What more perfect visionary could you ask to adapt and film a Hunter S Thompson book than Terry Gilliam?

Full of quirks, jerks and hallucinogenic drug trips, this anarchic road movie is not for the faint-hearted or those seeking a mild night's entertainment.

Gilliam offers a colourful and highly-stylised tale of an oddball journalist, Thompson's alter ego, played by a shaven-headed Johnny Depp, taking his psychopathic lawyer (Benicio Del Toro) on a journey to Las Vegas.

It's a brave but ultimately flawed attempt to bring a difficult book to the screen, but at least Gilliam got his in the can, unlike Martin Scorsese, Jack Nicholson and John Belushi, who, among others, were all connected with past efforts to film the book.

Only Alex Cox's contribution remains - as a screen credit. Stars popping in and out include Cameron Diaz, Christina Ricci, Tobey Maguire and Ellen Barkin.