Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson (2008)
84%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: 5 nominations
While not the comprehensive profile of the man that his die-hard fans might have hoped for, Gonzo remains an insightful introduction to the life of rebellious writer Hunter S. Thompson and his influences
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson is a wild ride through the life of one of America’s most iconic writers. While some critics argue that the film doesn’t delve deep enough into Thompson’s personal life, it’s hard not to get caught up in the energy and passion that he brought to everything he did. From his early days as a journalist to his later years as a cultural icon, Thompson’s story is one that will inspire and entertain anyone who loves a good tale of rebellion and adventure. So grab a drink, light up a cigarette, and get ready to go Gonzo!
Production Company(ies)
Canal+ Ciné+ El Deseo
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for drug and sexual content, language and some nudity
Year of Release
2008
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 58m
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Language(s):English, Portuguese
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 4, 2008 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Gonzo, Hunter S Thompson, Johnny Depp, Alex Gibney, documentary, writer, journalist, drugs, alcohol, gonzo journalism, rebellion, creativity, influences, narration, box office, budget, R rating, Magnolia Pictures, reviewed by Brad Newsome, Angie Errigo, Dave Calhoun, James Christopher, Peter Bradshaw, Nigel Andrews, Joanne Laurier, Nikki Baughan, Dan DiNicola, Kelly Vance, Mike Edwards, Simon Foster, audience score, critic score, Roman de Gare, The Beaches of Agnès, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, The Arbor, Enter the Void, directed by Alex Gibney, written by Alex Gibney, produced by Alex Gibney, narrated by Johnny Depp, limited release, streaming, Magnolia Pictures
Worldwide gross: $1,491,958
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,055,115
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,409
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 224,113
US/Canada gross: $1,252,100
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,724,720
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,070
US/Canada opening weekend: $191,942
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $264,393
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,574
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Alex Gibney – Director, Writer
Director(s)
Alex Gibney
Writer(s)
Alex Gibney
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (99) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (85) | Rotten (14)
Gibney’s focus on Thompson at his most politically relevant is welcome, but it renders the broader picture less than complete, particularly when it comes to his early life influences.
September 12, 2018
Brad Newsome
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
A definitive, accessible, even inspiring screen biography put together with thought and vitality.
December 19, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Angie Errigo
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The film’s plea that we need Thompson now more than ever is a little misty-eyed: Thompson’s day was long gone by the time he put a gun to his head.
December 19, 2008 | Rating: 4/6
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Gonzo is much more than a tribute to a maverick and genuine pioneer. It’s a lament for the gaping hole that Thompson left behind. The only obvious weakness is Gibney’s reluctance to engage fully with Thompson’s toxic personal life.
December 19, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
James Christopher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This documentary about his life by Alex Gibney, though entertaining in many ways, is oddly uninterested in his strengths or otherwise as a writer, the very gift for which Thompson earnestly wished to be known.
December 19, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Thompson must be looking down, or up, from his afterworld thinking: “The worst success is a failure to keep alive the spirit of offendedness and outrage.”
December 19, 2008
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Thompson shot himself in despair. The critical issue, which the film sidesteps, is the utterly moribund state of American liberalism.
March 5, 2021
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
Gonzo is an intimate portrait of a character who was truly larger than life.
October 31, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Nikki Baughan
Roll Credits
It serves both as an introduction to the life and times of an influential American and as a way to reflect on the ways in which news is handled today.
February 3, 2018
Dan DiNicola
The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)
Thompson is dead but his skepticism survives. In the land of endless corruption, the muckraker is king, if only in the moral sense.
August 15, 2011
Kelly Vance
East Bay Express
This movie has confirmed my suspicion that people need to leave Hunter S. Thompson’s story alone for a while.
March 24, 2011 | Rating: 2/5
Mike Edwards
What Culture
Alex Gibney’s documentary (aligns) the Gonzo’s descent into madness with the decline of American values.
August 9, 2010
Simon Foster
sbs.com.au…
Plot
Gonzo is a stylized documentary that explores the life of journalist Hunter S. Thompson, from his beginnings in gonzo journalism to his most infamous drug- and alcohol-induced exploits, using his own words, home movies, interviews, and narration by Johnny Depp.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features narration by Johnny Depp.
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