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Dupree00 · #1 11-07-2008, 23:16

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

Documentary, 01:58 minutes, Rated R Full Review
This documentary about the famous new journalist, who put his indelible mark on the ’60s and early ’70s, is many things — a cautionary tale about the destructive influences of drugs and fame; a manual for writers on how to think and how not to live; and a career lesson for journalists on how flash and dazzle must be supplemented by doing the legwork. Mostly, it's a very interesting story about a singular American character.

-- M. LaSalle, SF Chronicle

Saw this last night and it was great. I never knew too much about the guy but I did read his Hell's Angels book when I was a teenager and I did hear about Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

There is great footage from the 60's and 70's. He was covering, for Rollingstone Magazine, the McGovern Campaign when Nixon was running for reelection. This is one dvd that I'll be buying.

LivinLOS · #2 12-07-2008, 07:44

Arrgh just lost a huge post..

Basically I am a major fan, have some signed stuff, the curse of Lono with the Steadman artwork, all kinds of bits.. When he was on the boil he wrote with a passion and energy that I have never read elsewhere.. He did however burn out in in his later decades didnt write anything important (too much drink and drugs) and his later publication of collections of his letters are only for the real die hard fans.

Fear and Loathing on the campain trail is some of the best political journalism written (his hatred of Nixon was superb, his Obituary of the man is great.) but for me the stand out stuff is where he captures life through his own demented lens.. The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved, the Great White Shark Hunt (the short piece as well as the collection of bits).. Less so the curse of Lono (but it is graced with Steadmans also truly twisted artwork) and of course the F&L book which had me in tears of laugher multiple times (check the audiobook by Jim Jarmash, Harry Dean Stanton, Maury Chaykin)...

He was a one of a kind..

LivinLOS · #3 12-07-2008, 07:51

Also 'where the buffalo roam' 'buy the ticket take the ride' 'Fear and loathing in Gonzovision' are all related and worth seeing..

marc26 · #4 12-07-2008, 08:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Arrgh just lost a huge post..

Basically I am a major fan, have some signed stuff, the curse of Lono with the Steadman artwork, all kinds of bits.. When he was on the boil he wrote with a passion and energy that I have never read elsewhere.. He did however burn out in in his later decades didnt write anything important (too much drink and drugs) and his later publication of collections of his letters are only for the real die hard fans.

..

I would like to see the doc
but i found his writings to be too rambling for me
maybe i grabbed the later stuff

LivinLOS · #5 12-07-2008, 08:52

Possibly.. Its his early stuff thats razor sharp..

Of course he has the 'drug stuff' which is in fact about a whole lot more but superficially is drug stuff.. and F&L on the campaign trail is a lot less interesting when its not current.. But I just love his ranting style.. when he gets worked up and sounds like hes foaming at the mouth..

marc26 · #6 12-07-2008, 08:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Possibly.. Its his early stuff thats razor sharp..

Of course he has the 'drug stuff' which is in fact about a whole lot more but superficially is drug stuff.. and F&L on the campaign trail is a lot less interesting when its not current.. But I just love his ranting style.. when he gets worked up and sounds like hes foaming at the mouth..

in all fairness, i didnt read any of his earlier stuff
but he was definitely larger than life

LivinLOS · #7 12-07-2008, 09:06

Having seen this just an hour ago it was easy to find for a quote.. Its his sharp mad stuff like this that I just dig. This is a description of Oscar Zeta Ocosta the 'Dr Gonzo' in F&L in Las Vegas.

Quote:

Oscar was not into serious street-fighting, but he was hell on wheels in a bar brawl. Any combination of a 250 lb [113 kg] Mexican and LSD-25 is a potentially terminal menace for anything it can reach - but when the alleged Mexican is in fact a profoundly angry Chicano lawyer with no fear at all of anything that walks on less than three legs and a de facto suicidal conviction that he will die at the age of 33 - just like Jesus Christ - you have a serious piece of work on your hands. Especially if the bastard is already 33 1/2 years old with a head full of Sandoz acid, a loaded .357 Magnum in his belt, a hatchet-wielding Chicano bodyguard on his elbow at all times, and a disconcerting habit of projectile vomiting geysers of pure blood off the front porch every 30 or 40 minutes, or whenever his malignant ulcer can't handle any more raw tequila.

Pad Mc · #8 12-07-2008, 17:24

I knew you'd be all over this one Lil.

Buy the ticket take the ride is a must see show for any Hunter fans (I have it on .AVI here)... Made me feel like going out and shooting something after watching it.

I must watch out for that one dupes.. Cheers.

marc26 · #9 13-07-2008, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Possibly.. Its his early stuff thats razor sharp..

Of course he has the 'drug stuff' which is in fact about a whole lot more but superficially is drug stuff.. and F&L on the campaign trail is a lot less interesting when its not current.. But I just love his ranting style.. when he gets worked up and sounds like hes foaming at the mouth..

you know who i think tries to emulate his style
Anthony Bourdain and i dont like his books either(bought another one 2 days agao, last time), but love his shows

nelsonone · #10 14-07-2008, 06:17

haven't seen this advertised in OZ/NZ as yet but will look out for it.....

I did my Arts PHD thesis on post ww2 american poetry which covered up to and included the "Beats".....I met and interviewed many of them...whilst not strictly a beat I interviewd HST who was extremely helpful and insightful into the whole era and I must say was exceptionally funny and thought provoking when I could get him to concentrate.....

we had a couple of days and big night out in this time as well...which i think I wrote about a long time ago in here

the man was a wonderfully unhinged genius

JayBee · #11 14-07-2008, 08:44

Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, R.I.P., my hero.......

In his time, there was no one like him. Nor was there before, and probably never will be again.

LivinLOS · #12 14-07-2008, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayBee

Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, R.I.P., my hero.......

In his time, there was no one like him. Nor was there before, and probably never will be again.

Ohh I dont know.. Over my time I have had a few mates who came damn close !!

nelsonone · #13 14-07-2008, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Ohh I dont know.. Over my time I have had a few mates who came damn close !!

Dr Benwah I presume???...555

JayBee · #14 14-07-2008, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Ohh I dont know.. Over my time I have had a few mates who came damn close !!

And what were their literary masterpieces?

I've had a fair few friends, who came close and even sometimes maybe exceeded HST in their unique, crazy personas, and their zest for life at full throttle, holding nothing back, but they mostly died on their motorcycles or in sportscars, and none could put pen to paper like Dr. Gonzo. Which is why he stands alone, IMHO.