Johnny Depp For No Good Reason

Johnny Depp For No Good Reason

Cast: Ralph Steadman, Johnny Depp, Hunter S. Thompson
Director: Charlie Paul
Genre: Documentary
Rated: M
Running Time: 90 minutes

Synopsis: Ralph Steadman is the last of the original Gonzo visionaries…

Made over the course of fifteen years, 'For No Good Reason," explores the connection between life and art through the eyes of seminal British artist, Ralph Steadman. Insightful, humorous, and visually stunning, this is a study in honesty, friendship and the ambition that drives an artist.

Ralph's rise to prominence began in the early 1970's during the fallout from the love and hope that had swept the western world during the 1960's. This legendary time for music, literature, art and philosophy was the catalyst, along with his developing relationship with writer Hunter S Thompson, for Ralph to express and chart the wreckage that followed; a large-scale disintegration of a demoralized counter-culture. His art gained recognition in the press and popular-culture publications, both in the U.K. and U.S., for its bold comment on his fiercely heart-felt politics.

The film is a richly creative, visual feast 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. Through Johnny 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 his passion for civil liberties.

'For No Good Reason" is riot of stories and images as we take a trip through the wild and dark days of Steadman's time 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.

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.

For No Good Reason
Release Date: October 30th, 2014

Director's Statement

Fifteen years ago, I took a trip to Old Loose Court in Kent to meet one of the greatest artistic influences in my life. That trip started me on a journey that has profoundly affected the way I see the world and the way in which I work. I found the perfect collaborator and companion to create the film I wanted to make. This film is the culmination of my roots as a punk, art student, photographer and filmmaker in a multi-layered narrative, spun almost entirely from a single palette: the life and art of Ralph Steadman.

The process of making this film has been a privilege; to have intimate access to Ralph's library of art, friends and collaborators, to work with talented musicians, the weeks of difficult motion-control shoots, film utilizing many different formats of which some are now obsolete, edit, color-grade, sound-scape creation and composite with the UK's industry best, has allowed me to become the artist I hoped to be. Thank you, Ralph.
- Charlie Paul

For No Good Reason
Release Date: October 30th, 2014