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.

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Plot Keywords:

drugs | hallucination | 1970s | lawyer | journalist | 

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Taglines:

If there was a trip to be taken, they were there (Australian)

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Terry Gilliam wanted to provoke strong reactions to his film as he said in an interview, "I want it to be seen as one of the great movies of all time, and one of the most hated movies of all time."

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Goofs

When Duke and Gonzo drive into Las Vegas to the Mint Hotel there is a banner which reads: '$100,000 Mint 400'. However, at the actual race a banner reads: '$50, 000 Mint 400', which can also be heard by the announcer at the race.

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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 ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The credits literally scroll up the freeway.

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Connections

Referenced in Beguiled Company

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Soundtracks

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Published by Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Performed by The Hollyridge Strings
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Capitol Special Markets

User Reviews

On a razor's edge.

In a sense, this is kind of like the movie Terry Gilliam was born to do.

Terry Gilliam is an awesome visual director in the same way that Tim Burton is an awesome visual director: every single frame bleeds its own distinct style of beauty, but sometimes the story just doesn't hold it up, or the stylistic elements get in the way. However, what could possibly be better to found Gilliam's surreal psychedelic imagery on than Hunter S. Thompson's story of his exploration into the American Dream? Still, it's a hard thing to pull off, translating Thompson to film, and while Gilliam does succeed, it's largely from the support of the incredible cast working under him to work out. Johnny Depp and Benecio Del Toro especially have to really work on exaggerating when needed, slowing down when necessary through what feels like hundreds of hallucinogenic scenes with just barely enough narrative structure to pull them together.

Of course, the outcome is pretty fantastic, but it sets this movie squarely in the "love it or hate it" section of the world's video library, which is pretty much Gilliam's career simplified anyways.

--PolarisDiB

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