Fear and Loathing

in Las Vegas

           

           

 Cover: 

 

            Plot Summary: Journalist Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) travels to Las Vegas with his lawyer Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro) to cover the Mint 400 race, but more importantly, to find the American dream. During their stay they indulge a lot of drugs and liquor, have paranoid delusions, get themselves in trouble and basically have a wild time.

 

            Director: Terry Gilliam

 

            Writer: Hunter S. Thompson (book)

                          Terry Gilliam (screenplay)

                          Tony Grisoni (screenplay)

                          Tod Davies (screenplay)

                          Alex Cox (screenplay)

 

            Cast:  Johnny Depp                       (Raoul Duke)

                        Benicio Del Toro                 (Dr. Gonzo)

                        Tobey Maguire                    (Hitchhiker)

                         Ellen Barkin                         (Waitress at North Star Café)

Gary Busey                          (Highway Patrolman)

Christina Ricci                     (Lucy)

Mark Harmon                       (Magazine reporter at Mint 400)

Cameron Diaz                      (Blonde TV Reporter)

Katherine Helmond            (Desk Clerk at Mint Hotel)

Michael Jeter                       (Ron L. Bumquist)

Penn Jilette                          (Carnie Talker)

Craig Bierko                         (Lacerda)

Hunter S. Thompson         (Other Duke in Matrix flaskback)

 

Rating: R

 

Review: Definitely one of the stranger more psychadelic movies I’ve ever seen, but what could you possibly expect to get from Terry Gilliam (former Monty Python member) and Hunter S. Thompson? I love watching this movie for the pure and simple reason of watching Johnny Depp act that crazy. He’s incredible and funny, just completely bizarre and wonderful. He uses his hands a lot like he does in Pirates of the Caribbean but in a different way, and he’s always staggering around because he’s on all these drugs. The way he says things and the way he uses his voice is so hilarious in itself to listen to. Just the way his voice peaks at the end of the word “french fries” is funny. Definitely worth seeing, even for those who don’t get into artsy movies. Terry Gilliam is a wonderful director and writer (for those of you who have seen 12 Monkeys or The Fisher King you know what this guy is capable of), and he does wonders for this crazy movie. The movie has more meaning than at first is apparent, and that’s thanks to the wonderful writing of Hunter S. Thompson, the writer of the book that the movie is based on. Many of Johnny Depp’s long monologues are taken straight from the book itself. If you don’t want to watch it for art and experience sake, watch it for Depp. For whatever reason, its equally worth it.

 

Trivia: This is Johnny Depp’s third movie with Christina Ricci. She was in Sleepy Hollow as Katrina Van Tassel and The Man Who Cried as Suzie.

            Johnny Depp spent a lot of time with Hunter S. Thompson observing his mannerisms and voice inflection in preparation for the movie. They even traded cars.

            Johnny Depp had his head shaved for this movie. Hunter S. Thompson shaved Johnny’s head himself. Johnny refused to look into the mirror and Thompson was wearing a miners hard hat.

            A lot of the clothes Johnny wears during the movie are actual pieces of clothing that Hunter S. Thompson wore during the 70’s.

            This is Johnny’s second time working with Terry Gilliam. Lost in LaMancha is a documentary that looks at Terry Gilliam’s failed attempts to film The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. Johnny Depp was in the film, but freak storms and injuries prevented the film from ever being finished.