Hell On Earth > Movies > Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas

A Terry Gilliam Film; starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro

You can say what you want about Terry Gilliam's oevre, but you cannot claim that he has produced one single film which leaves you completely uninvolved. Gilliam is, apparently, an acquired taste and judging from his ever-shifting box office fortunes, some individuals haven't acquired his taste yet, poor things.

You needn't be familiar with the book, but apparently it helps. To me, the term "Gonzo Journalism" conjures up a blue muppet merrily hacking away with his spiral nose on a typewriter, and not wanting to spoil this impression, for the most part I managed to stay well away of Mr. Thompson (except for some magazine articles, by him and about him). Apparently, Hunter S. Thompson is a Hero for some because he has taken lots of drugs and lived to write about it. Good for him, good for them, but -- unfortunately -- not enough for this movie.

The plot is simple, even though the narrative is anything but: the movie follows the drug-fueled adventures of Duke and Dr. Gonzo, the former Hunter S. Thompson's alter ego and the latter a fat lawyer, on their trip to Las Vegas, with a huge case of mind-altering substances in the trunk of their car.

Johnny Depp is the Duke, obviously enjoying himself in the role and convulsing spastically amongst the scenery. He drives high on pot and acid, hallucinating wildly. The movie takes its public hostage on a voyage through his surreal experiences during the stay in Las Vegas. He constantly talks through clenched teeth, with a cigarette holder stuck in his mouth and usually wearing tinted sun-glasses.

His companion, Dr. Gonzo, appears as a heavy, gun-toting, knife-wielding psychopath. He takes more of the drugs, and he generally doesn't become a rubber-boned clown when he does -- instead, he becomes completely psychotic and very scary. Apparently, I lead a sheltered life, since I haven't seen Benicio del Toro since 1989's "James Bond: License To Kill". He is completely irrecognizable here: For the role of Dr. Gonzo, he put on about 40 pounds.

The whole movie is narrated by Depp as the Duke, whose speech is slurred and oversaturated with hyperbole. There is nary a quiet scene; whenever Depp shuts up for a moment, noise or music fills the speakers.

Put bluntly, the movie is a mess. This is partially by design -- the whole plot hangs on the continuing drug experience, but Gilliam shoves the viewer into this experience with unexpectedly brutal vehemence, allowing much too few moments for the public to catch its breath, get some relief.

Effectively, Gilliam highjacks the viewer's consciousness: "Fear and Loathing" is not a movie about people taking drugs, it pulls you inside their minds and then, briefly and brutally, confronts you with the sober consequences of their actions, only to immediately yank you back into their mindset, making the experience all the more traumatic.

Reality and imagined reality mingle and eventually morph into a pseudo-reality which leaves the public doubting first the filmmaker's sanity, then its own. Remember the advertisement: "This is your brain on drugs"? Well, this movie actually delivers.

It's doubtful that Nancy Reagan will ever see this motion picture, and even if she did, she would probably not notice that it effectively represents the ultimate way of telling telegraphing one simple message about drug abuse to its viewers: "Just say no."

The actors, director and cameraman take the viewer for a horrifying ride -- if the haunted houses on contemporary amusement parks can no longer scare you, buckle up for "Fear and Loathing". The film resembles a horrible, messy traffic accident you don't even have to look at to be disturbed by it.

If you can stomach it, see this film. Personally, I have stayed away from drugs so far and this film cements my firm determination: This sort of thing just ain't healthy. You are welcome to have all the drugs you want; I prefer to retain what little remains of my sanity.

External links:

>>> Roger Ebert reviews (and loathes) "Fear And Loathing"

>>> Internet Movie Database Entry (check out the user comments, no middle of the road opinions here)

About the reviewer:

MOATMAI loves it behind his or her pseudonym and refuses to share any more information, except for this...

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Hell On Earth > Movies > Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas