GONZO:   THE LIFE AND WORK OF HUNTER S. THOMPSON

Directed By Alex Gibney

Review By Kim Jindra

Was Hunter S. Thompson a devil or an angel?  This is the question that director Alex Gibney attempts to answer in GONZO:   THE LIFE AND WORK OF HUNTER S. THOMPSON.

Gibney successfully weaves together the opinions of friends and foes starting with his ex wife Sondi Wright (Sandy Thompson) and widow Anita Thompson.  Both women described him like two sides of a coin:  loving and generous, mean and vicious.

Of course I've heard of Thompson, but my knowledge was pretty much limited to buying some of his works of nonfiction as gifts and reading FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.  I have never read ROLLING STONE on a regular basis and I was still cutting my molars in 1965 when he entered his most productive decade.

A good documentary should educate its viewers and this was certainly the case with GONZO.  I only knew about the pill popping, acid dropping, boozing life of Thompson.  I was fascinated to find out he was married for 19 years and that Sandy, his first wife, seemed so levelheaded and together.  I am not sure I could have put up with his womanizing and drug and alcohol abuse.   But she believed in him.  Even when she initiated the break up she was mourning the loss of his literary output.

I also did not realize the depth of his political influence.  His support of Robert Kennedy came as no surprise but his coverage of the 1968 Democratic convention and his lampooning of Ed Muskie sure did.  I also found his initial support of Jimmy Carter fascinating.  And I loved the fact that he was surprised when McGovern became the Democratic nominee.  And it was nice to see Timothy Crouse talking about Thompson.  I remember reading Crouse's book, THE BOYS ON THE BUS, in college and thoroughly enjoying it.

Thompson's own political race was also interesting.  It was familiar to me since I worked on a lot of local  political races back in Denton County, Texas.  I wonder if he would have sobered up if he had become a sheriff.   I doubt it.

I  found his fascination with guns to be a bit disturbing but at least when he hunted he ate fresh meat.  Sondi made a point of mentioning that when she talkedabout her diet during her pregnancy with their son, Juan.

Overall, I enjoyed all the comments of his friends and political enemies.  I loved the guy from Colorado who didn't  know  why he and Thompson were friends since Thompson never paid his rent, broke up his marriage and taught his kids to smoke dope.  And Jimmy Buffet tickled me  when he recalled the $9000 phone bill Thompson racked up at Buffet's home. It is obvious Thompson meant more to his friends than they meant to him.  I was especially touched by how choked up his friends were when asked about his death.

I guess my only real complaint is the film was a touch long but the entertainment value was high.  Johnny Depp's narration moved the story along.  I now find myself wanting to read back issues of Rolling Stone. Thank goodness for the internet.

Some people compare Thompson to Kerouac, Fitgerald and Hemingway and they are correct but I found myself recalling lines from The Man Who Shoot Liberty Valance.  I could just hear Thomspon say,"it ain't mannerly out west to let a man drink alone" more if asked if he was looking for trouble to reply, "you aimin' to help me find some".  But mostly I recall the line "this is the west sir, when the legend becomes the fact, print the legend."  And so it goes.