Gonzo

I thought I knew a fair bit about Hunter S. Thompson. I've read a fair number of things both by him and about him. I've heard the stories, like how he ran for mayor of Aspen in the late '60s on a platform consisting of legalizing marijuana and renaming the town "Fat City". But this documentary / biography had loads of fascinating stuff that I'd never seen.

For one thing, Thompson apparently kept a ton of audio tapes and archival footage, and they're used heavily throughout this piece. It's absolutely fantastic to see him sitting in city hall wearing cargo shorts and debating his opponent in the electoral race, or hear the late-night phone messages he'd leave for friends. And for the bits that don't have direct recorded pieces, readings of Thompson's own writing by long-time friend Johnny Depp work nearly as well.

The film is mainly about Thompson's early work, from Hell's Angels through Fear And Loathing on The Campaign Trail. The political and cultural aspects are heavily emphasized, and the work offers a tangible feeling of the society at the time which anyone should appreciate, HST fan or no.