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 | narrated by character | based on novel | 

---

Taglines:

Give us your brain for two hours and you will never be the same again.....(Icelandic)

---

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

During Raoul Duke's acid trip in the bar of the hotel when he first arrives in Las Vegas, you hear "Roger Pratt, please report to the front desk" being said on the P.A. Roger Pratt worked with Terry Gilliam on Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Brazil (1985), The Fisher King (1991), and 12 Monkeys (1995) as his cinematographer - but not on Fear and Loathing.

---

Goofs

During the restaurant scene in north Vegas, the lighting outside changes four times. Most noticeably right at the end when Duke is leaving. Its dark outside while he stands at the door, but when after returning the plate, it is much lighter.

---

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 Parenthood: I'll Be Right Here (2012)

---

Soundtracks

Expecting To Fly
Written by Neil Young
Published by Broken Arrow Music Corporation
Performed by Buffalo Springfield
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group
by arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

This film was too weird to live, yet too rare too die.

Where to even start with this? What starts as a fun drug-fueled comedy slowly turns into a claustrophobic nightmare of grotesque imagery and sensory overload. I've never done any hallucinogetic drugs, but I imagine that after a while, the rush Would become a nightmare. This is an ugly movie. It's hard to watch. It's extremely uncfomfortable. And that's the point.

Terry Gilliam said in his own words: "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." Judging by the critics' reactions, he succeded. The film has an almost perfectly split 50 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and many critics, including Roger Ebert, were completely appalled by it, and honestly, it's not hard to see why.

But the movie survived. It has stood the test of time. It has risen from the ashes to become stronger than ever before. It is a paradox. A joyful nightmare. A horrifying treat. This film was too weird to live, yet too rare too die.

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