Review of Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008) by Walter M — 11 Sep 2009

"Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson" is a lively and insightful documentary about the late great journalist who exploded the myth of objectivity. As Ed Hamell pointed out elsewhere, he injected a bit of rock and roll into journalism and it was never the same since.

That just shows you how much Thompson is missed in this day and age with history threatening to repeat with a well-meaning President again on the verge of losing his beloved social programs in favor of an unwinnable war that he has inherited.

Considering how much I have read by and and about Thompson, I was surprised how much I learned here, as the documentary focuses on the time from his growing up in Louisville to about the mid-1970's when his popularity was starting to wane, as testified to by friends, colleagues, allies, and one enemy.

(Look, I know I should think of Pat Buchanan as Satan but I respect him for showing up here.) My main point of contention is the documentary dismissing Thompson's later life out of hand(I think it's true that he did not expect to live as long as he did) but at least his memorial service/viking funeral is shown.

I would like to counter that by saying that it was a period of time when he was still writing. Otherwise, it is quite possible that he was having a lot of fun and enjoying himself on the farm.(Thompson always did look awkward in interviews.

) If an artist does not want to make art anymore, then that's up to them. Nothing we can do about it.(And I'm a huge Kate Bush fan by the way.) At the same time, Rolling Stone has much more to be ashamed of, turning from being an underground magazine into a corporate celebrity music magazine.

And I am sure that has nothing to do with them not using drugs anymore...