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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Customer Reviews (1 - 3 of 35 Reviews)

The American Dream?
Fear and Loathing is a phenomenal statement of American society and an outstanding glimpse of the early 70's, when "the acid wave reached it's high water mark". More so, Gilliam's masterful cinematic rendition of the book retained Thomson's unique intent.
Hunter S. Thomson wrote about life and his perspective of America. Fear and Loathing is indeed a drug-induced romp through Las Vegas, but its underlying theme is much more. Hunter S. didn't write this story to shock a few readers with the unfathomable antics of two seriously committed addicts, he wrote it as a slightly askew perspective of the United States.
Thomson (Depp), using his pseudonym of Raul Duke, sets out on an adventure with his mentally unstable "Lawyer" (del Torro) to search for the American Dream. Funded by a sports magazine to cover a motorcycle rally near Las Vegas, the unlikely pair abandons every law, rule, and regulation our country has set to keep the general populous safe. Swinging from drug to drug in a hazy binge that rivals any other, Hunter attempts to find the pulse of society and see if it's still alive. His conclusion is that... you'll see.
Over all, Fear and Loathing accurately captures the extravagant mayhem that a pair can cause in short period of time, all without harming anyone except an unfortunate mental-case (Riche) and the Insurance industry.
This movie is the extreme drug culture pushed to the limit, but it also reflects the absolute freedom a man can have, if he seriously commits himself to it.
If you want a detailed movie that takes you on an intellectual journey, this is not it. If you want to understand Thomson's idealized concept of himself and of the personal liberty we have, then look through the glorified drug use and self-destructive behavior and see what this story was meant to be. (one part of ) The American Dream.

Get the Ten Strip on the Desert Strip
"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" Review

Though it was greeted with lukewarm reviews and mediocre ticket sales, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was a wonderfully made movie that catches every essence of Hunter S. Thompson's word. The movie follows Thompson's drug induced alter ego, Raoul Duke (played by Johnny Depp), and his doped up Samoan attorney, Dr. Gonzo (played by Benecio del Toro), as they travel in pursuit of the "American Dream." Based on the 1971 novel of the same name, the (drug) counterculture comedy was a roller coaster ride on LSD. Due to its graphic depiction of drug use and its effects, the film was looked at as a "plotless movie about drug addicts." I found these reviews a little hard to swallow, though. True, the movie is about drugs and how those on them function differently from the "sober" half of society. Those who are opposed to drugs on the screen (or drugs in general) could easily damn the movie for its content. Moreso, though, it is a lifestyle that few get to see. It is an ADVENTURE for the ambiguous "American Dream." Being undefined, this pursuit is almost aimless. This, however, does not mean the movie does not have plot. The search for the "dream" and their experiences with others is the real story here. It just doesn't have any real closure. Throughout the film, the story follows the book pretty closely. The movie begins with Duke and Gonzo speeding through the desert on their way to the Las Vegas. Being a writer, Duke has been sent to cover the Mint 400 Race, a motorcycle exhibition that takes place in the desert near Vegas. Having received the assignment while "relaxing" with Gonzo, Duke decides to make the trip more "pleasure" than "business." They purchase a new car (the Red Shark) and fill its trunk to capacity with nearly every drug imaginable. Upon arriving in Vegas, the duo begins their mad drug fed romp through the "sin city." They terrorize the desert town without trying to get caught. Their diet, consisting mainly of grapefruits and the contents of their trunk, provides them with enough sustenance to stumble from casino to casino. Duke attempts to report on the Mint 400, but finds no glory (and no hint of the American Dream). For a time, the two are seperated, as Gonzo returns to LA for business. Upon his return, the duo continue their search for the "Dream," but quickly find interest in other activities (infiltrating a police officer conference while under the influence, drinking pure adrenaline, trashing a room and assaulting a maid, etc.) In the end, the two give up their mission and leave Vegas with unpaid hotel bills and alot of angry citizens. From start to finish, the movie pretty much parallels the book. There are even times when pieces of dialogue are verbatim. One scene that definitely does not appear in the movie (and is very oblique in the book) was a chapter based on a static recording made by "Thompson." In it, he and Gonzo make inquiries of the vague "American Dream" to dime store waitresses who can offer no real directions. With the storyline and the material similar to the book, the originality and flair of the film comes from a mix of the elements. First, the cast is a stupendous gathering of Hollywood's finest underlings - Christina Ricci as the depressed, Streisand infatuated tag along; Cameron Diaz (for a minute) as a spellbinding TV reporter; Gary Busey as the righteous but accepting Highway patrol officer; Benecio del Torro as the unbearable but faithful (to the "Dream") Dr. Gonzo. Secondly, Johnny Depp delivers the performance of a lifetime as the eccentric and insightful Raoul Duke/Hunter S. Thompson. Also, people who have seen Thompson in interviews on TV would know that Depp truly embodied the writer in both body movements and speech. Third, with artists like Jefferson Airplane, Three Dog Night, and Bob Dylan on the soundtrack, the psychedelic music that accompanies the film is both fitting and mood inspiring. Fourth, and lastly, "Fear and Loathing" would never have come to the screen in the format it did if the film had not been placed in the capable and crafty hands of director Terry Gilliam. With movies like "The Fisher King" and "12 Monkeys" under his belt, Gilliam has proven himself to have an original touch and an eye for the abnormal. These can be seen in the wide angle shots of desert, the extreme close ups of the panic stricken characters, the dark lighting that accompanies the hallucinations, and the special effects that enable the audience to tread lightly on the drug trips. In the end, I saw "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" as one of the better films of 1998. The acting was commendable. The directing, superb. And all in all, a damn good movie to watch if you wish to find the "American Dream" for yourself.

