Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
Legendary journalist Hunter Thompson's first-person musings gave birth to "gonzo," a writing style whereby the reporter inserts himself into the story.
Thompson's personal life was as large as his professional one—fuelled by a love for whiskey, acid and guns.
Thompson's heydays were the '60s and '70s. In 1966, he won success with a book about the Hell's Angels, after spending a year with the motorcycle gang. The bikers weren't amused. Sonny Barger, a Hell's Angels figurehead, called him a "very good writer," but a "jerk."
Thompson went on to achieve celebrity status with his Rolling Stone pieces, covering everything from his own 1970 bid for the sheriff's seat in Aspen, to the 1972 George McGovern presidential campaign.
The film weaves together old photos, home movies and archival footage.
Member Reviews
Interesting - seenonflickr
I am too young to remember Hunter Thompson as a journalist on the McGovern presidential campaign, etc. I knew him as a drug-crazy man, and although I learned a lot about his earlier life from this (long) documentary, what I came away with was "yep he was a drug-crazy man". (And I was offended by the part about him going all the way to Zaire to watch 'The Rumble in the Jungle' because he loved Ali, and then not going to the fight and not reporting on it as he was contracted to do. LAME.)Fascinating - nobbymcdobby
This documentary does a very thorough job of telling the story of Hunter's life. There are things in here you will learn even if you have read all of his books. I think you'd have to be a Hunter Thompson fan to appreciate this documentary, however. It does a good job of putting all of his work in perspective and cutting through the myths and the persona he built for himself. Worthwhile for sure.Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson - AppsScraps
This documentary, directed by Alex Gibney, shares the story and suicide of America's greatest 'gonzo' reporter/author, Hunter S. Thompson, probably most famous for his novel, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and his reporting in Rolling Stone. Thompson's hollowness was filled with a mix of rage, alcohol, drugs, super-libido, and a genuine concern to make America (or Aspen, Colorado at least) a better place where everyone could, as he did, live with twenty-odd guns loaded and ready to bear. Gibney gives us the man raw, highlighted with insights from his two wives, politicians - whom he generally loathed - including Jimmy Carter and Pat Buchanan, and the team that stood with him in his unsuccessful run for Sherrif of Aspen. In the end what we see is a man ruined by the very character he created. A brilliant writer, sure, but a tragic man.
My rating 8 out of 10.
Member Reviews
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Interesting - seenonflickr
I am too young to remember Hunter Thompson as a journalist on the McGovern presidential campaign, etc. I knew him as a drug-crazy man, and although I learned a lot about his earlier life from this (long) documentary, what I came away with was "yep he was a ...Fascinating - nobbymcdobby
This documentary does a very thorough job of telling the story of Hunter's life. There are things in here you will learn even if you have read all of his books. I think you'd have to be a Hunter Thompson fan to appreciate this documentary, however. It does ...Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson - AppsScraps
This documentary, directed by Alex Gibney, shares the story and suicide of America's greatest 'gonzo' reporter/author, Hunter S. Thompson, probably most famous for his novel, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and his reporting in Rolling Stone. Thompson's hollowness ...