Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: Terry Gilliam Cast: Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
, Benicio Del Toro
Benicio Del Toro
, Gary Busey
Gary Busey
, Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin
Terry Gilliam
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: Terry Gilliam Cast: Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
, Benicio Del Toro
Benicio Del Toro
, Gary Busey
Gary Busey
, Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin
Terry Gilliam

Blu-ray (Wide Screen)

$39.99 
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Overview

"Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Twelve Monkeys, The Fisher King) directed this colorful, stylized, pseudo-psychedelic $21-million adaptation of the 1971 Hunter S. Thompson classic, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey into the Heart of the American Dream, about stoned sportswriter Raoul Duke, Thompson's alter ego, on a wild drug-crazed road trip, a paranoid plummet into the belly of the beast, with his pal, lawyer Oscar Zeta Acosta. Originally serialized in Rolling Stone (November 1971), the book catapulted Thompson headfirst toward the Kerouac-Mailer-Capote pantheon and jump-started the entire movement of ""gonzo journalism."" Carrying a suitcase of drugs, Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp with shaved pate) and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro) drive a red convertible across the Mojave from L.A. to Vegas, where Duke has an assignment to cover the Mint 400 desert motorcycle race. As the drugs kick in, Duke ventures into voiceover, filling in the blank spots and narrative gaps. ""This is not a good town for psychedelic drugs,"" says Duke, but even so, they consume vast quantities, eventually escalating to ether. Duke notes that with ether ""you can actually watch yourself behaving this terrible way, but you can't control it."" The two trash their hotel room, and Gonzo goes back to L.A. Thinking the hotel room holocaust will lead to an arrest, Duke begins a drive back to L.A., but after an odd encounter with a highway patrolman (Gary Busey) and a telephone conversation with Gonzo, he returns to Vegas to cover the District Attorney Convention on Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs in the glitzy Flamingo Hotel. This time the drugged-out duo trash their Flamingo room. The crazed carnival atmosphere segues into a carney casino, Bazooko's Circus, where a barker (Penn Jillette) spiels amid aerialists, clowns, and a rotating carousel bar. Gonzo worries over runaway teen Lucy (Christina Ricci), who paints portraits of Barbra Streisand. Soon the hallucinations begin: Duke sees Gonzo transmogrify into a demon with breasts on its back, and an acid vision of a Vegas bar features large legit lounge lizards (courtesy of monster makeup man Rob Bottin). Flashbacks depicting Duke's intro to the drug scene jump back to love-Haight relationships in San Francisco's Summer of Love. Cameos and guest stars include Mark Harmon, Cameron Diaz, Flea, Lyle Lovett, Harry Dean Stanton, Ellen Barkin, Tobey Maguire, and Hunter S. Thompson himself. The film features a Geffen Records soundtrack mixing rock of the period with Vegas lounge tunes. Over the years, various script adaptations came and went as did numerous talents; people connected with past efforts to film Thompson's book include Martin Scorsese, Jack Nicholson, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, and writer-director Alex Cox. Shown in competition at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival."

Product Details

Release Date: 04/26/2011
UPC: 0715515070218
Original Release: 1998
Rating: R
Source: Criterion Collection
Region Code: A
Presentation: [Wide Screen]
Sound: [Dolby Surround]
Language: English
Time: 1:59:00
Sales rank: 8,179

Special Features

Digital transfer, approved by director Terry Gilliam, with dts-hd master audio soundtrack and an optional 5.1 mix; Three audio commentaries: one with Gilliam, one with stars Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro and producer Laila Nabulsi, and one with author Hunter S. Thompson ; Deleted scenes, with optional commentary by Gilliam ; Selection of Thompson correspondence, read on camera by Depp ; Hunter Goes to Hollywood, a short documentary ; A look at the controversy over the screenwriting credit ; Profile of Oscar Zeta Acosta, the inspiration for Dr. Gonzo ; Collection of artwork by illustrator Ralph Steadman; Excerpt from a 1996 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas recording featuring Jim Jarmusch and Maury Chaykin ; BBC documentary from 1978 with Thompson and Steadman ; Stroyboards, production designs, stills, and trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Johnny Depp Raoul Duke
Benicio Del Toro Dr. Gonzo
Gary Busey Highway Patrolman
Ellen Barkin Waitress
Christina Ricci Lucy
Cameron Diaz TV Reporter
Tobey Maguire Hitchhiker
Craig Bierko Lacerta
Mark Harmon Magazine Reporter
Katherine Helmond Reservation Clerk
Michael Jeter Bumquist
Flea Musician
Chris Meloni Clerk
Penn Jillette Carnie Talker
Lyle Lovett Road Person
Laraine Newman Frog-Eyed Woman
Harry Dean Stanton Judge
Tim Thomerson Hoodlum
Michael Lee Gogin Uniformed Dwarf
Larry Cedar Car Rental Agent, Los Angeles
Brian Lebaron Parking Attendant
Michael Warwick Bell Boy
Tyde Kierney Reporter
Richard Riehle Dune Buggy Driver
Ransom Gates Dune Buggy Passenger
Frank Romano Dune Buggy Passenger
Gil Boccaccio Desert Room Doorman
Gary Bruno Desert Room Doorman
Richard Portnow Wine Coloured Tuxedo
Steve Schirripa Goon
Will Blount The Black Guy
Ben Yeager Barker, the Clown
Christopher Callen Bazooka Circus Waitress
Ben Van Der Veen TV Crew Man
Alex Craig Mann Stockbroker
Gregory Itzin Clerk at Mint Hotel
Troy Evans Police Chief
Gale Baker Police Chief's Wife
Chris Hendrie Executive Director
Larry Brandenburg Cop in Black
Jenette Goldstein Maid
Stephen Bridgewater Human Cannonball
Buck Holland Shopper
Mary Gillis Shopper
Jennifer Elise Cox Shopper
Robert Allen Car Rental Agent, Las Vegas
David Brisbin Man in Car
James O'Sullivan TV Newsman
Milt Tarver TV Newsman
Kathryn Alexander Lizard Performer
Mia Babalis Lizard Performer
Kristin Draudt Lizard Performer
Kim Flowers Lizard Performer
Nan Friedman Lizard Performer
Judith Lieff Lizard Performer
Tane McClure Lizard Performer
Diana Mehoudar Lizard Performer
Geoffrey B. Nimmer Lizard Performer
Marlene Bologna Trapeze Artist
Chobi Gyorgy Trapeze Artist
Karen E. Castoldi Trapeze Artist
Lisa S. Hoyle Trapeze Artist
Joseph S. Griffo Trapeze Artist
Verne Troyer Kellner
Debbie Reynolds Debbie Reynolds
Ray Cooper Composer
Michael Kamen Composer

Technical Credits
Terry Gilliam Director,Screenwriter
Tony Grisoni Screenwriter
Tod Davies Screenwriter
Alex Cox Screenwriter
Harold Bronson Executive Producer,Producer
Richard Foos Executive Producer,Producer
Patrick Cassavetti Producer
Stephen Nemeth Producer
Laila Nablusi Producer
Steve Galich Special Effects
Margery Simkin Casting
Hunter S. Thompson Screenwriter
Laila Nabulsi Producer
Elliot Lewis Rosenblatt Producer
Andrea Adams Special Effects
David Acord Sound Effects
Mick Boggis Sound Effects
Stephen Bridgewater Sound Effects
Martin Cantwell Sound Effects
Paul Carr Sound Effects
Ditch Doy Special Effects
John Swinnerton Special Effects
Rob Bottin Special Effects
Jay Meagher Sound/Sound Designer
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