Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets

I was initially kinda angry when I found out this wasn't a real documentary. I had this weird emotional dump. It's hard to describe but I felt cheated in a way.

Thankfully though it also works as a regular narrative film, so I've gotten past them feelings and tried judging it based on that. A fictional film with mostly non-actors. And by them standards, it's still very very good. One of the best of the year actually. Which kinda begs the question, why did they even feel the need to try to sell it as a doc in the first place?

The movie and dive into the lives of these bar flies is fantastic! I love the story and watching people who love their neighborhood watering hole. However, this does not take place in Las Vegas. This bar has never existed in Las Vegas. There are a few pickup shots from the city, but everything else is filmed in Louisiana. As a Las Vegan born and raised, it took this movie from an 8 to a 5 very quickly. It's disappointing seeing a film try and fail so hard to capture what Las Vegas is really like.

I recommend it for the human side. Attempting to set it in Las Vegas takes away more than it adds once you see it's not a Vegas Bar.

Story of everday people, many of the characters wouldnt look out of place in a Charles Bukowski novel. There is a full spectrum of characters on display, all of whom are keen on using alcohol as a coping mechanism in their daily struggles. I love documentaries like this, especially as they age well. Be interesting for people to watch in years ahead. Its a slice of everyday life for working class people, and insight in to issues faced today. Emotions flow high and nobody holds back on unveiling their personal lives 100%, makes for an entertaining watch. Laughs, libidinous behaviour and arguments - bar Life.

How do I even begin to write this review? Just wanted to chime in and say this off beat film is about a bar in Las Vegas closing down. The whole film focusses on patrons to the bars - alcoholics, middle aged people, unhappy people, people complaining about their lives, what could have been - all well behaved despite their fragile undercurrent. Loved, loved it.

Sure it was believable and entertaining, but finding out afterwards that it wasn't a real documentary, changed the way I viewed it. For better or worse.