Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Criterion Collection

Whether Hunter S. Thompson is a legitimate reporter or just a rambling, drug-addled madman, one thing’s for sure: His journalistic endeavors make for interesting cinema. In 1998 he teamed up with Johnny Depp and Terry Gilliam to produce the fantastically fucked Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and now the Criterion Collection provides a glimpse into all the bizarre talent at work. The first of the two-disc set includes commentary from the major players (with Thompson’s mumbling contributions being the highlight, naturally), but most of the goods are on disc two: Watch documentary footage of Thompson cruising Hollywood while opening beer bottles with his car door; listen to Gilliam grapple for sole screenwriting credit amid heated legal wrangling; learn who the real Dr. Gonzo was; and check out the many different ways of marketing a drugged-down search for the American Dream.

It may not be the dream he was looking for, but enjoying this extras-packed trip doesn’t actually require a coke and crystal-meth cook-off. We did that strictly out of homage.