For No Good Reason

Acidly satirical British cartoonist Ralph Steadman is the subject of Charlie Paul's engaging if also uneven documentary, which is narrated by Johnny Depp, whose devotion to this project stems from Steadman's longtime collaboration with one of the actor's heroes, gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson (a character Depp has played). For No Good Reason features a lot of engrossing material—most notably in interviews with Steadman about his radical views; footage capturing his creative work in his studio; and examples of his drawings, some of them animated. But it's also burdened by too many extraneous scenes of Depp nodding amiably in response to Steadman and saying things like “awesome” and “amazing”—promptings that viewers really don't need (praise of Steadman by others including Terry Gilliam, Richard E. Grant, and Tim Robbins often feels like padding too). Paul's treatment also sometimes seems to put the emphasis on Thompson rather than Steadman, although the film does draw on the contrast between the two in order to shrewdly observe how they meshed: Steadman, while quite conservative in his own lifestyle (unlike the grandiose, self-destructive Thompson) was actually more extreme in his opinions, and more pointed and precise in the way he expressed them in sketches than Thompson was in his writing. Despite its flaws, For No Good Reason is still welcome simply because it brings the modest Steadman's work and personal convictions to a wider audience. A strong optional purchase. [Note: Blu-ray/DVD Combo extras include audio commentary by director Charlie Paul and producer Lucy Paul, a Toronto International Film Festival Q&A with Ralph Steadman and filmmaker Charlie Paul (29 min.), deleted scenes (19 min.), extended interviews (18 min.), Steadman's 2012 animated short “Cherrywood Cannon” (8 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an uneven but often engaging documentary.] (F. Swietek)