Introduction
I'd like to take a look at the cult classic Fear and loathing in Las Vegas. When it was originally released it was panned by critics at the time who declared it nothing more than a really trippy movie. Of course like a lot of movies out at the time that weren't well received this has been vindicated by history, so much so that most people don't know it's based on a novel of questionable fact/fiction status.
Plot
Fear and Loathing has a type of plot that makes zero sense on a first viewing and somehow even less on a second viewing. Hindsight does not help make this easy to understand.
Then again this is intentional considering other than a few changes in pacing everything you see happened in real life according to the book of the same name this film is based on by Hunter S Thompson. And if what we see onscreen is true then it's a wonderful case of reality is unrealistic.
Both main characters are destructive drug abusers who openly admit that what they do is wrong but do it anyway. As the film itself puts it: "the tendency is to push it as far as you can".
And boy do these two push it. This is especially true of Dr. Gonzo who rampages through everything and everyone they meet. This starts off funny but by the final twenty minutes that humour becomes horror and Duke does nothing to stop him and that's probably for the best. Again this was based on a real person.
The film is a journey for both characters, a very destructive journey that shows the changing times from the free loving 60s to the Nixon run 70s and a world were neither Gonzo or Duke fit in.
Misc
One of the best things about this film is the random cameos by actors who you're gonna remember from other movies. Like Toby McGuire playing a blonde haired hippy who appears at the start of the film and runs off in fear. Hindsight makes this movie a lot of fun. Your'e also going to spot Christina Ricci playing a potentially insane artist obsessed with Barbara Streisand(again potentially real person).
Benicio Del Toro gained 40 pounds to play a proper film version of Dr.Gonzo and also burned himself with a cigarette in multiple places developing blood poisoning just to be an accurate portrayal.
As for Johnny Depp, he was good friends with Hunter S Thompson the man that Raoul Duke is based on. Being friends with Hunter he was able to style himself to look like him. In fact Thompson himself shaved Depp's head with a straight razor whilst wearing a miners helmet. I don't know what was going through his head but I'd love to find out.
Conclusion
I love this film. Pure and simple I adore everything about this film. The way it looks, the cast, the bizarre imagery throughout, the sheer quotability of every word out of Raoul Duke's mouth. An absolute treasure of a film that I recommend every single person see as long as your mind can handle it.
This is a movie that must be seen at least twice, since the first time you watch it, you will not understand what kind of movie you just watched. Was it a comedy? Was it a political movie? Was it meant to be serious? Was it meant to just make you laugh? What the hell happened in the last third of the movie? These are all perfectly valid questions..... I don't have any answers.
