Review: Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
Directed By Alex Gibney
November 23, 2008


"We had two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half-full of cocaine and a whole galaxy of multicolored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers....Also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether, and two dozen amyls.... But the only thing that worried me was the ether. There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible than a man in the depths of an ether binge..."

When I heard that there was going to be a documentary about Hunter S. Thompson, I thought to myself 'Okay Johnny Depp has to narrate!'. No, but seriously, the minute after I saw the trailer I was immediately ready to see the film. For me pretty much anything involving Hunter Thompson is going to be downright hilarious and filled with brilliance. Alex Gibney, acclaimed documentary director of "Taxi to the Dark Side", which has been very well received (helming a 100 percent on the Tomatometer) and also won the 2007 Academy Award for Documentary Feature, does the direction for Gonzo and does a wonderful job in making sure he makes very entertaining material while reaching to the undiscovered aspects of the writers life. Although, Hunter is mostly just like you expected him to be.

I would assume that some long time readers of Hunter Thompson wouldn't say the film is anything special. As this documentary is more for someone who does not really know much about the writer, but regardless watching anything that contains Hunter even talking is interesting half the time, let alone the mass amounts of intriguing information given to the viewer.

The film begins covering some of the smaller work from Hunter and works it's way up, from his reporting with the infamous California biker gang the Hell's Angel's, to his psychotic drug induced experience in Las Vegas on the search for the "American Dream". Which we know cannot be found in Las Vegas. From the Campaign Trail in 72', through an overwhelming time period of fame, to Hunter's final moments .

The film really defines Gonzo journalism, that not always accurate but stylish, sarcastic, and out right profane. "Creative non-fiction", everything that defines the genius behind Hunter S. Thompson. All the way down to the two-thumbed fist and peyote button. Gonzo, gives the interested viewers introspective into his life and really offers an abundance of information.
This is a sometimes poetic and enlightening feature that goes the extra mile to find and show something we have only read about. Plain and simple, Hunter S. Thompson was a significant icon and leader for a time period that now only exists in memories.

5/7