2013 Cannes Marathon: Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas

(Played in Competition for the Palme d’Or at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival)

Based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is the story of an eccentric journalist who goes to Las Vegas with his attorney where they aim to go after the American Dream through a haze of drugs. Directed by Terry Gilliam and screenplay by Gilliam and Tony Grisoni with credited contributions by Alex Cox and Tod Davies, the film is a wild look into the world of Hunter S. Thompson’s autobiographical journey that revolves around all sorts of crazy antics involving psychedelics, animals, Barbra Streisand paintings, and all sorts of weird shit. Starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a strange yet exhilarating film from Terry Gilliam.

The film revolves two men on a strange combination of drugs as they go to Las Vegas where a sportswriter named Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) is supposed to cover a motorcycle race nearby. Instead, he and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (Benicio del Toro) wreak havoc through a haze of drugs all over Las Vegas in search of the American Dream where a lot of crazy things happen. During the course of their stay in Las Vegas, they trash hotel rooms, harass tourists, threaten hotel staff members, defy authority, scare the shit out of a few people, encounter lizard people, create chaos, and do everything from acid to ether all in an attempt to bring the spirit of the 1960s to Las Vegas. Yet, they end up facing the harsh realities of the world around them as they start to lose control of their drug habits leading to some very troubling consequences.

The screenplay by Terry Gilliam and Tony Grisoni plays up to Hunter S. Thompson’s strange but freewheeling narrative as it is told from the perspective of Raoul Duke who is trying to write an article while causing havoc with Dr. Gonzo in Las Vegas. Yet, the screenplay also features these moments where reality and surrealism clash as the two men surround themselves with decadence while having the televisions on that display grim reports about the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. Yet, it plays to the two men’s desire to bring the spirit of the 60s with its psychedelics and other substances to Las Vegas as they encounter all sorts of trouble where they would end up staying at the Flamingo Hotel during an anti-drug convention for narcotics officers.

There isn’t much of a narrative that happens in the script as it is more about this escalation of decadence where things get crazier and more surreal as it plays to Thompson’s experience in the form of the Raoul Duke character. The Duke character is the man who is trying to do something in the course of his stay in Las Vegas but he’s often distracted by his surroundings as he’s often under the influence of drugs as the things he see may seem real to him but to the people outside of him and Dr. Gonzo, nothing is happening. The Dr. Gonzo character is someone who can be the straight man but is also someone far more aggressive and violent as he carries a gun and a knife as Duke is the only person that can control him. Yet, they would be a menace to the people they encounter in the course of the film as it would include a TV news reporter (Cameron Diaz), a young girl (Christina Ricci) who likes to paint portraits of Barbra Streisand), a young hitchhiker (Tobey Maguire), and all sorts of people who would become victims of the duo or those that would freak those two out in their drug-induced state.

The direction of Terry Gilliam is very wild in the fact that Gilliam wanted to create something that was unpredictable as if the whole film was a drug trip. The direction is filled with a lot of slanted camera angles and some very low-level camera placements to create the sense of two men lost on drugs as they wreak havoc in Las Vegas. The city itself is a character of the film where it is shot on location where Gilliam wanted to maintain that sense of disconnect where Vegas is a world where people go there to relax and escape from the chaos of what was happening in America. Yet, having Duke and Dr. Gonzo bring that chaos to Vegas just adds something that is very comical but also scary at times because no one knows what they will do in their haze of decadence.

The direction also contains some moments of surrealism where the men are on drugs as they see things moving around them as if they’re on a drug trip while some of the places they go to like a circus. It’s as if Vegas is under the influence of drugs where the decadence goes from classy to just surreal as everything is becoming a mess as well as reflective of what is happening in America where Duke and Dr. Gonzo often have the American flag around them. The film does take a darker turn towards the end where Gilliam decides to pull back the craziness to reveal the outcome of the chaos the two men create. Even as it plays to Duke’s own disillusionment as he realizes that times are indeed changing but the period he had been a part of is truly over. Overall, Gilliam creates a very chaotic yet spectacular film about two men chasing the American Dream.

