This film is infused with cool jazz music, but after the first hour you get tired of it and wish they would increase the tempo. It feels sad and depressing, no mean feat given the thousands of watts of lighting that Coppola throws at the elaborate sets. There are exhaustingly long, wordless scenes that add nothing to the story: Teri Garr getting dressed, for example. The underlying story, meanwhile, gasps for air as it tries to bubble to the surface, but is quickly submerged underneath Coppola's fades, double exposures, and pointless transitions. It's pretty to look at, but has no nutritional value.Most of the scenes are Altmanesque, with no clear starting or stopping point, characters walking away mid-sentence, or puzzling logic gaps in the storyline that leave you wondering if they were really following a script or just ad-libbing the whole thing; I wonder if the vacant stares from the actors are real or part of the performance. If the former, one wonders what kind of directions that Coppola was giving them on the set.It's easy to see why this film flopped, it's quite a boring movie, and I wonder what people thought way back when, when they saw the names of character actors on the marquee. Frederick who? Casting top names wouldn't have saved this film, however, it seems more an exercise in set design and artistic direction than a cohesive, engaging film.

There are times a movie's style can overcome it's lack of substance. But not this time. When this movie was released back in the early 80s, it was the eagerly anticipated 'gamechanger' from the maestro himself. Coppola's novel approach to directing and editing using cutting edge technology (at the time) would revolutionize the art of film making. Instead, it was a commercial flop. Audiences found a shallow beauty. A gorgeous girl with clever quips and opening lines, but no real depth or heart. The biggest problem for me was that the story feels so disjointed. It's a series of beautiful looking vignettes held together by a paper thin plot and flat two dimensional characters. A lot of the scenes feel stilted and over-rehearsed. There's no spontaneity or life. It's not a complete waste of time, however. It is a beautiful looking movie. Terri Garr and Natasia Kinski look exquisite. There are a lot of interesting and eye catching touches. The set designs are works of art. You might like this if you are in the right mood, and want to see something different. But if you are looking for a coherent narrative, and engaging character development, you might want to pass.

What a lot of work went into a big time musical that just did not pay off. The recreation of Las Vegas in the big sound studios was well done with the brassy atmosphere and flashing lights giving us a riot of sound and colour. It's good to be experimental with the effects but sometimes it's better not to go too far. I found the singing voices superimposed on the airport noises were annoying to say the least. A lot of the images too are superimposed. A little might be acceptable but too much is bewildering.The theme of the film is summed up in the song "You don't know what you've got till you've lost it". A couple of lovers argue over nothing, break up, and go their own way seeking new partners. A vindictive act to teach each other a lesson.The beginning of the film and the end are the best parts with very little substance in between.Like the acting the songs were not particularly impressive and I really did not like the characters The failure of the film at the box office is not surprising. May be those reviewers who gave high recommendations saw themselves in the devastating break up between the lovers.I really cannot find very much to praise except perhaps the development of the atmosphere both visual and sound. All in all it's a costly experiment that went wrong and did not attract me in the least and I dare say many others.

Dreamy ! Sedate and defined ! I first watched this movie when I was on my own and it made me think of my girlfriend .It is so fantasy in a modern day setting that it cannot fail to enchant .I don't know if it is charming or stark but it does have realism in an unreal state .The story is simple but nevertheless believable .You know how they feel ! It is one of my favourites and it takes me away to a fantasy place - I have not taken drugs but I imagine that this is what is would be like .It is a fantasy world of warmth and seduction , bright and shiny coupled with building site realism and everyday feelings .You truly suspend realism and that is what films are supposed to be about .If you are looking to escape for a couple of hours , watch this