For No Good Reason

Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Directed by Charlie Paul

Apr 22, 2014 By Austin Trunick Web Exclusive

Even if you don’t recognize the name, you probably know the work of artist and cartoonist Ralph Steadman. His drawings are born out of puffs of color and wild splatters of India ink; his editorial cartoons display a perverse and often angry sense of humor. Lately, his art’s most commonly seen on Flying Dog beer labels, but some of his best-known work includes the Withnail & I poster, and his illustrations for much of Hunter S. Thompson’s work, including the seminal Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Filmmaker Charlie Paul’s feature-length doc was shot over 15 years, and paints a strong portrait of the illustrator through archival footage, photography, and long discussions with Steadman about his artistic process. The documentary is kept visually exciting through its extensive use of Steadman’s artwork, many pieces of which are animated for the film. Interview subjects include director Terry Gilliam and Johnny Depp, who provides many questions for the artist throughout the feature. Though it regularly drifts off-course, it’s an intriguing look for fans of Steadman or gonzo, with a particularly captivating focus on Steadman’s lifelong relationship with the combustible Hunter S. Thompson.

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