Here’s a little something for all you Hunter S. Thompson fans out there.  Today (July 4) marks the limited release in theaters of a brand new documentary that centers around the career and larger-than-life persona of the Gonzo journalist and whacked-out novelist Hunter S. Thompson.  For his part, Thompson became famous for his political coverage of American affairs in the pages of Rolling Stone magazine as well as for his cult-classic novels including Hell’s Angels and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.  Thompson died in February of 2005 from a self-inflicted gun shot to the head.  He was 67 years old.

The documentary, titled “Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson”, is directed by Alex Gibney (”Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”, “Taxi to the Dark Side”), and features interviews with those who knew Thompson (Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone, writer Tom Wolfe) as well as with the politicians he covered over the years (Jimmy Carter, Pat Buchanan, George McGovern).  And as you would expect, there are loads of archival film footage collected from Hunter’s own life.  Johnny Depp, who famously portrayed the writer in Terry Gilliam’s film adaptation of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, serves as the film’s narrator by reading passages from Thompson’s work throughout the film.

Again, the film opens today in a limited release in theaters across the country.  At the time of this post there are no scheduled listings for Charlottesville theaters (Vinegar Hill being the best bet if it does come to town), but it is showing in Arlington beginning this weekend and will begin showing in Richmond on July 18.  [You can check out the trailer for the film after the break].  Anyone interested in seeing this one besides myself?  I’m hoping it comes to C’ville…soon.

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

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