Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr Hunter S. Thompson - 25 July 2010

Principal cast: As themselves: Hunter S. Thompson, Johnny Depp, Pat Buchanan, Jimmy Buffett, Jimmy Carter, George McGovern, Anita Thompson, Juan Thompson, Sondi Wright,  Tom Wolfe

Film notes: This documentary-cum-biopic, in memory of the inventor of gonzo journalism, is also a rich contribution to the cultural history of 60s-70s USA. Director Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room; Taxi to the Dark Side) does not fall into the trap of prioritizing Thompson's bad-boy antics and the cult of personality that has come to surround him, although these get due attention. Instead, the film is guided by the writer's output, and is a careful book-by-book account of the contribution Thompson made to understanding the many-edged counter-culture and the new political formations of the day. In particular, the break-through book Hell's Angels, and Fear and Loathing On the Campaign Trail '72 (covering the McGovern presidential campaign) are closely explored. Thompson's 1970 run for sheriff on the banner of "freak power" is also recalled, an episode that shows how the extravagant ego interlocked with a challenging, post-60s political agenda, in the days before Thompson's gonzoism entirely eclipsed his activist journalism.

Johnny Depp, a friend of the great individualist, reads from Thompson's writing. A mix of personal and professional insights is provided by interviews with Thompson's wives, his son, his editor at Rolling Stone, his artist collaborator, and a very interesting sample of the politicians affected by the Thompson agenda. Amongst other reflections, the film throws up the question of the work-defeating impact of fame upon talent.