Gonzo

Gonzo is a captivating 2008 documentary film directed by Alex Gibney, who is best known for his meticulously crafted investigative documentaries. The film takes a deep-dive into the life of the infamous American journalist and author named Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. Gonzo showcases Thompson's wild approach to journalism, termed 'gonzo journalism', that effectively blurred the lines between writer and subject. The film revolves around how Thompson bravely inserted himself into his stories, which ranged from biker gangs, to presidential elections, to his infamous report on the 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'.

The film unearths a treasure trove of archival footage of Thompson, including interviews, home videos, audio recordings, private photos, and excerpts from his unpublished manuscripts, presenting an immersive and, perhaps, the most intimate portrayal of the iconoclastic author’s life. Its timeline spans from Thompson's early breakthroughs in the 1960s to his suicide in 2005.

The film includes narration by Johnny Depp, a long-time friend of Thompson, who played the author in Terry Gilliam's film adaptation of 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'. Depp adds a touch of genuine connection as he passionately lends his voice to read excerpts from Thompson's works, delving into the depths of the author's radical thoughts and eccentric personality.

Additionally, Gonzo features testimonials from an impressive list of Thompson's contemporaries and friends who share their unique personal insights and memories about this paradigm-shifting journalist. This includes anecdotes from Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner, Thompson's editors, his wives, and his celebrity friends like Jack Nicholson and Jimmy Carter. These personal memories documenting Thompson's life build a comprehensive profile of him as a person, beyond just the public persona the world was familiar with.

Although the film's pace does follow a fairly conventional documentary framework, its content is anything but ordinary. The use of different media, combined with Depp's personable narration, helps to seductively bring to life a very tangible essence of the writer. The film captures the underlying spirit of the 'gonzo' form of journalism, where palpable excitement, a splash of madness, bravery, and a refusal to present the voiceless as voiceless, made Thompson's pieces sensational. His outlandish escapades, often fuelled by drugs, alcohol, or a blend of both, quickly became the stuff of legends, adding another high-octane layer to the film.

Even though the film doesn't shy away from portraying the darker aspects of Thompson's life, such as drug abuse, failed relationships, and bouts of manic depression, it still maintains a largely celebratory tone. The director highlights Thompson's larger-than-life personality, his unique writing style and his fearless defense of individual civil liberties while vehemently critiquing corruption in politics. Thompson was often controversial, was rarely politically correct, and was undeniably brazen, but he proved to be a force of change in the journalistic world, a key aspect that Gonzo seeks to underline.

Incorporating animation and a vibrant soundtrack to the film, Alex Gibney infuses a sense of Thompson's own energy and attitude into the cinematic canvas, which allow the scenes to come alive in a way that recreates the spirit of Thompson's work. He aligns the viewer's experience with the chaotic, subjective nature of Thompson's reporting style.

In conclusion, Gonzo is much more than just your typical biographical documentary. Its purpose isn't to provide dry chronology of events, but to revivify the spirit and style of the subject matter. It serves as an accessible, often dizzying, and appropriately wild journey into the life and phenomenal career of one of journalism's most notorious figures. As you step into this whirlwind of a viewing experience, being mildly intoxicated by its tumult, Gonzo ensures that you will likely leave with a greater appreciation for Hunter S. Thompson's ‘gonzo’ approach to life and journalism, and the impact he had on the world.