Review of Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008) by Niklas S — 19 Aug 2008

A very informative - if fairly straightforward and unchallenging - political documentary that is very effective in both in representing the persona of one of the 20th century's most lauded radical journalists and in placing said persona within an eerily familiar historical context.

Those unfamiliar with Thompson's work will find "Gonzo" useful in the same way an A&E Biography program is useful. Other viewers who may know a bit more about the man's work are sure to want more.

For all his talent and unprecedented political insight, Hunter S. Thompson was still an idealist, who only ever seemed capable of seeing the world in his own way. Those who did not share that same vision angered him. This documentary would have been doing itself a favor had it opted for a more critical perspective of Thompson's work , as opposed to borderline deification. The viewer is left with not much more than facts they could have learned for free had they simply googled Thompson's name.