Hunter S Thompson - 1937 to 2005
I watched the incredible documentary film Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S Thompson on Sunday night. It was the most interesting production of this man's life.
Starting with his embedding into the Hells Angels for a year...writing about and living the life. There was an interview with Sonny Barger (leader of the angels) who I must admit does not look quite so badass as an aged biker breathing through a trach hole in his throat. And Thompson actually got his ass kicked by 3 or 4 of the Angels right before he was ousted from their clan. This story did bring him some national acclaim.
His writing gained the most rabid following once he started writing for Rolling Stone magazine. And while there, almost never made a deadline. His 3 or 4 pages of copy were worth holding up the publishing. The interview with his old publisher was insightful and a look at the outlet for most of Thompson's rants on American politics and the failure of the American Dream.
One of my favorite parts of this film was the coverage of his failed attempt to win the 1970 Sheriffs election in Aspen, CO. His platform was as outrageous as his campaign logo of a fist with two thumbs holding a peyote bud with a Sheriff's badge as the background shape.
One plank of his campaign had to do with instituting the resurrection of the stockade. He wanted to install them on the front lawn of the Aspen courthouse to be used on drug dealers who sold inferior drugs or somesuch. He also wanted to change the name of the city from Aspen to Fat City so no one would be able to use the word Aspen to promote the town. And a couple others I don't rightly remember at this time. He was actually winning the election for most of the night and then somehow the final tally had him with less votes then he had early in the evening. Apparently the fix was in.
Through his days of covering the 1968 Democratic presidential convention in Chicago (and getting beaten and arrested at that time) to his drug-induced journey through Las Vegas (in Fear and Loathing) his endless search for the American Dream is what fueled his writing...and mostly because of his failure to find it.
I can attest to one absolute fact: Bill Murray should have won an Oscar for his portrayal of Thompson in Where The Buffalo Roam. Much of the dialogue in Gonzo proves how much Murray nailed the role. The affects, the voice...I closed my eyes when Hunter was talking and it was Murray. They were one and the same. They even look like brothers. The testament to Murray developing his character by spending time with Thompson during the filming is the fact that many of his friends say he never really came back to himself, even long after the movie was out and mostly forgotten. He remained in the Thompson character. I love Johnny Depp, but his Hunter is a little over the top for me. While good just not Murray good. Curious though, Depp adopts the Thompson affect when talking about him. I saw that when he was last on the Letterman Show. Still not Murray.
His love of guns and gun play led to the only possible conclusion in his mind for the end of his time. At the age of 67 and more than a little bummed that GW had been elected to a second term, Hunter took one of his guns and shot himself in the head. The end. I hope he found what was on the other side of "the edge" as he so often called it. He said the only people who knew where the "edge" truly was were those that had gone over. He went over. He did it his way, all the way. Drugs, alcohol, guns...full tilt or not at all.
If you are curious, if you are a Gonzo fan, if you never have heard or know anything about the man, I still recommend this movie/documentary. It is entertaining and enlightening for 2 hours. And you may want more, like I did. For those of you who are writers, I recommend it to explore a style that was renegade in its time.
Sorry you're gone Doc...you're on my list of people I want to meet on the other side. Because it still hasn't got weird enough for me either...
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| Could be Bill Murray, Right? |
9 comments:
Hi Chuck .. I've heard of Hunter S Thompson - probably via reading through blogging etc .. but from your description - I'd be interested to watch Gonzo ... definitely not my type - but that learning aspect interests me and I appreciate how actors realise their own story for their parts. I just never realised there was so much intertwining within the creative arts.
Thanks for the post - fascinating read .. cheers Hilary
Well....I'm one who has never heard of him. I do know who Murray is and Depp...but this guy? And he was running for Sheriff in Aspen? Heck I lived in Colorado for 40+ years and never even heard of the voters' scandal either. Where was I?
But you most definitely piqued my interest. I will have to read more about him, and see movies and documentaries.
I know who he is (and saw Where the Buffalo Roam years ago) but I really didn't know that much about his life.
He sounds like he was an interesting person.
That's so cool that he went underground with the Hell's Angels for a year and to be able to hold up Rolling Stone! Wow!!
I just went and added Gonzo to my instant queue on Netflix. I have to check it out. Too back the election was rigged.
Hilary: He was a fascinating man who lived in fascinating times. He was a renegade and true wordsmith. You won't be sorry watching Gonzo.
Anni: I would have bet on you hearing about him. He was a little counter culture but his legacy grew as he got older. Gonzo is a good place to start your education of this legendary journalist.
Alex: He was a free spirit and spoke his mind. He would have been one great party time back in the 70's!
Misha: That may be an understatment.
Johanna: His writing sold magazines. I never knew about the Hell's Angels thing until I watched this documentary.
Chiz: You and your LSD soaked rants would have made a common bedfellow with HST, of that I have no doubt. Gonzo first and then Where the Buffalo Roam. Or the other way around but do both.
One of my all time favorite people! I haven't ever seen or heard a thing about him that wasn't interesting. Also, EVERYTHING he wrote, I loved. Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas is one of my all time favorite books. As a much younger fellow, We embarked on a few road trips like it. Once we even managed to lose our friend while about a thousand miles from home. Didn't see him, or hear from him again for about a year. I think you've inspired me to do some writing about it...
PAt: Mine too. I have not delved deep enough into his life and times but the Gonzo documentary has prompted me to do so. I have downloaded Fear and Loathing to my Kndle to take on vacation and read. And I too can equate some younger life experiences with some of Thompson's escapades. It involved some "dots", stolen blinking construction site lights, and a weekend of the Doors. It was spiritual.
I look forward to your writing of the great Thousand Mile Journey you speak of. Or maybe it's the Lost Year.
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