A TRIP TO END ALL TRIPS OF ALL KINDS! "FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS"

Time for something a little more “hard hitting”. We centered around the emotional traumas of war, the 60’s and even the 20’s last week, but this week , I’m going for the “tough stuff”. Quentin Tarantino will feature heavily in the proceedings but before we get to him, I want to discuss another of my favorite directors. Terry Gilliam. Now, to say I love Monty Python would rank among the great understatements of the century… Terry Gilliam is the one in the band who did the animations. A graphic artist by trade he did those beautiful surreal animations that sort of wound out of one absurd shape into another without so much as a “by your leave” leaving the viewer completely befuddled as to where he began in the first place… In a strange way, I feel his work as a director has a lot of the same surreal quality… Not the photography but the storytelling… Did you watch Tideland? Or The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus? Did you like either? If you said yes, you will LOVE Fear and Loathing…
Meet Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp). He was a newspaper reporter somewhere down the line. He still is, thanks to his large Samoan “attorney” Dr Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro). Dr. Gonzo and Duke do a lot of traveling together. They also get into A LOT of serious trouble together. They are usually loaded on every kind of drink and drug imaginable, and they surrender to the drugs, let it course through their bodies and take them wherever the f.ck it feels like. Most of these adventures are fuelled by Duke’s sporadic work as a journalist. And this work sends our weird duo to Las Vegas one fine morning. Mayhem being both Las Vegas’s and Duke and Gonzo’s middle names, the combination is… Highly combustible…
Ok, think of the Big Lebowski. It’s the same kind of film. It is most definitely not suitable for kids. And I hear some of you tut – tutting at the idea of a comedy about drugs saying “maybe we’ll give this one a miss”. No. Do NOT give this one a miss. As far as comedy is concerned, Mr. Gilliam’s talent as a director and Mr. Depp’s acting skills alone make for an unforgettable experience. Raoul Duke, his mannerisms, his way of speech… No wonder the character became a classic… Plus, guest appearances are abundant – Cameron Diaz, Toby Maguire, Christina Ricci… The quality of acting is breath-taking… You may have slight trouble distinguishing a beginning and an end – you would not be wrong. The film however, has content. You will be surprised to find out it even has a political message. Duke harks back to the 60’s when flower power ruled, when the world WAS going to become filled with peace and harmony… He criticizes America of the 80’s and what it became (Gilliam is the only American python so it’s appropriate really. Let’s not forget however that this was actually adapted from a short story by Hunter Tompson but I am yet to read that one…) Duke and Gonzo are degenerates – they are also caricatures… Maybe what Gilliam (and Tompson) are looking for is present with its absence so to speak… You really should watch and give it a good thought… I mean even the dudes at Cannes thought Mr. Gilliam could be worth a Golden Palm (he was nominated didn’t win it thought)Even if you don’t come up with any philosophical or political conclusions, I guarantee you one heck of a ride…

DON’T DREAM IT – BE IT! WITH THE "ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW!"

I’m sure the title has caused a lot of you no little confusion on a lot of counts. The older among you will exclaim – “But that was a musical – surely they haven’t made a FILM of it – that’s BLASPHEMY!” And the younger among you will say “Rocky WHO?” Ok, let’s recap and begin at the beginning. In the United Kingdom, in 1973, there was a musical. It spoke openly of sex and sexual awakening (which was not usual for the 70’s) and also caused no little controversy because one of the protagonists (Dr. Frank N. Furter – now most definitely my FAVORITE any kind of character of all times) is a transsexual . In platform shoes. Underwear. Suspenders. Makeup. The works. Kids broke out of their family homes and collected pocket money for weeks to go and see it. Parents strongly disapproved and worried – but with most things of this genre, could do nothing about it to prevent it spreading like a wildfire. In the mid 70’s, seeing the success of the musical, the company decided to turn it into a “motion picture”. Starring big names like Susan Sarandon (Good LORD she is young. I barely recognized her!) the one and only Tim Curry (the original Dr. Frank N. Furter from the musical) and rock singer Meatloaf (of all people). Now, I knew shamefully little about this. I knew sex featured heavily. That it was considered the granddaddy (or grandmommy?!) of absurd comedy. That it was probably a musical. That was it. I saw the DVD on discount in the foreign land I was travelling in last week and picked it up. I did not speak the language of this land and therefore only got to learn the story by watching the damn thing. It turned out to be the best purchase I have made. Like, ever.
However, I guess you lot want to have a touch more forewarning about what you are going to watch and its topic so I will now proceed to give you a short summary. Meet Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon). They are you’re a-typical engaged couple of the late 60’s – early 70’s. Very “good” no “heavy petting” nothing “unusual”. They are going through life “the normal way” and are preparing to go through life pretty much on the same route - until they get a flat tire one night when they are in the middle of nowhere. Well, it isn’t exactly the middle of nowhere, there’s a rather spooky looking castle in the middle of that particular slice of nowhere. Janet is scared but Brad is reasonable. The castle may have a phone that will allow them to call civilization for help. The castle, however, is no ordinary castle. Its master is Dr. Frank N. Furter – and he has plans for our couple. And neither telephones nor returning to the car is included in these plans…
Now, first and foremost, don’t even go near this DVD if you hate musicals, disapprove of comedy of a sexual nature or think that 70’s movies are lame and absurd comedy is pointless. Just forget I mentioned it and move on to the next post. If, on the other hand, you are not one of the above, get this DVD by hook or by crook. Even if you have watched the musical, the particular edition I have includes such delightful extras as a “participation prompter” – where you are advised as to how you can participate in the musical as you watch (it’s not complicated and you don’t necessarily need a prompter. For instance, in the middle of writing this, for a distraction, (I have a migraine as I write this so I can only stare at the screen and concentrate on it for short periods of time) I slapped the DVD on and did the “Time Warp” round the room. No prompter used, just common sense. Well, when I say common sense…) Or, if you would rather see the reactions of others, you can listen to the reactions of an audience of veterans (I’m guessing fan-club members) singing along to it – it makes for a PRICELESS experience. Even the DVD menus are hilarious. Curious? Then “go up to the lab and see what’s on the slab!”

P.S. For those who are now “full on Frankie fans” here’s the link to the fan club website. I’m definitely signing up. Like, seriously… Oh and by the way on the same website you can purchase tickets for the musical itself in various countries... Check it out! :D