Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) Review

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Based off the fictionalized, but also all too real retelling of the events that occurred when Rolling Stone writer Hunter S. Thompson went to Las Vegas, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is drug use x1000 that follows Duke and Gonzo as they travel through Nevada to cover a race, that ultimately turns into one massive drug fueled escapade.

Set to Duke’s narration throughout, which is the Rolling Stone article this film was done upon verbatim, this movie really encapsulates the time and the shift from the hippie counterculture movement in the 60s, to the Nixon era of America in the early 70s. The world is changing, while our two main characters are still stuck trying to find the American Dream on a road trip to Vegas. The gravity of things doesn’t set in until the end, but then again, oh what fun was found in this multiple trip bender that leaves whole days unaccounted for except in bits due to the massive consumption of seemingly every drug possible. All while hilariously, being in town to cover a motorcycle race and a anti-drug conference (oh the irony).

Directed by Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam, Fear and Loathing has a lot of that trademark humor, while also just keeping it simple and stupid, in a way you can’t help but giggle mercilessly at. The camera shots and shooting style is unique, using close ups, but from various angles that are just off enough for you to go “huh...interesting”. It’s all told from the perspective of Duke’s wild drug haze too, which is full of cocaine, acid trips, ether, and what I’m certain was pure adrenaline at one point.

Johnny Depp plays the late Hunter S. Thompson so much style and goofiness, while also being a mumbling, jumbling mess, that for roughly 2 hours, you’re sucked into this absolutely bonkers world of drugs, that apparently was almost too real. Even better (or worse?) at times is his lawyer, played by Benicio Del Toro, who also takes the role and runs with it excellently. They were able to hilariously and wildly bring the RS article and book to life with such ease and transparency

Beneath all the madness here, is an unparalleled genius that few films are able to encapsulate.

7.7/10