Release Date:
07/04/2008
Directed by: Alex Gibney
The Skinny: Journalist/novelist/gun-loving dope fiend Hunter S. Thompson dipped his pen into the ink of every social and political movement of the late '60s and '70s. Eventually, his inner demons (and a Bush reelection) drove him to suicide. But fortunately he wrote it all down. Now it's shared without any of that tedious "reading."
The Good: The movie focuses mostly on Thompson's stint with the Hell's Angels, his campaign for sheriff of Aspen, and the Rolling Stone assignments that brought us Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and his 1972 election coverage. This excellent mesh of interviews, readings (by Johnny Depp), and audio/video clips leaves you stunned that all of this happened to the same person.
The Bad: The biggest obstacle for any documentary is providing sufficient variety and excitement, but lucky for Gibney his subject provided plenty of each. That said, the goofy America's Most Wantedstyle reenactments that accompany several of Depp's readings are eye-rollingly awful.
Won't You Be Mine?: Hunter's neighbor and landlord, George Stranahan, is an unexpected scene-stealer. A memorable anecdote among many is Stranahan's description of the good Doctor that basically amounts to: "He didn't pay rent, he ruined my marriage, and taught my kids to smoke dope"all delivered with a smile.
Theater, DVD, or TNT in Five Years? Celebrate the Fourth like a true patriot! Drink, blow something up, see this movie, and um, we can't legally suggest anything else.
The Skinny: Journalist/novelist/gun-loving dope fiend Hunter S. Thompson dipped his pen into the ink of every social and political movement of the late '60s and '70s. Eventually, his inner demons (and a Bush reelection) drove him to suicide. But fortunately he wrote it all down. Now it's shared without any of that tedious "reading."
The Good: The movie focuses mostly on Thompson's stint with the Hell's Angels, his campaign for sheriff of Aspen, and the Rolling Stone assignments that brought us Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and his 1972 election coverage. This excellent mesh of interviews, readings (by Johnny Depp), and audio/video clips leaves you stunned that all of this happened to the same person.
The Bad: The biggest obstacle for any documentary is providing sufficient variety and excitement, but lucky for Gibney his subject provided plenty of each. That said, the goofy America's Most Wantedstyle reenactments that accompany several of Depp's readings are eye-rollingly awful.
Won't You Be Mine?: Hunter's neighbor and landlord, George Stranahan, is an unexpected scene-stealer. A memorable anecdote among many is Stranahan's description of the good Doctor that basically amounts to: "He didn't pay rent, he ruined my marriage, and taught my kids to smoke dope"all delivered with a smile.
Theater, DVD, or TNT in Five Years? Celebrate the Fourth like a true patriot! Drink, blow something up, see this movie, and um, we can't legally suggest anything else.