Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is the screen adaptation of the book by the same name. Originally the responsibility of bringing this story to the big screen fell on director Alex Cox who was also responsible for introducing the world to Courtney Love in the movie “Sid and Nancy”. Had he stuck around long enough to complete “Fear and Loathing” he may have atoned for that particular sin against nature. Instead, though, he abandoned the project citing “creative differences”. Terry Gilliam, of Monte Python fame, took on the struggling project and used his unique vision to finish this project.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is the offbeat search for the American Dream. Hunter Thompson (Johnny Depp) who is joined by his mildly insane Samoan Lawyer (Benicio Del Toro) on this search for a dream. Their hunt is fueled by a massive amount of drugs and money fronted to them from a magazine who has hired them to a sporting event in Las Vegas. Much of the film centers around their adventures in the convertible they have dubbed “The Red Shark as they encounter police, reporters, gamblers, racers, and hitchhikers.
This comedy is a demented look at search many of us go through on a daily basis as we chase something that is almost indefinable. Working in such a gossamer medium is something that is well suited to the talents of Depp and Gilliam, and chief reason that this film truly works.
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