It's 1971. Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) and his 'attorney' Dr. Gonzo (Benicio del Toro) are on a drug-fueled road trip in the American west. They pick up a hitchhiker (Tobey Maguire) but he runs away screaming. They're on their way to cover the Mint 400 motorcycle race in Las Vegas. They are joined by photographer Lacerda (Craig Bierko). Later, they attend a District Attorney's convention on narcotics.
The surreal imagery is both ugly and tiring. I hoped the reptile vision is the start of some good visual attempts. I don't think Terry Gilliam is wild enough in this movie. Also the scenes are too long which stretches out the hazy feel of the movie. It feels repetitive. Johnny Depp is exploding with craziness but the early fascination fades. I'm not sure if Gilliam achieved anything other than tedium. It's not until the end that Gilliam comes up with something compelling. Gonzo pulling the knife on the waitress is the only truly compelling scene leading an interesting idea to conclude on. If only the rest of the movie had something to say too.
The surreal imagery is both ugly and tiring. I hoped the reptile vision is the start of some good visual attempts. I don't think Terry Gilliam is wild enough in this movie. Also the scenes are too long which stretches out the hazy feel of the movie. It feels repetitive. Johnny Depp is exploding with craziness but the early fascination fades. I'm not sure if Gilliam achieved anything other than tedium. It's not until the end that Gilliam comes up with something compelling. Gonzo pulling the knife on the waitress is the only truly compelling scene leading an interesting idea to conclude on. If only the rest of the movie had something to say too.