Cinematographer Nicola Pecorini does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography from the sunny look of the Las Vegas daytime exteriors to the use of stylish lights to play up that sense of craziness that is the city with its casinos and hotels. Editor Lesley Walker does amazing work with the editing to play up the sense of style with some jump-cuts and montages that captures the sense of craziness that occurs throughout the film. Production designer Alex McDowell, with set decorator Nancy Haigh and art director Chris Gorack, does fantastic work with the set pieces from the look of the hotel suites the men stay in plus some set pieces in the circus casino and other parts of Vegas.

Costume designer Julie Weiss does wonderful work with the costumes from the clothes that Duke wears that plays to the wild nature of Hunter S. Thompson to the more ragged look of Dr. Gonzo while the rest of the clothes are stylish to play that up world of the early 1970s. Visual effects supervisor Kent Houston does excellent work with the way the carpet moves at time to some of the backdrops that is created as well as the look of the lounge lizards the men encounter that is created by Rob Bottin. Sound editor Peter Pennell does superb work with the sound to capture the sense of chaos of the city as well as some sound effects to play up that world of surrealism. The film’s music by Ray Cooper is terrific for its mixture of rock and kitsch jazz to play up the world of Las Vegas in all of its craziness while the soundtrack features an array of music from the Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, Tom Jones, Janis Joplin and the Big Brother Holding Company, the Yardbirds, Bob Dylan, Three Dog Night, Buffalo Springfield, the Youngbloods, Debbie Reynolds, Perry Como, and a crazy cover of Elvis Presley’s Viva Las Vegas by the Dead Kennedys.

The casting by Margery Simkin is phenomenal for the ensemble that is created specifically for this film. Notable appearances include Katherine Helmond as a hotel desk clerk, Christopher Meloni as the Flamingo hotel desk clerk, Jenette Goldstein as a Flamingo hotel maid, Verne Troyer as a waiter at the circus casino, Harry Dean Stanton as a judge in a dream sequence, Gary Busey as a highway patrol officer confronting Duke for speeding, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea as a hippie Duke encountered at the Matrix club, Michael Jeter as a convention speaker, Lyle Lovett as a road person, Penn Jilette as a carnie talker, Mark Harmon as a reporter covering the race, and Hunter S. Thompson as himself in a cameo in a scene at the Matrix club.

Other memorable small roles include Tobey Maguire as a freaked-out hitchhiker, Christina Ricci as a young woman who paints portraits of Barbra Streisand, Cameron Diaz as a TV news reporter Dr. Gonzo tries to flirt with, Craig Bierko as a crazy photographer Duke was assigned with, and Ellen Barkin as a shell-shocked diner waitress Dr. Gonzo threatens near the end of the film.

The film’s best performances definitely belong to the duo of Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro in their respective roles as Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo. In Dr. Gonzo, del Toro brings a craziness to his character as a very troubled man who can play straight when he’s not on drugs but is still very dangerous while he’s much more troubled under the influence. Depp does amazing work in channeling a lot of the attributes of Thompson in the Duke character as someone who is definitely paranoid while trying to comprehend everything that is happening around him. The two together make a fantastic combo of actors as they provide all sorts of humor and terror that allows them to create some of the best performances of their careers.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a fucked-up yet phenomenal film from Terry Gilliam that features outstanding performances from Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro. The film is definitely one of Gilliam’s great films as well as a very faithful yet crazy companion piece for Hunter S. Thompson’s book. While it’s definitely not a film for everyone, it’s a film that explores the world of the drug culture at its most decadent in the most decadent place in the world. In the end, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a crazy yet sensational wild ride from Terry Gilliam.

