FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: TERRY GILLIAM / STARRING: JOHNNY DEPP, BENICIO DEL TORO, TERRY GILLIAM / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
“Too weird to live, too rare to die.”
From the unmistakeable writing of Hunter S. Thompson comes the movie interpretation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Opening up with journalist Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) and attorney Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro) racing down a desert highway in a red convertible on their way to the casino capital of the US, this is a fluorescent and drug-stacked drop into the American nightmare.
As our chain smoking lead Raoul Duke narrates our visit and Dr. Gonzo threateningly but superbly stumbles through Vegas life, we see the duo absurdly attempt to cover press events. However, in their sweaty and almost unconscious state, this somewhat simple task becomes mission impossible. Director / writer Terry Gilliam gives us dizzying / sickening camera angles and clever special effects. The tacky jungle-like pattern coming out of the hotel carpet and the delusional reptile party are now well known, not forgetting the occasional turning corridor which could belong in a Monty Python version of Inception.
Holding paranoid, wacky movements the drunken (to say the least) pair that you don’t want to bump into react with their surroundings and, as messy as it gets and as close as they constantly come to killing each other, you just can’t help but watch to see how they can possibly get through the run time. Although it didn’t initially go down too well with critics and the box office, it has now taken on a life of its own and has even inspired people to follow Raoul Duke into journalism (confirmed by Laila Nabulsi in the special features). Cementing the gaps is a long list of well-used cameos from Cameron Diaz, Gary Busey, Vegas regular Penn and even Hunter S. Thompson himself. Visionary Terry Gilliam pushed as much as he could into this psychedelic ride and, as the film ends with tape recorder memories, you can’t help but accept the fact that it’s going to be a massive feat for anyone to top this delirious take on the book.
Considering the notion that Fear and Loathing is a very visual circus, then 2012 documentary “For No Good Reason” is a solid accompaniment. We get to see Johnny Depp visit the home of artist Ralph Steadman (who, for those that don’t know, spent a lifetime artistically bolstering the writings of Hunter S. Thompson). On top of boasting Ralph’s own explosive material and historical influences, it uncovers the complex mind of Hunter and how the juxtaposition of their two personalities was actually what they needed to make their work thrive.
Also included is a commentary from Terry Gilliam, backed with a bunch of extended interviews. Particular triumphs would be producer Laila Nabulsi who talks about the timeless impression of the film, and a discussion with Benicio Del Toro that interestingly points out how the silent working class people were Hunter’s reflection of the current political climate. If you’re still looking for more, there’s also a star-packed documentary “Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride,” narrated by Nick Nolte.
This is a well-rounded limited edition for any fan or newcomer to the film.
