Film Reviews

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

• Rating:
• Director: Alex Gibney
• Starring: Johnny Depp, Hunter Thompson, Jimmy Buffet, Tim Crouse
• Details: US / 120mins (15A)

A title that states 'the life and work of' anyone would want to be the be all and end all of its subject, but that's not what Gonzo... delivers on Hunter S. Thompson (Hell's Angels, Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, Fear And Loathing On The Campaign Trail and The Rum Diary). It's a difficult venture, as a niche documentary such as this will appeal for the most part to hardcore fans who know the ins and outs of their favourite writer. Newcomers might get a bang out of this as an introduction to his madcap genius, but will be confused as to what all the fuss is about. It's hard to blame them too, as Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room) doesn't manage to make his subject special, and special is what Hunter S. Thompson was. Gibney stitches his documentary together with Johnny Depp's voiceover who, sadly for some, ditches his Fear And Loathing Thompson impression for a more straight delivery here; in truth, the actor looks bored reading from selected works. The talking heads, sometimes shot against a psychedelic backdrop, are cut with clips from the movie adaptations of Thompson's books - Where The Buffalo Roam and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas - and archive interviews Thompson conducted throughout his career. Gibney's interviews last no more than thirty seconds at a time, which gives the documentary pace, but intimacy and insight are the victims of this approach. Sadly, nowhere to be seen is Thompson's first, (although published much later) novel, The Rum Diary, which at least should have got a mention, considering it's now in production with Withnail & I director Bruce Robinson. A little bit of what the fan doesn't know would have made this documentary better than it is.

Review by Gavin Burke