Various Artists: Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

Why anyone would feel the need to make a dramatized recording of Hunter S. Thompson's classic work of gonzo journalism is a mystery: A master storyteller, Thompson's tales of drugs, anti-social behavior and general exces read in a comically deadpan voice that hilariously offsets their outrageous implausibility. Moved away from the printed word, however, they deflate. While it's funny to read Thompson's description of attending an anti-drug convention or picking up a naive hitchhiker, it makes for a fairly grating listen when performed. A big-name cast (Harry Dean Stanton, Joan Cusack, Glenne Headly and many more) lends its voices to the project, but it's all for nothing. Finally, as Thompson, Jim Jarmusch—undoubtedly a great director—reveals himself to be a strictly pedestrian actor. This is one case where those who claim that the book is better than the adaptation aren't just being pretentious.