Terry Gilliam Films: Jabberwocky - Time Bandits - Brazil - The Adventures of Baron Munchausen - The Fisher King - 12 Monkeys - The Brothers Grimm - Tideland - The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus - The Zero Theorem - The Auteurs #38: Terry Gilliam

© thevoid99 2013

Time Bandits

Directed by Terry Gilliam and written by Gilliam and Michael Palin, Time Bandits is the story of a boy who goes on an adventure with a group of time-traveling dwarves where he travels to different periods in time. The film is an exploration into the world of fantasy and man trying to fight the impossible as it is the first part of a trilogy of films about dreamers. Starring John Cleese, Sean Connery, Michael Palin, Shelley Duvall, Ralph Richardson, Ian Holm, Katherine Helmond, Peter Vaughn, and David Warner. Time Bandits is a funny yet enjoyable fantasy film from Terry Gilliam.

A young boy named Kevin (Craig Warnock) enjoys reading adventures about all sorts of things while his parents (David Daker and Sheila Fearn) are more obsessed with household appliances and TV shows. One day, a gang of time traveling dwarf bandits come out of his closet looking for a time hole as they carry a map that get them through each time hole in order to steal riches from different periods of time. Leading the pack is Randall (David Rappaport) as he admits to stealing the map from the Supreme Being (Ralph Richardson and the voice of Tony Jay) as Kevin finds himself being part of the adventure. There, Kevin and the bandits land in the Napoleonic wars where the bandits find themselves having to entertain Napoleon Bonaparte (Ian Holm) where they successfully steal some treasure.

After finding themselves in the Middle Ages where they meet Robin Hood (John Cleese) where they end up having their take being given to the poor, Randall and the bandits ponder where to go next. Unaware that a sorcerer known as Evil (David Warner) is watching them, the bandits continue their journey where they’re being chased by the Supreme Being as Kevin finds himself in Mycenaean Greece where he saved the life of King Agamemnon (Sean Connery). Being happy around King Agamemnon, Kevin hopes to stay there until the bandits finally appear to steal more riches and take Kevin where they find themselves in the 20th Century on a ship. Randall believes that through the map that there’s a place into the unknown that can lead them to something that is considered to be the most fantastic object of the world. Kevin reluctantly joins them where they encounter more trouble where Kevin realizes what is going on forcing he and the bandits to fight Evil.

The film is essentially the story about a young boy who joins a group of time-traveling dwarves into an adventure into different periods of time where they steal riches while going after something that is to be even better than riches unaware that they’re watched by an evil sorcerer. That’s pretty much what the story is about though it is a film that is about a boy trying to find a place where he belongs as he feels out of place with the modern world as his parents are just obsessed with the technologies of the times. Throughout this adventure with this gang of dwarves that likes to steal and do things, this young boy would encounter worlds that are very different from the modern world as he feels like he belongs there.

The screenplay by Terry Gilliam and his Monty Python cohort Michael Palin does have a traditional structure into the motivations of how young Kevin sees things throughout his journey. Notably as the journeys he takes would play into his development and understanding of the world itself. He enjoys going back in time but he doesn’t like what the dwarves do as things get more complicated in the third act when the dwarves begin to doubt Randall over his obsession with going into this mysterious world. Particularly as they’re all unaware that they’re being watched by this evil sorcerer who wants the map they can carry to spread evil into the world. While the script is essentially a fantasy story, it’s also very comical since a lot of the situations are absurd and things do very silly such as the fact that the characters often drop in on a couple (Michael Palin and Shelley Duvall) and ruining their moment.

Terry Gilliam’s direction is definitely big in terms of its presentation where it is all about these elaborate set pieces, different locations, and all sorts of hi-jinks the characters encounter. Through some amazing compositions where Gilliam puts a lot into the frame in order to establish the world the characters encounter. He also makes sure that it’s about this group of dwarves and this young boy while he does take his time to establish what the evil sorcerer wants to do. The direction also includes some vast wide shots of some of these elaborate set pieces where things often feel offbeat such as the climatic world in the third act. Still, Gilliam manages to find a way to keep things offbeat in its humor and intentions while creating something that can appeal to a young audience. Overall, Gilliam creates a fantastic film that plays up to world of imagination and the yearn to escape from the doldrums of the modern world.