The City of Sin meets it's match.
I remember checking this movie out quite a long while ago and thinking very little of it. Very recently I saw it on cable and decided to give it a second chance. I have come to my definite conclusion about this movie. It's a visual masterpiece, I haven't seen images this horrific and intriguing since David Lynch's Lost Highway. Terry Gilliam is an amazing visionary and he truly brings to life the eyes of the binge drug addict. It's sleek look and feel is a great contrast to the disturbing images and the bright colors of Las Vegas.

The script must have been amazingly difficult to write. Most of what Depp and Del Toro say must be improvised I can't imagine anyone making any sense of what their saying or even what is going on in certain scenes. Depp and Del Toro give stellar performances that are almost too convincing, again proving that Depp is the most underated character actor of our generation. Del Toro is almost unrecognizable as Depp's lawyer who always "legal advises him" on important decisions such as when he thinks they should go see Debbie Reynolds in concert. Only to be kicked out a few minutes after entering.

Every aspect of this movie is done so professionaly from the editing to the film score/soundtrack you couldn't have a tighter film put together. So why the two stars you ask? Well it's simple, while I understand this film documents the culture of the times and where American was at (Check out how many times you see the American Flag) during this time in our history. This film is a very true depiction of the lives of many sad people and how their day to day minute to minute lives is to do anything that comes their way, to remain high for as long as possible. But ultimately what does the viewer get for watching this movie? What do you come away with? What is this production communicating to you for two hours of your time? History data aside it says very little about anything. I'm not looking for a Moral but I'm looking for something, anything to take away from the movie. That feeling that the directors and actors have made any kind of statement is very fulfililng when watching such a well made movie. This movie is ultimately shallow and lifeless. The performances are brilliant but the only poor souls you feel bad for is the waitress at the end and Christina ricci who get caught in the war path of these two individuals.

Depps character is constantly questioning why he's in vegas, what is his mission, what is he there to do. Unfortunately so are we. I can't love, even such a well made/directed/ and acted film when it leaves me feeling so numb and empty.

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