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Last Updated: Jul 7, 2008 - 10:08:41 AM
The lord of the docs
By Steve Warren - Contributing Film Critic
Jul 2, 2008 - 4:20:10 PM
‘Gonzo’ — a fine primer on the mindblowing Thompson
They’re not a trilogy but the three feature documentaries Alex Gibney has released in the last three years constitute a formidable challenge to the less prolific Michael Moore and Errol Morris.
“Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson” may be the least of the three, but with its hippie nostalgia and a focus that’s more pop culture than politics it should have more commercial success than Gibney’s Academy Award-nominated “Enron: the Smartest Guys in the Room” and his Academy Award-winning “Taxi to the Dark Side.”
Thompson (1939-2005) was the original “gonzo journalist,” a term not so easily defined but you recognize it when you read it. One of his biographers calls it “participatory journalism.” Thompson may have been the first and best blogger, publishing the journals of his (double-meaning alert) trips in Rolling Stone and elsewhere.
From his whistle-blowing book about the Hell’s Angels (bear cubs note: there are still and motion pictures of bearded leathermen kissing — with tongues!) to his mind-blowing “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and “Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail” Thompson personified the journalist-as-rock-star, sometimes a part of the story and sometimes more important than the story.
Truth be told — and it is in “Gonzo” — Thompson didn’t write much of value in the last 30 years of his life, leading up to his much-foretold (by Thompson himself) suicide and spectacular funeral (also planned by Thompson but reportedly paid for by Johnny Depp). There were exceptions. What we hear of his 9/11 article is downright prophetic.
Thompson’s death is about the only new element in “Gonzo.” His life, or his version of it, was shown in the film of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (with Depp as Thompson’s alter ego, Raoul Duke, on whom Garry Trudeau based the Duke character in “Doonesbury”), “Where the Buffalo Roam” (with Bill Murray as Thompson) and Wayne Ewing’s 2003 documentary, “Breakfast with Hunter” (with Thompson as Thompson), all of which are generously sampled here. Depp narrates from Thompson’s writings,” just as he did in “Fear and Loathing,” and the soundtrack is laden with the usual musical suspects from the late ’60s and early ’70s.
Even new interviews with Thompson’s son Juan and two wives, Sondi Wright and Anita Thompson, probably offer few revelations to anyone who’s studied Thompson. Ditto the other talking heads, including Rolling Stone’s gay publisher, Jann Wenner, author Tom Wolfe, singer Jimmy Buffett and politicians George McGovern, Jimmy Carter and Pat Buchanan. The last is the most surprising, sounding nonjudgmental, even jovial in talking about Thompson, his polar opposite. Thompson also got to interview the “evil” Richard Nixon, on the condition they discuss only football.
Audiotapes and home movies show Thompson at home in Woody Creek, Colorado, near Aspen, where he once ran for sheriff on a platform of environmentalism and the legalization of drugs and his campaign poster introduced his logo, a two-thumbed fist with a peyote button in the palm.
Gun-loving, war-hating, drug-eating Thompson is a fascinating figure and his story has been well assembled by Gibney.
They will always love her
If you want to feel normal, check out “For the Love of Dolly” (Wolfe Video, $19.95) Tai Uhlmann’s close up and personal look at five obsessive Dolly Parton fans, which will be released Tuesday. Think Trekkies without Klingons. Maybe Parton fans should be called “Parties.”
Uhlmann is a Partie herself (so am I) but found herself out of her league with Dolly’s benign stalkers. For one thing, she had a life. But this movie isn’t about her and it’s not really about Dolly Parton, even though she’s the most important person in the world to the people it is about.
Patric and Harrell, a gay couple in Irving, have their house decorated in Parton memorabilia. Patric left his wife and two kids for Harrel, who makes Dolly dolls and dreams of having them sold in the Dollywood gift shop.
The developmentally challenged David got to meet his idol and has a videotape of the occasion. His mother claims he’s more functional because Dolly gives him something to focus on.
Jeanette built a replica of Parton’s childhood “Tennessee Mountain Home” in California. “It’s like a drug,” she says of fandom. “You need your daily fix.”
She found a friend to travel to Dolly events with in Melisa, who moved to Nashville to be closer to Parton.
When they find out Judy Ogle sold a car they head for the lot to check it out and hit the jackpot. Not only do they find some long blonde hairs on the carpet but an insurance card made out jointly to Dolly and Judy. (This will be taken as evidence by those who believe the longtime friends are secret lesbian lovers, but that possibility isn’t mentioned in the film.)
The high holy day of these people’s year is the grand opening of Dollywood, Parton’s Smoky Mountain theme park. They chase her float to give her gifts, expecting her to remember them, and their little dogs too. Dolly used to have a special event for fan club members there but disbanded the club in 1997, apparently because they were getting too scary.
Patric and Harrell manage to buy a meeting with their goddess at a charity auction. Jeanette and Melisa rely on weird costumes to get attention and David’s got the sympathy thing going for him.
“For the Love of Dolly” lets the people talk about what the singer and her songs have meant to them but you’ll enjoy it for the extremes they go to in showing their love. And you thought you were crazy!
