Knowledge is power. You are on a journey. Life is your expedition.
Gonzo
The Life of Hunter S. Thompson
It was only a matter of time before someone captured this incredible character on film and documented it in Gonzo - The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson, though personally I was waiting and hoping for the film version directed by Oliver Stone (if there is to be one), but perhaps this is just being hopeful.
Gonzo the documentary was released in the United States on the 4th of July 2008 and due for a wide release nationally throughout the year. Though I personally wait anxiously for the film to cross the big pond so I can view it in London, I'm not sure that European audiences will appreciate it as much as I would, but then again, I'm sure I'm not the only Hunter Fan in the EU.
Very few people go along a path without staying genuine about oneself and remain original from who they were to begin with, though for Hunter S. Thompson he knew from an early age that its better to get out of your comfort zone if you really wanted to achieve something.
From his early writings from the Proud Highway you get a sense of character building and his manner and outlook towards things in life. Better known for living with the Hells Angels, writing the absurd and awesome Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and his politcal Campaign Trail, his work and words were arranged in a way no other had done before and broke the mould of what journalism ought to be.
"Who is the happier man? He who has braved the storm of life and lived,
or he who has stayed securely on shore and mereley existed?"
Hunter S.Thompson - The Proud Highway
His views were personal but direct, witty and intelligent. Reading his material places you in his seat to a point you actually believe he is talking to you. His sharp and striking commentary keeps you wanting to read more and more... I often found myself wanting to desperately meet this man because I knew he is and was the real deal.
Though reading his material can be disturbing it remains an insight and record of the times, no other journalist and writer has managed to capture the political state of things from a 'human' perpective and still give us the facts, making it a compelling read where the views of the writer clearly stated, whether you agreed or not, it was the statement that left the impact.
Hunter liked to go beyond his call of duty and live the story he was writing, if that meant describing the acid trip or dope, his obsession with drugs and alcohol just became part of his character, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas captures this in a way that anyone who has ever inhaled will understand the point of view.
Though in the later years the material was not as strong, Hunter S. Thompson was clearly an identifiable being with nothing to hide.. after all, he mentions most of his weaknesses in many of his books and admits he may have had a problem, but when family and friends approached him he simply stated 'not to do that again' and refering to it as the 'inquisition'.
In the end Hunter S. Thompson ended his own life, but left many unpublished pages and words which today are quickly being assembled into his last letters and books, some of which are still to be published (The Mutineer: Rants, Ravings, and Missives from the Mountaintop 1977-2005). Since his death there have been several biographies on his life, I admit that reading them has been some of the most amusing material I have read about a person that was real.
My experience with Hunter S. Thompson has mostly been through his books and only now will fans have a chance to really see the man behind the words documented in this new film about his work and life. As Hunter S. Thompson said "Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride"- I can't wait - ho ho!
Sources and Links:
A fast moving, wildly entertaining documentary with an iconic soundtrack, the film addresses the major touchstones in Thompson’s life—his intense and ill fated relationship with the Hell’s Angels, his near-successful bid for the office of sheriff in Aspen in 1970, the notorious story behind the landmark Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, his deep involvement in Senator George McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign, and much more..
Wiki Hunter S. Thompson
Gonzo Store - Official Gonzo Store from Owl Farm
Owl Farm Blog
Hunter S. Thompson Memorial
Hunter S. Thompson Films
Hunter S. Thompson - The Crazy Never Die