I make no secret of my admiration for Hunter S. Thompson. None.
Dr. Thompson is firmly entrenched on my list of literary heroes.
A feature length documentary entitled "Gonzo" is coming to a handful of cinemas this Independence Day in the good ole' of the U. S. of A.
Johnny Depp - one of Hunter's close friends and who financed the funeral - narrates the film.
The trailer:
More about the film and Hunter after the jump.
Dr. Thompson is firmly entrenched on my list of literary heroes.
A feature length documentary entitled "Gonzo" is coming to a handful of cinemas this Independence Day in the good ole' of the U. S. of A.
Johnny Depp - one of Hunter's close friends and who financed the funeral - narrates the film.
The trailer:
More about the film and Hunter after the jump.
While Hunter and I hardly agree on anything, he remains an influence on me. I don't agree with him politically - anarchy is not my bag - I never use drugs or alcohol and I don't like guns. Hunter would have viewed me as a heathen. That aside, his impact on journalism and writing in general is hugely important. Whether you agreed with him or not wasn't the point. That you thought about what he said and picked a side was. You peel back the radical rhetoric and you have a writer as important as Hemingway or Steinbeck.
The good Doctor took a stand. Even if it was a minority opinion. Many may have felt he was wrong, but it was hard not to respect the passion and honesty in his writing. It is my belief that too many cannot differentiate from the performer/artist and the art/work they produce. Granted there are too many ill-informed loudmouths that cause me to roll my eyes every time they pipe up. (Hello Ms. Streisand, how does your foot taste? Try it with some Grey Poupon.)
Dr. Thompson's gift was the ability to shine a light on and/or lampoon the ridiculous or the unjust in American society. All done with his tongue in is cheek and a Marlboro in the gold-tipped cigarette holder.
Hunter broke boundaries in journalism. Smashed them, really. He showed you can place personal views and criticism in the writing, calling political candidates or elected officials "scum" or "rotten." He was one of the first to inject himself in the story and write in the first person. He also showed that the lines of fiction and non-fiction can be blurred to make a point or for entertainment purposes.
As with many of my heroes, I sneak in little homage's to Hunter in my daily life. The YBNBY "intern" is named Raoul. A nod to Hunter's drug-ravaged alter ego Raoul Duke. I pop in some of his favorite phrases in columns and general correspondence. (I'm not going to say what they are, but trust me, they are scattered about.)
If you are in one of the selected cities - and I certainly hope you are - try to spend 90 minutes with a unique American.
"Buy the ticket, take the ride."
HST
Selah.
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