Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

“We were somewhere outside of Barstow, along the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold…”

Then passes a great red shark of a car, a red chevy pontiac blazing across the sun soaked stretch of road branching California and Nevada. There, we find two men hopped up on whatever assorted drug they’ve managed to rummage themselves into. Possibly speed, as everything moves so quick. One of the two begins hallucinating that giant bats are swooping down at them and he swings away at the invisible enemy with a fly swatter as his only self defense. What an opening, and what a film! I’ve been given only a rare few golden moments, when a film resonates with you even long after the credits have rolled. I’ve said that in older reviews, but this I swear is one trip I’ll not forget.

 Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, is an oddity’s odyssey where two drug infused individuals Raoul Duke, a journalist (Johnny Depp) and Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro), his narcotic agent of an attorney as they hightail it to Vegas in search of the American Dream; need I mention that they’re on a whole galaxy of assorted drugs? That only says you’re in for one savage journey into what I call the American scheme. This nonsensical masterpiece was originally forged as a semi autobiographical novella in the early seventies by Hunter S. Thompson, a Gonzo Journalist (A first person narrative and account of with no objective views). 

Then for years on end, directors flocked to wanting to make the critically acclaimed dark comedy. With even Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, The Departed) even trying to pick the film up. But the film went to auteur director Terry Gilliam (Monty Python, Brazil, Time Bandits), and what he did was nothing like I’d ever seen. Sure, I’ve seen plenty of weird films but nothing seems to capture that charm that Fear And Loathing did. On release it was given polarized reviews, a type of film I’d like to call a Rorschach film, either you get it or you don’t. During that time of it’s release Terry Gilliam responded to the critics by saying, “I want it to be seen as one of the great movies of all time, and one of the most hated movies of all time.” 

Why is that special? It’s rebellious! I’ve rarely come across that kind of film, some examples of which would be Easy Rider and Gimme Shelter. An in depth look at what’s really fueling the American Dream, however this is stapled in my mind as one film that doesn’t care what it is to be thought up as. It’s a change of pace from the norm. Rebelling into becoming an artistic mainstream cult classic. Jeez! It’s a fusion film! I mean the Criterion Collection later evaluated it as a masterpiece by adding it to their enormous ensemble collection of the greatest films ever made. They stated that, “This film will make you feel like you’re high.”

Not surprising. The film made me feel like I was dozing in and out of a dream. It’s ridiculous, but that’s what makes it all the more better. The film is tightly written and delivered as a visceral package of drug infused carnage. A savagely hilarious film that knows exactly what it’s doing. Changing the way we look at things. Gone, are the days of the romanticized west and the wholehearted american patriot prancing on that silver screen. Now we’ve delved into the heart. The black pit of despair where all ends and sins of America meet; Las Vegas, Nevada. I haven’t stopped thinking about the film since I first saw it. I can’t stop quoting, nor replaying it in my head. I think I’m addicted to it.