A journalist and his psychotic lawyer take
a drug-fueled pilgrimage to Las Vegas. COMEDY
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Fear and Loathing
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In 1998, Terry Gilliam decided to take on the daunting challenge of putting Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas on the big screen. Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) and Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro) take on a drug-induced journey that is off the wall and always on edge. Hunter S. Thompson always hung off the side of any situation to see things differently and this film depicts a part of his life that is truly fascinating. After all, what isn’t fascinating about two drug-influenced intellects taking on Vegas?
Duke is chasing after his own version of the American dream, experiencing a road trip in certain states of mind that some can’t even fathom. He and Gonzo push the limits of existence with all kinds of drugs and actions. There seems to be a cult kind of following with this film, making it a favorite for some and for others, they just don’t like this sort of thing. Both Depp and Del Toro go balls deep to achieve a trip worth watching, causing you to think about Vegas in a different light. We have the Mint 400 motorcycle race as a destination for Duke, as he is covering the event for a magazine. The audience isn’t focused on this sporting event but rather the visual aspects that make this viewing very intriguing. Depp narrates with a sort of comfortability that makes it easy to just follow with no reward in sight, as the characters we are to root for are always high and on the loose. Duke runs into problems due to his and Gonzo’s actions, with them always seeming to slip through the cracks. To counter these issues, the duo take more and more drugs, combating the heavy task that Vegas is from an observer's standpoint. They run to all kinds of areas that show Vegas for what it truly is. We have the luxury of first class on this joy ride, giving us a glimpse into the world of an ambitious journalist, much like one of the true greats, Hunter S. Thompson. |