Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (DVD, 2003, Criterion Collection)

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a strange and fantastic trip of a movie based on the 1971 novel by the late Hunter S. Thompson. While this film is certainly not for the faint of heart and probably would not appeal in the slightest to a person who has never taken hallucinogenic drugs, or at least been intimately exposed to their use, it still has a warmth and humor to it that makes it one of my favorite films ever. Johnny Depp's portrayal of Thompson is certainly larger than life but his manerisms and animations rival the subtle genius of a Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin. Benicio Del Toro also turns in a legendary performance as the twisted sidekick lawyer along for the ride. Together they make this one of the best and weirdest films ever conceived and one of the finest ever adaptations of a book onto the big screen. In capturing a seemingly impossible world that resides inside the mind of Hunter S. Thompson, director Terry Gilliam has given us a masterpiece that is worthy of repeated viewing.

Starring Johhny Depp as Raoul Duke, a writer, and Benicio Del Toro as his lawyer, Dr. Gonzo, the story follows Duke and Gonzo from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. They travel to Vegas under the pretense of working on a story but instead spend most of their time struggling in a drug induced haze to maintain a basic level of functionality. They seem to alternate periods of uncontrollable intoxication while one or the other usually manages to keep just enough awareness to avoid the destruction that the other seems intent on causing. In the end they narrowly avoid disaster and end their trip heading in separate directions. The Criterion Collection edition of this movie is a 2 disc DVD with a number of special features including artwork by illustrator Ralph Steadman and a couple documentaries about Hunter S. Thompson.