and Ann Margret is a pleasure to watch. The wedding that ends the film was shot in the famous Little Church of the West.
Diamonds are forever. What would such a list be without James Bond? Sean Connery plays the globe-trotting British spy in this 1971 episode, in which Bond makes a noteworthy stopover in Las Vegas. A chase on the Strip in a Ford Mustang, before a stay at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Casino. One of Martin Scorsese's greatest works, starring Robert de Niro at the height of his career and a magnificent Sharon Stone, who won the Golden Globe for Best Actress and an Oscar nomination. Casino, released in 1995, is a gem of a film, combining the beauty of Vegas with the eye of a talented director. Head to the Riviera Hotel's Bistro Lounge to immerse yourself in the film's spellbinding atmosphere.
Austin Powers. A completely different style. Gone are the gangsters, replaced by the grandiloquent spy and his sworn enemy, accompanied by his diabolical mini-me. Mike Myers plays one, then the other, in this wacky, saucy comedy. The Riviera, the Stardust and the Imperial Palace all appear in the film.
Las Vegas Parano. Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro also stop off at the Riviera and the Stardust, for a journey as psychedelic as it is initiatory. Released in 1998, it's as much a comedy as a sad film, and you won't come away unscathed. As is often the case with Terry Gilliam's films.
Jackpot. THE Las Vegas romantic comedy, released in 2008, starring Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz, who are as cute as a button. With its well-judged humor, it's the perfect film to get you and your partner in the mood for Vegas. And it's at the Planet Hollywood Resort that the two future lovebirds meet.
Very Bad Trip. A true dive into the craziest stories that Vegas can generate, when you're a bunch of friends looking for non-stop fun. And the cast, which includes Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper and a memorable cameo by Mike Tyson, makes it all the more exciting. Bonus: a stroll through impressive locations such as Caesar Palace and the Wild Wild West Casino.
Elusive. Police detective Mark Ruffalo pursues a gang of criminal magicians from New York to Vegas to New Orleans. It's at the MGM Grand Hotel that you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the spectacle that is this 2013 film, which has since seen two sequels.
CSI. Perhaps the world's best-known crime series, the original CSI is based in Las Vegas. Between 2000 and 2015, over 300 episodes will have viewers gasping for breath. And the city lends itself perfectly to these well-crafted investigations, so vast are the possibilities. After all, what happens in Vegas..
There are many other films(21, Bugsy) and series(Las Vegas, Glow) set in the city, impossible to name here, but take advantage of your flight time to discover one or other. Or enjoy them on your return. With your head full of stars and memories.
Outside Vegas, scenery as far as the eye can see
The great parks of Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Arches have served as the backdrop for numerous Hollywood westerns, adventure films and epic dramas. With such a landscape, and such a rich history, how could it be otherwise? In addition to films such as Richard Donner's Maverick (1994), starring Mel Gibson, and Next (2007), with Nicolas Cage, the Grand Canyon has also featured in numerous documentaries of varying degrees of inventiveness. Among these, Godfrey Reggio's documentary Koyaanisqatsi (1982) is an exception, looking more like a visual trance than a simple film. It's an experience you won't forget, especially if you see it on the big screen. These grandiose gorges even gave their name to a 1991 film directed by Lawrence Kasdan and starring Danny Glover. As for Monument Valley, it has appeared on the silver screen more than fifty times, in a wide variety of productions. It is the setting for John Ford's great westerns, such as The Fantastic Ride (1939) or The Prisoner of the Desert (1956), but it also appears in cult comedies such as Forrest Gump (1994), or Back to the Future III (1990), in action films such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), or in science-fiction works such as the mythical 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968).
Seeing movies in Vegas
With 18 theaters in Las Vegas alone, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to movie-going pleasure. At 21 meters high, the Galaxy Theatre's screen is the largest in the city, and its laser projection system combined with Dolby Atmos sound will leave you breathless. Several casinos on the Strip also offer in-house cinemas. The AMC Town Square and its 18 screens welcome you to the Strip. And for a true American-style cinema experience, head for the West Wind Drive-In Cinema, north of town. A less expensive cinema, and above all an opportunity to try out this typically American concept, before setting off again to conquer the West and its wide open cinemas.
