Scott LeBrun Bill Murray essays the role of notorious real-life "Gonzo" journalist Dr. Hunter S. Thompson in this somewhat biographical, offbeat cult comedy. He's not particularly reliable (at least, not in this portrayal), and has a pretty carefree approach to life, not to mention a highly substance-enhanced approach to life. His compatriot in some of his experiences is the equally deranged attorney-turned-revolutionary Lazlo (Peter Boyle).I've read that this so-so picture only kind of scratches the surface when it comes to Thompson, not bothering to really give a measured portrayal of the man or illustrate just what made him so interesting as a writer and personality. There's still some comedic value, though, in the way that Murray's Thompson brings so much chaos to his surroundings, how he can spit in the face of decorum. There's not much of a "story" here, but screenwriter John Kaye and producer / director Art Linson use some Thompson experiences as set pieces: the prosecution of several youths on drug charges (for which the writer is present), the so-called coverage of a Super Bowl game, and, most memorably, Thompson becoming part of the entourage covering the Richard Nixon presidential campaign. (This leads to an encounter between Thompson and Nixon himself.)Ultimately, the cast is better than their material. Murray looks like he's having a "high" old time, and Boyle is just wonderful. They are very well assisted by a gallery of familiar faces such as Bruno Kirby, Rene Auberjonois, R.G. Armstrong, De Wayne Jessie, Mark Metcalf, Janit Baldwin, Jerry Maren, Craig T. Nelson, and Nancy Parsons. The music score is by rock superstar Neil Young.At the very least, "Where the Buffalo Roam" has inspired this viewer to actually check out some of Thompsons' writings and see why he is so revered.Six out of 10.

FlashCallahan Dr. Hunter Thompson, who is better known as the character in the Doonesbury Comic Strips Zonker's Uncle Duke, shows what earned his reputation for Gonzo Journalism, a sort of sideways way of looking at the news.This includes such things as giving away superbowl tickets so that he can review it from his hotel room while bouncing a football of the walls. A sort of latter-day cousin to stream-of-consciousness writing....This is one of those movies that you really have to be in the right frame of mind to watch, and luckily for me it was four in the morning, trying to get my new born son to sleep.And to say that this is a straight forward movie, is not justifying the beautiful madness of what is going on.Murray is wonderful as Thompson, but Boyle steals the show as the mystical lawyer, always popping up just as Thompson has some normality back in his life.There are a few moments when you are looking at the screen thinking 'really?' And it verges on almost spoof at times, but then we have sweet set pieces like the Airplane scenes, and the wonderful courtroom scene that opens the movie.Fear and Loathing is the more psychedelic movie, and although Thompson may dislike the movie, its a thorough description of the journalist.Well worth seeing.

Quag7 Both of the HST films have problems. This film's problem is that it is too "screenwritten" (Lazlo replacing The Brown Buffalo, "Blast" Magazine replacing Rolling Stone, etc.) and lacks the weird surrealism that a drug-fueled observation of American culture at the end of the 1960s deserves, if not requires.It does play a bit like Caddyshack, as someone else pointed out, and it's hard to get really invested in the characters. And if you love HST as much as I do, you really do want to get into the characters and in to the story, because it's as important as it is funny. Where the Buffalo Roam is, for the most part, silly. It comes off as more a bunch of sketches than anything else. I did like Bill Murray in the part. The problem is the script, more than anything else.Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, by contrast, does well with the surrealism and depravity but fails to make the full point I think Thompson was trying to get across - the decadence and over-the-top performances (especially of del Toro) are distracting, and really all of this is supposed to be about the death of the American dream, and the end of what was (to some) the best decade on record, or at least the one where people thought, for a time, they could make something of American life. Both movies hint at this but don't go into it enough, in my opinion.Where the Buffalo Roam captures a little of the sadness and the creeping hopelessness of the early 70s (along with an indication of the hangover awaiting that generation in the 70s), but both movies fall far short of Thompson's books and writing in my opinion.I was particularly saddened that both movies left out the "We're looking for the American dream" bit at the taco stand, because I think that was important, and the F&L Vegas story seems decontextualized without it (in terms of having a fairly serious (and sad) point under all of the humor and excess).In any case, both movies are worth a watch but ultimately unsatisfying. Thompson is still best read. I think a good film about HST can be made, but the right person needs to be at the helm.Richard Linklater or John Sayles, perhaps...someone who isn't going to miss the deeper substance underlying and buttressing the humor. That being said, there are far worse movies you could be watching than either.And like Thompson, it still hasn't gotten weird enough for me.

southern_jew I just happened upon this movie while perusing my "Bill Murray" Favorite Actors Wishlist on my Tivo. I had never heard of it before, but since I enjoy reading Hunter S. Thompson's work and having seen Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I instructed my faithful DVR to record the movie at 4:30 one Sunday morning. WHAT A GREAT MOVIE!!! I cannot express this sentiment enough. From the dead on impersonation of Dr. Thompson's mannerisms by Bill Murray to the militant antics of 60's radical lawyer Peter Boyle (Lazlo) throughout the movie, these two more than faithfully portrayed the crazy antics well documented in Gonzo journalism. Please, do yourself a favor, if you consider yourself a fan of this genre, or if you just want to see a timeless piece of funny, witty, action filled cinema, find a way to see this woefully under-advertised classic.