This has to be one of my all time favourite movies. On a superficial level, it is a genius work of cinematography, transparent use of SFX, amazing acting, and inspired art direction. A typical Gilliam piece, then! But beyond all this, it is a superb transfer from book to screen of a truly great work...making only a few, and not too many, sacrifices for the sake of easy-watching. People say that it is incoherent and insane...what did they expect from a portrayal of a drug-crazed reporter on the rampage in the world's wierdest city? All the same... I think that Gilliam did an amazing job to make the film quite as wierd, and 'Thompson-esque' as he did. It would have been so easy to make it...well...normal. I think that sacrificing some of the audience (the biggoted, easily offended, and morally blind section) to maintain the integrity of what is a very convoluted, but amazingly astute comment on 'the american dream'...was a very admirable decision!
See it!
See it!