Cinematographer Peter Bizou does excellent work with the film’s cinematography from the very sunny and vast look of the King Agamemnon sequence to the more dreary look of the dark world that the sorcerer lives in. Editor Julian Doyle does wonderful work with the editing by creating some unique rhythms for the film’s action scenes along with some stylish slow-motion cuts for some of its intense moments. Production designer Milly Burns and art director Norman Garwood do amazing work with the vast set design that is created from the look of King Agamemnon’s palace, the castle where Napoleon is being entertained, and the dark underworld where the sorcerer lives in.

Costume designer James Acheson, with additional work from Hazel Cote, does terrific work with the costumes to capture the many different periods from the robes of King Agamemnon, the look of Robin Hood, and uniform worn by Napoleon. Hair and makeup work by Maggie Weston and Elaine Carew is superb for the look of some of the characters including the evil sorcerer that is over the top. The sound work of Allen Hurd is very good for the atmosphere that is created in parts of the films including the party scene at King Agamemnon’s hall. The music by Mike Moran is a delight to hear not just for its bombastic orchestral score but also for its playfulness as it serves as a great accompaniment to the film’s humorous moments. The music also includes a song by one of the film’s executives producers in George Harrison that plays up to the film’s whimsical charm.

The film’s cast is incredible for the ensemble that is created as it features some noteworthy small roles from Jim Broadbent as a game show host, Peter Vaughn as an ogre named Winston, Katherine Helmond as the ogre’s wife, David Daker and Sheila Fearn as Kevin’s parents, and Michael Palin and Shelley Duvall as a loving couple often interrupted by the appearances of the dwarves. Other appearances that are definitely played for laughs include Ian Holm as Napoleon Bonaparte and John Cleese as a somewhat dim-witted Robin Hood. Sean Connery is superb as King Agamemnon where he displays a great sense of prestige in his role. David Warner is terrific as the sorcerer Evil who is very over-the-top while Ralph Richardson is wonderful as the very witty Supreme Being.

The performances by the dwarves in Tiny Ross, Mike Edmonds, Jack Purvis, Malcolm Dixon, and Kenny Baker are definitely amazing to watch as well as Jack Rappaport as the conniving leader of the gang in Randall. Finally, there’s Craig Warnock in a marvelous performance as Kevin who is intrigued by the world of adventure and imagination as he deals with his journey as well as the evil forces that he later has to fight.

Time Bandits is an extraordinary yet witty film from Terry Gilliam. Armed with a great ensemble cast and amazing set pieces, the film is definitely among one of Gilliam’s best films. Notably as it’s also a very accessible film that offers something more to a wide audience including children. In the end, Time Bandits is a whimsical yet adventurous film from Terry Gilliam.

Terry Gilliam Films: Jabberwocky - Brazil - The Adventures of Baron Munchausen - The Fisher King - 12 Monkeys - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - The Brothers Grimm - Tideland - The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus - The Zero Theorem - The Auteurs #38: Terry Gilliam

© thevoid99 2013

Cars

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 6/19/08 w/ Additional Edits.

Ever since the release of 1995's landmark film Toy Story, the 3-D computer-animated film changed the cinema forever with its unique look as animation was reinvented. The film coming from a fledgling studio called Pixar backed by Disney would become the predominant 3-D computer animation studio that would put out quality films that each had a unique look and feel. Since the release of Toy Story, Pixar studios and its film directors John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, and Brad Bird had created unique films that were often critically acclaimed and huge box office hits. In 2006, Pixar co-founder John Lasseter returned to the director's chair after co-directing 1999's Toy Story 2 for an entertaining, thrilling story about a race car and his exploration of life in the film simply entitled Cars.

Directed by John Lasseter along with co-director Joe Ranft based on their story co-written with Jorgen Klubien and Brenda Chapman. Cars tells the story of a rookie race car named Lightning McQueen who suddenly gets lost in a small, quaint little town called Radiator Springs on U.S. Route 66. After an accidental act of vandalism, McQueen is ordered to fix the town's road as he meets the town's eccentric characters while learning about life and racing. With an all-star cast that included Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin, Jenifer Lewis, Paul Dooley, George Carlin, Tony Shalhoub, Michael Keaton, Michael Wallis, Katherine Helmond, racing legend Richard Petty, and Pixar regular John Ratzenberg. Cars is an excellent, exciting, and entertaining film from John Lasseter and company.

