Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

An oddball journalist and his psychopathic lawyer travel to Las Vegas for a series of psychedelic escapades.

Director:

Terry Gilliam

Writers:

Hunter S. Thompson (book), Terry Gilliam (screenplay)

Stars:

Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Tobey Maguire

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Johnny Depp	...	Raoul Duke
Benicio Del Toro	...	Dr. Gonzo
Tobey Maguire	...	Hitchhiker
Michael Lee Gogin	...	Uniformed Dwarf
Larry Cedar	...	Car Rental Agent - Los Angeles
Brian Le Baron	...	Parking Attendant (as Brian LeBaron)
Katherine Helmond	...	Desk Clerk at Mint Hotel
Michael Warwick	...	Bell Boy
Craig Bierko	...	Lacerda
Tyde Kierney	...	Reporter
Mark Harmon	...	Magazine Reporter
Tim Thomerson	...	Hoodlum
Richard Riehle	...	Dune Buggy Driver
Ransom Gates	...	Dune Buggy Passenger
Laraine Newman	...	Frog-Eyed Woman

Storyline

The big-screen version of Hunter S. Thompson's seminal psychedelic classic about his road trip across Western America as he and his large Samoan lawyer searched desperately for the "American dream"... they were helped in large part by the huge amount of drugs and alcohol kept in their convertible, The Red Shark.

---

Plot Keywords:

drugs | hallucination | 1970s | lawyer | journalist | 

---

Taglines:

Buy the ticket, take the ride.

---

Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive extreme drug use and related bizarre behavior, strong language, and brief nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Grateful Dead appear briefly in an outdoor concert during the '60s flashbacks.

---

Goofs

The California Highway Patrol officer says that the town of Baker, California is outside of his jurisdiction. Although CHP officers are assigned to a specific office, technically the entire state is his jurisdiction.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Raoul Duke: [narrating] We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember saying something like:
Raoul Duke: I feel a bit lightheaded. Maybe you should drive.
Raoul Duke: [narrating] Suddenly, there was a terrible roar all around us, and the sky was full of what looked like huge bats, all swooping and screeching and diving around the car, and a voice was screaming:
Raoul Duke: Holy Jesus. What are these goddamn animals?
[swatting the air]
Raoul Duke: Huh! Huh! Huh! Fucking pigs.
Dr. Gonzo: Did you say ...
[...]

---

Crazy Credits

The Ralph Steadman drawings from the book are put in with the credits, along with the Gonzo & Duke in the Red Shark picture that takes up the whole screen at the end.

---

Connections

Referenced in Bundeloafe II: The Return of Jaffar (2013)

---

Soundtracks

It's Not Unusual
Written by Gordon Mills and Les Reed
Published by MCA-Duchess Music Corporation and Valley Music Ltd.
Performed by Tom Jones
Courtesy of Decca Record Company Limited
by arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Music

User Reviews

One of the best films ever.

It's hard to describe how good this movie is without sounding sycophantic but it really is that good. This film is based on the "true" story of when the notorious reporter Hunter S. Thompson and his then attorney Oscar Zeta Acosta went to Las Vegas to cover a bike race for rolling stone magazine but instead spent the entire trip going out of their minds on various illegal and legal chemicals. This may sound like a one trick pony for stoners and 60's throwbacks but I am neither and I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Very few films based on books manage to tell the story or capture the spirit of the original but F&L certainly manages both. The story sticks closely enough to the book without alienating the books fan base but also trims out the right areas so that the film doesn't become overly long and uninteresting.

The film is still fairly long, compared with most popcorn fare, at around 2hrs and does sag a little in places but the pace quickly picks up again. The performances are absolutely spot on with Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro virtually becoming their characters. Both are heavily disguised under make-up but their acting ability shines through. On first viewing I wasn't that impressed, it was a good film but not a great film, but after a second viewing I fell in love with it. You notice things and pick up on gags the second time around that you missed the first time. You immerse yourself in their world so much that you feel like you were there with them on the "trip" in both senses of the word. I have shown this film to most of my friends and they also have become hooked after viewing the film twice, it's such a shame that this great film works like this as I'm sure there are many people who are unwilling to give it the second chance it deserves. If you haven't seen this film I suggest you do and if you don't like it see it again. If you have seen this film and didn't like it, see it again.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 May 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,338,590, 24 May 1998

Gross USA:

$10,680,275

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,680,275

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fear and Loathing LLC, Rhino Films, Shark Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1