"We were somewhere around Barstow when the drugs began to take hold." It is 1971: journalist Raoul Duke, barrels towards Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race, accompanied by a trunkful of contraband and his slightly unhinged Samoan attorney, Dr. Gonzo. But what is ostensibly a cut-and-dry journalistic endeavor quickly descends into a feverish psychedelic odyssey and an excoriating dissection of the American way of life. Director Terry Gilliam and an all star cast (headed by Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Torro) show no mercy, bringing Dr. Hunter S. Thompson's legendary Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to the screen, creating a film both hilarious and savage. Gilliam took over the reigns as director after Alex Cox (Repo Man) left the production due to creative differences. Gilliam quickly re-wrote the screenplay in its entirety, to fit his unique creative vision and style, while staying true to Thompson's writings.
