DVD of the Week: Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas
Monday, July 14th by leinana
I’ve never been to Las Vegas, but this film is pretty much exactly how I imagine any trip to Vegas would turn out. Well, I imagine it would be a cross between this and the episode of No Reservations where Anthony Bourdain does his best to recreate Fear and Loathing, but ends up skydiving with Elvis impersonators and eating deep-fried Twinkies. Strange and self-destructive, yes, but not quite the same as ingesting massive quantities of hallucinogens and trashing hotel rooms.
This film has sooooo many good things going for it. First, it stars Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke. Need I say more? Second, it is directed by Terry Gilliam—the genius behind such gems as Brazil and the highly underrated Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Third, it co-stars the practically unrecognizable Benicio Del Toro as Dr. Gonzo. These could be hands-down my favorite performances by Depp and Del Toro both.
The cinematography is used to effectively convey the (altered) state of mind of the characters. Bizarre lighting and colors, and manipulated depths of field, along with the sound design, all serve to replicate the druggy experiences of Duke & Gonzo. And the lounge lizard scene…well, it’s one of my favorites too. It’s hilarious and despite its over-the-top insanity, perfectly captures how I imagine I would feel in a seedy Vegas lounge. It’s grotesque, surreal, panic-inducing, and brilliant.
Lest you dismiss this as just an inane, drug-glorifying movie (for that, you could watch Half Baked or any of the Harold & Kumar films) I want to stress that this film showcases some of Hunter Thompson’s best writing and also offers some pretty sharp critiques of American culture. Because where else in the world could Vegas—a city of broken dreams and sheer, unadulterated excess—even exist?
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
DVD Date of Release: February 2003
Based on Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