— Steve Warren
Grade: B
These articles appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition July 4, 2008.
on the mindblowing Thompson
 |
| GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK
OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON
Director: Alex Gibney
Cast: Johnny Depp, Jimmy Carter and George McGovern
Opens: July 4 at the Magnolia
2 hrs. R
|
They’re not a trilogy but the three feature documentaries Alex Gibney has released in the last three years constitute a formidable challenge to the less prolific Michael Moore and Errol Morris.
“Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson” may be the least of the three, but with its hippie nostalgia and a focus that’s more pop culture than politics it should have more commercial success than Gibney’s Academy Award-nominated “Enron: the Smartest Guys in the Room” and his Academy Award-winning “Taxi to the Dark Side.”
Thompson (1939-2005) was the original “gonzo journalist,” a term not so easily defined but you recognize it when you read it. One of his biographers calls it “participatory journalism.” Thompson may have been the first and best blogger, publishing the journals of his (double-meaning alert) trips in Rolling Stone and elsewhere.
From his whistle-blowing book about the Hell’s Angels (bear cubs note: there are still and motion pictures of bearded leathermen kissing — with tongues!) to his mind-blowing “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and “Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail” Thompson personified the journalist-as-rock-star, sometimes a part of the story and sometimes more important than the story.
Truth be told — and it is in “Gonzo” — Thompson didn’t write much of value in the last 30 years of his life, leading up to his much-foretold (by Thompson himself) suicide and spectacular funeral (also planned by Thompson but reportedly paid for by Johnny Depp). There were exceptions. What we hear of his 9/11 article is downright prophetic.
Thompson’s death is about the only new element in “Gonzo.” His life, or his version of it, was shown in the film of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (with Depp as Thompson’s alter ego, Raoul Duke, on whom Garry Trudeau based the Duke character in “Doonesbury”), “Where the Buffalo Roam” (with Bill Murray as Thompson) and Wayne Ewing’s 2003 documentary, “Breakfast with Hunter” (with Thompson as Thompson), all of which are generously sampled here. Depp narrates from Thompson’s writings,” just as he did in “Fear and Loathing,” and the soundtrack is laden with the usual musical suspects from the late ’60s and early ’70s.
Even new interviews with Thompson’s son Juan and two wives, Sondi Wright and Anita Thompson, probably offer few revelations to anyone who’s studied Thompson. Ditto the other talking heads, including Rolling Stone’s gay publisher, Jann Wenner, author Tom Wolfe, singer Jimmy Buffett and politicians George McGovern, Jimmy Carter and Pat Buchanan. The last is the most surprising, sounding nonjudgmental, even jovial in talking about Thompson, his polar opposite. Thompson also got to interview the “evil” Richard Nixon, on the condition they discuss only football.
Audiotapes and home movies show Thompson at home in Woody Creek, Colorado, near Aspen, where he once ran for sheriff on a platform of environmentalism and the legalization of drugs and his campaign poster introduced his logo, a two-thumbed fist with a peyote button in the palm.
Gun-loving, war-hating, drug-eating Thompson is a fascinating figure and his story has been well assembled by Gibney.
They will always love her
 |
If you want to feel normal, check out “For the Love of Dolly” (Wolfe Video, $19.95) Tai Uhlmann’s close up and personal look at five obsessive Dolly Parton fans, which will be released Tuesday. Think Trekkies without Klingons. Maybe Parton fans should be called “Parties.”
Uhlmann is a Partie herself (so am I) but found herself out of her league with Dolly’s benign stalkers. For one thing, she had a life. But this movie isn’t about her and it’s not really about Dolly Parton, even though she’s the most important person in the world to the people it is about.
Patric and Harrell, a gay couple in Irving, have their house decorated in Parton memorabilia. Patric left his wife and two kids for Harrel, who makes Dolly dolls and dreams of having them sold in the Dollywood gift shop.
The developmentally challenged David got to meet his idol and has a videotape of the occasion. His mother claims he’s more functional because Dolly gives him something to focus on.
Jeanette built a replica of Parton’s childhood “Tennessee Mountain Home” in California. “It’s like a drug,” she says of fandom. “You need your daily fix.”
She found a friend to travel to Dolly events with in Melisa, who moved to Nashville to be closer to Parton.
When they find out Judy Ogle sold a car they head for the lot to check it out and hit the jackpot. Not only do they find some long blonde hairs on the carpet but an insurance card made out jointly to Dolly and Judy. (This will be taken as evidence by those who believe the longtime friends are secret lesbian lovers, but that possibility isn’t mentioned in the film.)
The high holy day of these people’s year is the grand opening of Dollywood, Parton’s Smoky Mountain theme park. They chase her float to give her gifts, expecting her to remember them, and their little dogs too. Dolly used to have a special event for fan club members there but disbanded the club in 1997, apparently because they were getting too scary.
 |
| GOT DOLLY? Patric Parkey, left, and Harrell Gabehart show off a signed Dollywood sweatshirt and one of Gabehart’s handcrafted porcelain Parton dolls. |
“For the Love of Dolly” lets the people talk about what the singer and her songs have meant to them but you’ll enjoy it for the extremes they go to in showing their love. And you thought you were crazy!
— Steve Warren
Grade: B
These articles appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition July 4, 2008.
on the mindblowing Thompson
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