AFI Dallas International Film Festival - ‘Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson’

(USA, 2008, 118 mins)

Directed By: Alex Gibney

Few journalists have attained the notoriety of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. His legendary status is due as much to his scintillating writing as his outrageous antics. However, Thompson’s steadfast ability to remain true to his convictions created an entirely new style of journalism, dubbed “gonzo,” and has solidified his place in history as one of America’s most influential writers and rebels.

Focusing on the good doctor’s heyday—from 1965 to 1975—the film includes clips of never-before-seen or heard home movies and audiotapes, and passages from unpublished manuscripts.

Director Alex Gibney interviews a broad spectrum of Thompson’s peers and paints a three-dimensional portrait that reveals a man whose actions both attracted and repelled the people closest to him. What’s remarkable is how truly daring Thompson was in taking on the establishment and how absent that voice is today. His passing created a void that may never be filled, but Gibney’s terrific film at least helps preserve his legacy.

Information from the AFI website