It's the Dinoco 400 as a bunch of cars race for the coveted Piston Cup. Yet, the top three racers are longtime champion the King (Richard Petty), veteran contender Chick Hicks (Michael Keaton) and new rookie sensation Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson). Yet, despite McQueen's talents and charisma, the rookie is cocky and arrogant often working alone with a frustrated pit crew. Despite being in a three-way tie, McQueen dreams of winning King's old Dinoco sponsorship that would put him at the top even though he got a break from the Rusteze bumper ointment company. Hoping to make it to California before Hicks does to get the Dinoco deal with big truck Mack (John Ratzenberger), something happens as a tired Mack loses McQueen during the trip to California.

Lost, McQueen finds himself on the famed Route 66 where he enters the quaint town of Radiator Springs and causes trouble by accidentally ruining the town's road. After the old sheriff (Michael Wallis) arrests him, McQueen meets the town's judge Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) who orders him to fix the road for community service. Even as it was the town's local motel owner/Porsche Miss Sally (Bonnie Hunt) makes the suggestion in hopes to raise the town's spirit. Having to drag the road-paving machine Bessie, McQueen meets many of the town's locals including the tow-truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), the tire owner Luigi (Tony Shalhoub) and his assistant Guido (Guido Quaroni), the gas station owner Flo (Jenifer Lewis) and her paint-job artist Ramone (Cheech Marin), the hippie Volkswagen bus Filmore (George Carlin), the army surplus jeep Sarge (Paul Dooley), the elder bumper sticker patron Lizzie (Katherine Helmond), and the shy fire truck Red (Joe Ranft).

While McQueen has to contend with the town and its ways, he starts to find to find himself part of the town as he makes friends and learns about Doc Hudson's past as the racing legend Hudson Hornet. After being found by the media, McQueen reluctantly returns to his lavish lifestyle as he finds himself missing the town he's grown to love. With the race for the Piston Cup happening and McQueen uninspired, he gets some unexpected help to race for the championship.

While the film has the sheer look and spirit of all the Pixar films John Lasseter and his team had created. Cars stands out for its sense of entertainment, an exploration into the world of NASCAR as well as its look into the wonders of America on the road. Yet, what the film lacks is a strong story since in comparison to the films Pixar had created before and since. It's approach is also more commercial than the rest of its films since it's more geared for entertainment than taking any kind of artistic risks. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Despite a huge team of writers and contributors that included Bonnie Hunt, John Lasseter does do a fantastic job in creating a look and style to the film that is true to the spirit of road films, NASCAR, and the wonders of America. Yet, Lasseter is still a storyteller at heart as he provides memorable characters and development that allows the story to be memorable and filled with heart as well as some strong themes.

Cinematographer Jeremy Lasky along with production designers William Cone and Bob Pauley do a superb job in the film's look and lighting as well as capturing the look of the home town and the various locations they recreate for Radiator Springs and Route 66. Editor Ken Schretzmann does an excellent job with the film's cutting in the use of dissolves and transitions to tell the story without delving into hyper-fast cutting styles for the film's racing scenes. Sound editor Michael Silvers and sound designer Tom Myers do a fantastic job with the film's sound work in capturing the sound of tires squeals and engines running for the film's race scenes as well as various work where the sound work is one of the film's highlights. Animation directors James Ford Murphy and Bobby Podesta do an amazing work in the look for each character to give them personality with model cars they play as it works to give the entire film a unique look.

Longtime Pixar contributor Randy Newman does a wonderful job with the film's score that is a mix of ragtime and country music to capture the spirit of Middle America and the world of NASCAR. The soundtrack though is a mixed bag despite the fact that it captures the spirit of the film. With old-time music ranging from the Chords, Chuck Berry, Hank Williams, and Jimi Hendrix, the rest of the soundtrack includes such mainstream artists as Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, James Taylor, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and of all things, Kenny G.

