I am fairly positive that you all are at least familiar with who Hunter S. Thompson is. I mean if you are a film fan, you will know about the man from Johnny Depp as his roles of Thompson in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas or even the recent film The Rum Diary. That is just a small image of a man who is known for the gonzo, drug-fueled journalism that made his work have both a cult status and culturally important. You might have read some of his work from time to time but those are just the medium that he puts that defines his work, not who he is. True to the documentary fashion, Gonzo is a biography on his life, and while the movies might have seem far out there, it is really only a small picture of such a wild and crazy journalist.
Director Alex Gibney sets out to capture and tell the life of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. Going back to his early days of writing for numerous magazine, travels and his well documented drug use, Gonzo is an encompassing documentary that attempts to capture the essence of Thompson, while being careful to no sugarcoat such a crazy life. The documentary is narrated by Johnny Depp, who gives some clarity to different aspect to his life, along with candid interviews and footage of the journalist, culminating with his downfall and suicide.
If you are familiar with Thompson and his work, this is an excellent companion piece to his life. It brings to life a lot of his time writing and changing the press culture as well as never cheapening his encounters and journey in life. For those that are not familiar with Thompson, this is one heck of a film packed with celebrity interviews and a very intimate look at his life.
There is no denying that Thompson was something of a rebel and polarizing man and the documentary shows a lot of aspects of his life that might make you question his integrity. Other times you might just be amazed and a little jealous that this rebel of a man was able to achieve what he did in the most absurd way. The best parts are when you hear about him ingesting ridiculous levels of drugs and turning out some amazing work. It’s the insight into the madness that surrounds the man, one that just makes your jaw drop and wonder how he could do what he did. It’s almost like watching someone change into a superhero in front of your eyes and doing the impossible.
It’s a solid documentary, done with a lot of love and care. Gibney and Depp frame the life of Thompson well, or as well as one can, but also make sure they commemorate his life and work. If you are interested in knowing more about the man, but not wanting to read his work, check out the documentary on Netflix Instant Stream.
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