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

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

Director:

Alex Gibney

Writers:

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

Stars:

Hunter S. Thompson, Johnny Depp, Joe Cairo

5 nominations.

Cast

Credited 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

Storyline

Fueled by a raging libido, Wild Turkey, and superhuman doses of drugs, Thompson was a true "free lance, " goring sacred cows with impunity, hilarity, and a steel-eyed conviction for writing wrongs. Focusing on the good doctor's heyday, 1965 to 1975, the film includes clips of never-before-seen (nor heard) home movies, audiotapes, and passages from unpublished manuscripts.

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Plot Keywords:

journalist | drugs | colorado | protest | campaign | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

HDNet Films

Country:

USA

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

18 July 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hunter

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$191,942, 4 July 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,250,234, 9 November 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Storyville,Diverse Productions,HDNet Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When the film mentions that Hunter Thompson had a crush on Jefferson Airplane singer Grace Slick, archival footage instead shows the Airplane's first female singer, Signe Anderson.

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Connections

Features When I Die (2005)

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Soundtracks

Sympathy for the Devil
Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
Performed by The Rolling Stones

User Reviews

The Horror!

Greetings again from the darkness. Another excellent documentary from Alex Gibney, who has also blessed us with "Taxi to the Dark Side" and "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room". Here, Gibney takes on the fascinating story of Hunter S. Thompson ... he of Gonzo Journalism.

With enough material to support a mini-series, Gibney culls the material down to two hours and provides some insight, but mostly commentary on this uniquely talented writer and observationalist. The highlights include George McGovern heartfelt description of the man and interviews with Thompson's two wives, and "Rolling Stone" editor Jann Wenner. Through their own words and body language, we get a glimpse into the immense respect this man's talent generated. Of course, no punches are pulled on his weaknesses and transgressions.

I couldn't help but chuckle of the irony as Tom Wolfe, resplendent as always in his tailored white suit, explains that Thompson created this character and its uniform/costume and felt the burden of living up to his legendary exploits. He was a captive of his own creation.

While it is difficult to understand how someone with such self-destructive tendencies captured the respect of so many close to him, Thompson is truly an interesting and fascinating topic and was right in the middle of much of the history of the 60's and 70's. Quietly narrated by Thompson's friend, Johnny Depp, the film uses many topical songs selections to accompany moments in time.