Rated R for pervasive extreme drug use and related bizarre behavior, strong language, and brief nudity.
118 Minutes
Directed By: Terry Gilliam
Written By: Terry Gilliam
Based On Novel By: Hunter S. Thompson
Staring: Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Torro, Christina Ricci, Tobey Maguire, Ellen Barkin, Cameron Diaz, and Mark Harmon
How long could we maintain? I wondered. How long until one of us starts raving and jabbering at this boy? What will he think then? This same lonely desert was the last known home of the Manson family; will he make that grim connection when my attorney starts screaming about bats and huge manta rays coming down on the car? If so, well, we’ll just have to cut his head off and bury him somewhere, ’cause it goes without saying that we can’t turn him loose. He’d report us at once to some kind of outback Nazi law enforcement agency and they’ll run us down like dogs. Jesus, did I say that? Or just think it? Was I talking? Did they hear me? -Duke
Review
Fear and Loathing is an incredibly unique film on multiple levels. In the first twisted scene down the highway you are sucked into the world of Duke and Dr. Gonzo. When they pick up the hitchhiker from the highway and expose a normal person to compare their state of mind, it becomes abundantly clear what the journey threw this movie will be like. If the hitchhiker had made it more than two miles, he would have been us watching from dark corners as Duke tried unsuccessfully to comprehend what the point of his drug filled weekend in Vegas actually meant.
What Fear and Loathing isn’t, is a highly stylized film that makes jokes that only junkies and stoners will relate to, even though they will relate, there is much more to the story than that. In the drug induced world of Gonzo and Duke, Hunter S. Thompson’s narration from his novel about the events is poignantly like the voice of Oz in the back round. His strange insight-fullness mixed with his dry comic sense was the stuff “Being John Malkovich” had to of been inspired by. The remarkable sense of being caught in his world, was a world wind of confusion and joy.
Johnny Depp’s interpretation of Thompson is without question his best performance ever, and one of the best performances on film PERIOD. He’s had ingenious moments as an actor before, but unless you hadn’t been told one would not have know it was Johnny Depp playing Raoul Duke, because he became Thompson, physically and psychologically. Together himself and Benicio Del Torro make one of the most compelling character stories ever on the big screen.
There are hidden profound messages and without doubt personal discoveries or ideals that may be stumbled upon, but really the essence of Fear and Loathing lies in the fact that it is actually hilarious. Just as you should never turn your back on a drug carrying a butcher knife, you shouldn’t turn your back on insightful comedy. While the visual trip of Fear and Loathing is just as shocking as it’s peculiar narration, this is one of the best films ever made. I adore everything about it.
Instead of a Lego cameo, this week we have a KITTEH cameo!
There he goes. One of God’s own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die. -Duke
Do you like this movie? Rate Fear and Loathing.
Cats acting out my favorite part of the movie, how could I ask more from a review! Love this movie and will one day have to watch again, even if I don’t partake in substances that made it that much more enjoyable the first time around!
There was a Lego funny option, but I just thought these kittehs were far more amusing! I’m glad you liked it Will.
And I’m with you, I don’t think I’ll be able to appreciate it again in the FULL capacity it was intended, but it’s still a great viewing, just different.
Don’t start throwing rocks at me but I have yet to see this apparently totally awesome movie! I know you are jealous!
I am, because it’s such an incredible movie, how effing cool that you’ll get to see it for the first time. This is in my top ten movies of all time Castor!
Castor! Say it ain’t so! I once gave the Criterion Collection edition of this as a wedding present to one of my groomsmen. It forever absolved him of having Spy Game in his DVD collection.
Awesome review for a batshit crazy movie. You ever read the book?
No but I should.
“Few people understand the psychology of dealing with a highway traffic cop. A normal speeder will panic and immediately pull over to the side. This is wrong. It arouses contempt in the cop heart. Make the bastard chase you. He will follow.”
Cheers!
A legendary film, for sure. Introduced a whole new generation to Thompson, gave narcotics dabblers something to aspire to, and renewed the hope that Gilliam could continue making great movies.
For some reason Chris Meloni always sticks out in my head in this film. Probably ’cause his performance flies in the face of his butchy characters from Oz and Law & Order.
Love Flea’s little cameo is great too.
“Tell me about the f***ing golf shoes!”
Fear and Loathing is a movie I only watch once every few years and each time I discover something new, and for some reason I always forget about the awesome cameo’s in. My #10 of all time, and by far Johnny Depp’s best performance.
Heather’s a babe.
I can’t find a good reason to argue this point, so thank you.
Best movie of well… forever
saddf