Hunter S. Thompson didn t write stories he lived them. This documentary about a life that was often out of control and always interesting captures Thompson s spirit through stories told by some of the outlaw celebrities he inspired. Nick Nolte Johnny Depp and Sean Penn are among the voices who piece together the biography of the man who put Gonzo Journalism on the map.System Requirements:Running Time: 73 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 013138300089 Manufacturer No: P3000
It won't come as much of a surprise to anyone familiar with Hunter S. Thompson to learn that his life and work were inseparable, even indistinguishable, but that's the principal revelation in director Tom Thurman's Thompson documentary, Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride. In the 1960s and '70s, Thompson created what he called "gonzo journalism," mixing truth and fiction in a kind of superheated prose in which the writer, more often than not fueled by his copious intake of drugs and alcohol, not only reported stories but made himself an integral part of them. When he took his own life in 2005 at the age of 67, he left behind lots of bemused friends, peers, and collaborators, many of whom are on hand here. Johnny Depp, who portrayed Thompson in the film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, his most famous work, describes him as a man "capable of a verbal menace... I've seen people reduced to mist in a matter of seconds." Actor John Cusack calls him "a deeply serious, deeply moral person... who loved orgies," and author Tom Wolfe says Thompson was "(the 20th) century's greatest comic writer in the English language." There are also clips from both Fear and Loathing and Where the Buffalo Roam (with Bill Murray as Thompson). But while Thompson himself appears in several interview bits (there are brief excerpts from his writings as well), little here is, well, gonzo enough to fully do the man justice--it would be nice if there were more odd moments like the one where conservative pundit William F. Buckley, Jr., of all people, recites Thompson's description of Richard Nixon as "a man with the integrity of a hyena and the style of a poison toad." The film is clumsily edited; even at just 77 minutes, it feels too long, and while the bits detailing his funeral and suicide note are interesting, the final parade of sentimental encomiums from the various talking heads is disappointingly pat. Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride is OK, but actually reading Thompson's work would be more revelatory. --Sam Graham
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Gonzo "Buy the ticket, take the ride" A worthy look:
There are a lot of his documentaries out now, and a new one that is bound to be made in conventional theaters around the world. This one was not my favorites, I suggest you watch, "Breakfast with Thompson" A more knowledge documentary of the late king of Gonzo. But this is a good buy. But is it necessary? Na.
Gonzo !!!!!!!!!!:
I am a huge Hunter S. Thompson enthusiast and this was a great behind the scenes and various video of him interacting with cool people. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Fear and Loathing and other like movies. It is a documentary. R.I.P. HST.
BUY THE TICKET ,TAKE THE RIDE:
AWESOME DVD about Hunter S Thompson. I have told many friends to buy this dvd. Thanks.
When the Going gets Weird .....:
It took a long time to comfortably view this documentary, having been acquainted with the good Doctor since my college days in the early 70's. I don't mean acquainted personally - I'm not sure I brought enough to the table to get me invited to Owl Farm - but acquainted in a literary sense. This documentary is a good "short course" on HST by the people who knew and loved him - and those could be two entirely separate groups! From all accounts, Hunter was not an "easy" friend to have but I've never heard... more info
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