Johnny Depp pays a call on his friend and hero Ralph Steadman and we take off on a high-spirited, lyrical, raging and soulful journey discovering the life and works of one of the most important radical British artists of modern times. Steadman rose to prominence in the early 70’s when his impassioned and stirring images gained recognition through popular cultural publications and press both in the UK and US for their bold comment on world politics and human rights infringements.
The big screen documentary For No Good Reason is a richly creative, visual feast of a film about the power and importance of art to achieve Steadman’s aim “I learnt to draw…to try to change the world”. Director Charlie Paul spent 15 years meticulously amassing the footage and creating the remarkable animations for the film to match the same anarchic energy, anger and free spirit of Steadman’s pictures. It is riot of stories and images that literally blast out of the screen as we take a trip through the wild and dark days of Steadman’s time and consignments with ‘Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas’ writer Hunter S. Thompson, the Rumble in the Jungle, gun fights with literary giant William S. Burroughs and his fiercely heart-felt politics.
Through Depp’s lead in this intimate portrait, we are able to reach to the heart of what make this artist tick, his friendships and fallings out, his love for art and passion for civil liberties.
This is an inventive, energetic, occasionally harrowing but inspiring and uplifting film with contributions from Terry Gilliam, Richard E. Grant and music from Slash, All American Rejects, Jason Mraz, James Blake, Ed Harcourt and Crystal Castles, all For No Good Reason.
DIRECTED BY: Charlie Paul
STUDIO: Sony Classics
RATING: R
