Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr Hunter S. Thompson
Rating: 8/10
For those unfamiliar with Hunter S. Thompson, it may be hard to find a reason for why you would want to see this feature length documentary. However, when you glance at the featured contributors, it’s hard to not be slightly intrigued by who this man was and what he was about. When an ex-president, a best-selling American author, a singer, a political commentator and a founding member of a chapter of the motorcycle gang, Hells Angels, all give their personal accounts of Thompson, it can’t be denied that his life and work has been indelibly etched into modern American politics and culture. Thompson went famously by the pseudonym, Raoul Duke, and invented Gonzo journalism – where the journalist is a character central to the story told in their perspective. The book and subsequent film Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas, is a standout example of this genre, where Johnny Depp (who also narrates this movie) indistinguishably portrayed Thompson. As far as feature length documentaries are concerned, it is the great source material that is Thompson’s incredibly varied and exciting life, which keeps you engaged and eager to find out what the hell this man did next in his life.
For people who haven’t read any of Thompson’s books, this movie serves as a great introduction to his style and voice, where excerpts of his writings are read out by Depp, aided with mind melding psychedelic imagery and an effortlessly cool old school rock and roll soundtrack. Every period of Thompson's life seems to be covered, from his year spent with the Californian chapter of Hells Angels, to his failed campaign for sheriff in Pitkin County, to his extensive coverage of George McGovern’s 1972 US Presidential campaign, to his tragic suicide in 2005. The movie also delves into Thompson’s personal life and paints a vivid picture of his true character.
Highly recommended.
Certificate: 15
Release Date: 19th December 2008 (showing at the Cornerhouse)