The voice cast is truly superb with cameo appearances from previous Pixar contributors Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Dave Foley, Billy Crystal, and John Goodman playing their respective Pixar characters in the form of cars as a tribute of sorts to John Ratzenberg’s contributions. Other noted cameo appearances from Bob Costas, Jay Leno, Mario Andretti, Michael Schumacher as a Ferrari, Richard Petty's wife Lynda as Mrs. The King, Dale Earnhardt Jr. as Junior, racing legend Darrell Waltrip as Costas' co-broadcaster, Richard Kind and Edie McClurg as two vans trying to find directions, Jeremy Piven in a typecast but funny role as McQueen's agent Harv, and Finding Nemo director as the rusty car Fred. Other Pixar contributors like Lou Romano as a street racing car, the late Joe Ranft (whom the film was dedicated to) as Red and the Peterbilt truck, and John Ratzenberg as the truck Mack whose voice is so memorable that he's one of the reasons that Pixar is the best 3-D animation studio.

Michael Keaton is great as the cheating, 1980s stock-car with a mustache who likes to spur insults on McQueen and cheat as the rival that everyone loves to hate. Racing legend Richard Petty is also great in the role of The King, the 1970 Plymouth Superbird racing legend who gives McQueen advice on being a champion and such. Katherine Helmond is funny as the old 1923 Ford Model T car Lizzie who has some funny one-liners and is often forgetful. Jenifer Lewis is sassy as the 1957 Motorama show car gas station owner Flo who provides the best gas on Radiator Springs while Cheech Marin is cool as the 1959 Chevy Impala Lowrider Ramone who likes to give cars good paint jobs. Michael Wallis is good and funny as the 1949 Mercury Club Coupe police car who makes sure McQueen doesn't try to run away while having to get repairs for his old parts. Paul Dooley is also good as Willys Army model jeep Sarge who often banters with the 1969 VW Bus Fillmore, played wonderfully by George Carlin, who likes to sell organic fuel and listen to Jimi Hendrix.

Tony Shalhoub is excellent as Luigi, the 1959 Fiat 500 who sells tires and only pay attention to European racing circuit with a love for Ferraris yet it's Guido Quaroni as the little Isetta forklift named Guido that steals the show with his hope to put in new tires for a race as he says the word "Peet stop" with such delight. Larry the Cable Guy is hilarious as the rusty 1950s model tow truck Mater who befriends McQueen while teaching him how to drive backwards with fantasies of wanting to ride in a helicopter.

Bonnie Hunt is wonderfully subtle as the voice of reason in her role as the 2002 Porsche 911 model Sally Carrera who shows McQueen a world that is different from the world he's been as she becomes a potential love interest. Paul Newman is superb as 1951 Hudson Hornet model Doc Hudson who despises McQueen for who he is as he later reveals about his own racing past and what happened to him only to become his unlikely mentor. Owen Wilson is perfectly cast as the cocky, arrogant Lightning McQueen, a hybrid of Le Mans endurance racer and Ford, who goes through the biggest development as he learns about being a true winner and having a good team to back him up.

While Cars isn't as superb or as brilliant as other Pixar films, John Lasseter's tribute to NASCAR and the American road films is still an excellent 3-D animation feature film that has enough spark and entertainment value that is undoubtedly watchable. Fans of the films that Pixar have created will feel that Cars is the weakest of the bunch yet in comparison to most 3-D animated films not put out by Pixar. Cars still beats them in terms of heart and technical brilliance. In the end, for a film with memorable characters, lot of energy, and great themes, Cars is the film to go see.

Pixar Films: Toy Story - A Bug's Life - Toy Story 2 - (Monsters, Inc.) - (Finding Nemo) - The Incredibles - Ratatouille - WALL-E - Up - Toy Story 3 - Cars 2 - Brave - Monsters University - Inside Out - The Good Dinosaur - (Finding Dory) - (Cars 3) - Coco - Incredibles 2 - Toy Story 4 - (Onward) - Soul (2020 film) - (Luca (2021 film)) - Turning Red - (Lightyear) - (Elemental (2023 film)) - Inside Out 2 - (Elio) – (Toy Story 5)

© thevoid99 2011