Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1990)
Written by: Hunter S Thompson
This is a weird film which has a kind of cult following based on the book written by the eccentric but prolific journalist cum author, Hunter S Thompson. Rumour has it that he is related to the famed Scottish surgeon Dr James Hunter on his maternal side, hence his first name! Thompson has an illustrious life to boast. Serving in the US Air Force and honourably discharged, he wore many hats, leaving a trail of angry superiors - as a security officer, a journalist, an author and even as a member of the Hell's Angels for about a year. Even, the Hell's Angels were upset with him thinking that they thought that he was using their association to monetise their life through his book. They demanded a portion as his earnings.
Thompson is said to be the pioneer of the Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting as a first person rather than as a bystander. A member of the counter culture movement, he experimented with many hallucinogenic substances. Many of his books are based on his life experiences. He has no qualms about showing his opposition to the Vietnam War and his dislike to Nixon. He strongly believed in the 4th amendment to bear arms. His addictions haunted him in his later stages of life. He missed the 1974 Ali-Frazier 'Rumble in Jungle' as he was intoxicated even though he was sent to write on the bout!
He shot himself intentionally at the age of 67 (Right to bear arm?).
Coming back to the movie, it is very difficult to follow. It is no joy watching two grown men waddling along throughout the whole show, hallucinating, puking, talking gibberish and displaying all the intoxicants known to man. There is no respect to human, private and public properties. The characters of the Raoul Duke, a reporter (Johnny Depp in another indistinguishable role) and Dr Gonzo, an attorney (Benicio Del Toro) seem to get away with anything as they arrived stashed in Las Vegas to cover a off road dirt bike race and a US attorney conference.
The ruckus they create in the hotel whilst under the influence of hallucinogens is the crux of the story. They continue doing meaningless acts in their state of drug induced paranoia. It seem meaningless to watch their actions on and on until you realise at the end of the movie when the main character explains in his soliloquy.
The gurus of the mid 60s who introduced mind altering drugs as a means of exploring the true inner self have showed a path of self destruction. It does not discover anything new and had let us nowhere. It was a failed experiment. Boy, it is a very torturous and tortuous way of driving the point across.
(N.B. Not to be confused with Jim Thompson, the wealthy businessman, an ex-CIA man who went missing in Cameron Highlands and never to be found till date. Just like MH370, his liaison with the CIA regenerated many conspiracy theories.)
Written by: Hunter S Thompson
This is a weird film which has a kind of cult following based on the book written by the eccentric but prolific journalist cum author, Hunter S Thompson. Rumour has it that he is related to the famed Scottish surgeon Dr James Hunter on his maternal side, hence his first name! Thompson has an illustrious life to boast. Serving in the US Air Force and honourably discharged, he wore many hats, leaving a trail of angry superiors - as a security officer, a journalist, an author and even as a member of the Hell's Angels for about a year. Even, the Hell's Angels were upset with him thinking that they thought that he was using their association to monetise their life through his book. They demanded a portion as his earnings.Thompson is said to be the pioneer of the Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting as a first person rather than as a bystander. A member of the counter culture movement, he experimented with many hallucinogenic substances. Many of his books are based on his life experiences. He has no qualms about showing his opposition to the Vietnam War and his dislike to Nixon. He strongly believed in the 4th amendment to bear arms. His addictions haunted him in his later stages of life. He missed the 1974 Ali-Frazier 'Rumble in Jungle' as he was intoxicated even though he was sent to write on the bout!
He shot himself intentionally at the age of 67 (Right to bear arm?).
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| Hunter S Thompson |
The ruckus they create in the hotel whilst under the influence of hallucinogens is the crux of the story. They continue doing meaningless acts in their state of drug induced paranoia. It seem meaningless to watch their actions on and on until you realise at the end of the movie when the main character explains in his soliloquy.
The gurus of the mid 60s who introduced mind altering drugs as a means of exploring the true inner self have showed a path of self destruction. It does not discover anything new and had let us nowhere. It was a failed experiment. Boy, it is a very torturous and tortuous way of driving the point across.
(N.B. Not to be confused with Jim Thompson, the wealthy businessman, an ex-CIA man who went missing in Cameron Highlands and never to be found till date. Just like MH370, his liaison with the CIA regenerated many conspiracy theories.)
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