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

Reviewing Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S Thompson for Cinematical, James Rocchi notes that Alex Gibney has "previously looked at greed (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) and war's madness (Taxi to the Dark Side) in prior documentaries that combined journalistic integrity with artistic expression. Looking at the life and work of another journalist who gave what read like track reports for the four horsemen of the apocalypse must have seemed like a natural idea."

"When [Hunter S Thompson's son] Juan found him dead from a self-inflicted gun-shot wound, he went out an fired one of Thompson's guns, three times, into the air," writes kjolseth at Movie Morlocks. "It was my understanding... that Thompson had been dealing with a lot of pain from a personal injury and that this may have contributed to his suicide, but no mention is made of that in the film. Instead, what lingers is the feeling that Thompson saw things getting worse, not just for himself, but in the political landscape around us all, and felt it was time to check out."

"In retrospect, I think Thompson found what he was looking for in the outsized life he created for himself, but Gibney also clearly conveys Thompson's despondency that the dream was never shared by his fellow citizens," writes Tom Hall. "While Thompson embraced the fullness of experience and followed his interests with an unrivaled passion, he saw our America as a land of 'used car salesmen who... don't give a damn' about the suffering they inflict on others. Gibney clarifies Thompson's moral stance as being a true extension of the uncompromising life he lived, and as Thompson's suicide comes into focus, the film somehow manages to transform itself into a celebration not only of the maverick, but a longing to forge a society that embraces him."

The Reeler talks with Gibney; so does Sadia Latifi for New York's Vulture.

Online listening tip. James Rocchi talks with Gibney for Cinematical.

Online viewing tip. Zoom In Online's "Meet the Artists" video with Gibney.

Posted by dwhudson at January 31, 2008 6:51 AM