Thompson's books are not particularly suited to dramatization especially in live action cinema. They are stream of consciousness affairs of a drug addled protagonist. They are a running commentary on the dark aspects (or failure) of the American Dream. Fear and Loathing in Los Vegas the book is captures the vinegar of the 70's. But this sort of thing is so hard to do in cinema.
The film nearly succeeds at doing so however. Gilliam and company manage to pull out a mostly clear narrative of external action. The resulting film that is a black comedic road trip film that is mostly funny and mostly engaging. The drug induced incoherence and interior delusions (of Raoul/Thompson) are painstakingly made visual thanks to Gilliam's skill. Some-but not all-of the commentary makes into the mix via voiceover narration. But the full breath of Thompson's existential angst is missing; the film never quite captures the systemic and societal critique that is in book. The final film is not fully satisfying because it is to much like the book to be a proper film and to much a proper film to be the book.
With that said I find this film fully enjoyable on first pass. It is brought to life by Depp and Del Toro in two gonzo and gangbuster of performances. I think more highly of the film as an experience than as a film.
The film nearly succeeds at doing so however. Gilliam and company manage to pull out a mostly clear narrative of external action. The resulting film that is a black comedic road trip film that is mostly funny and mostly engaging. The drug induced incoherence and interior delusions (of Raoul/Thompson) are painstakingly made visual thanks to Gilliam's skill. Some-but not all-of the commentary makes into the mix via voiceover narration. But the full breath of Thompson's existential angst is missing; the film never quite captures the systemic and societal critique that is in book. The final film is not fully satisfying because it is to much like the book to be a proper film and to much a proper film to be the book.
With that said I find this film fully enjoyable on first pass. It is brought to life by Depp and Del Toro in two gonzo and gangbuster of performances. I think more highly of the film as an experience than as a film.