Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Alex Gibney

Writers (WGA):

Alex Gibney (screenplay)
Hunter S. Thompson (writings)

Release Date:

19 December 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | Music

Plot:

A portrait of the late gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Gonzo | Journalist | Drugs | Hippie

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Hunter S. Thompson	...	Himself (archive footage)
Johnny Depp	...	Himself - Narrator
Joe Cairo	...	New York Studio Shoot
David Carlo	...	New York Studio Shoot
Victor Ortiz	...	New York Studio Shoot
Gilleon Smith	...	New York Studio Shoot
Alex Ziwak	...	New York Studio Shoot
Melissa Otero	...	New York Studio Shoot - Typist
Pierre Adeli	...	Taco Stand Shoot
Angela Berliner	...	Taco Stand Shoot
Eugenia Care	...	Taco Stand Shoot
Brian Kimmet	...	Taco Stand Shoot
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Oscar Acosta	...	Himself (archive footage)
Muhammad Ali	...	Himself (archive footage)
Sonny Barger	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Warren Beatty	...	Himself (archive footage)
Bob Braudis	...	Himself
Douglas Brinkley	...	Himself
Pat Buchanan	...	Himself
Jimmy Buffett	...	Himself (also archive footage)
George W. Bush	...	Himself (archive footage) (as George Bush)
Patrick Caddell	...	Himself (as Pat Caddell)
Jimmy Carter	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Tim Crouse	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Richard J. Daley	...	Himself - 1968 Convention (archive footage) (as Mayor Daley)
Thomas Eagleton	...	Himself (archive footage)
Gary Hart	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Hubert H. Humphrey	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Hubert Humphrey)
Jefferson Airplane	...	Themselves (archive footage)
John F. Kennedy	...	Himself (archive footage)
Robert F. Kennedy	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Robert Kennedy)
Ted Kennedy	...	Himself (archive footage)
Martin Luther King	...	Himself (archive footage)
Timothy Leary	...	Himself (archive footage)
Annie Leibovitz	...	Herself (archive footage)
Frank Mankiewicz	...	Himself (archive footage)
George McGovern	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Edmund Muskie	...	Himself (archive footage)
Laila Nabulsi	...	Herself
Richard Nixon	...	Himself (archive footage)
Charles Perry	...	Himself
Grace Slick	...	Herself (archive footage)
Ralph Steadman	...	Himself (also archive footage)
George Stranahan	...	Himself
Anita Thompson	...	Herself
Juan Thompson	...	Himself (also archive footage)
George Wallace	...	Himself - Assassination Attempt (archive footage)
Jann Wenner	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Tom Wolfe	...	Himself
Sondi Wright	...	Herself

MPAA:

Rated R for drug and sexual content, language and some nudity.

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:M | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:12

Company:

BBC Storyville

Goofs:

Factual errors: On the on-screen display caption for Jimmy Carter it states that he was US President from 1976 to 1980. Carter was actually President from January 20 1977 to January 20 1981.

Movie Connections:

Features When We Were Kings (1996)

Hunter Thompson was a son of a gun! See this doc to learn on his bullseyes and misfires of his life!

Can you just imagine if there was another Hunter S. Thompson twin with the equivalent eccentricities as Gonzo himself? That would be pretty scary, because one Gonzo is all we needed. Love him, hate him, or unsure sometimes on how to judge him (as yours truly) there will never be another Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. Renowned documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney gets the write stuff on depicting Thompson's roller-coaster life in the doc "Gonzo: The Life & Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson". I was perplexed on how much Hunter footage Gibney was able to hunt down, and on the diverse group of popular people who were willing to be interviewed for the doc. For those of you who lived under caves in the 60's or 70's or who were not embryos yet, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson was a no-holds barred journalist whose inclusive, illustrative, and candid writing style became a revolutionary literary art form entitled Gonzo. Thompson's human brand was of liquor, hallucinogens, guns, cigarette holders, sunglasses, zany hats, and fast gab. While his writing brand consisted of political conservative bashing, American dream searching surreal trips, and ruckus to the stable establishment. His infamous literary themes were the Hell's Angels adventures, the 1972 Presidential Election, and the Fear & Loathing series. Hunter was an adjunct reporter for Rolling Stones magazine and his most successful books were "The Rum Diaries" and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". The documentary discloses all of the aforementioned with revealing footage of his distinct life & work. Not to mention (I think I did mention) edifying interviews with those who loved, tolerated, or despised him including: Nixon speechwriter Pat Buchanan, rocker Jimmy Buffet, former Presidential candidates Gary Hart & George McGovern, Hells Angels' leader Sonny Barger, Hunter's first wife Sandi Wright, second wife Anita Thompson, son Juan, and a roundabout of others. Thompson was his own contradictive existence as he sporadically despised some of the same behaviors he would interject himself in. And Gibney successfully articulates that theme in some of the film's disclosures. Hunter sadly committed suicide in 2005 by a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. It was in his disposition that is the way he wanted to leave Planet Earth, but somehow is still shocked many it would actually happen, present company included. The only aspect of Hunter's existence that still baffled me, and was not presented in the doc, is how this guy was able to avoid hangovers. Maybe he had some Hemingwayism in him, but Hunter was an everyday Wild Turkey man, and maybe that long term abuse was an adrenaline rush; but there is still something called Hangovers that causes all humanoids to eradicate their cerebral function. It did not seem to affect Thompson's diverse knowledge & memory. Maybe Hunter was one of a kind. I doubt it. Maybe if Gibney had researched this Hunter phenomenon, we would now why he was not Gonzo many times due to his massive drinking. Nevertheless, "Gonzo: The Life & Times of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson" is a cinematic documentary journey that is worthy enough to buy the ticket and take the ride. Therefore, no need to fear and loathe seeing this Gonzo bio doc. **** Good