Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson

I was a huge fan of Thompson during my twenties.  I guess his drug-addled hijinks and political antics fulfilled my youthful desires for adventure while addressing the loss of the American Dream.  I liked his style of writing, his rhythm- which Johnny Depp does a fantastic job of capturing in this documentary.

Alex Gibney, Oscar-winning director of Taxi to the Dark Side, directs.  The film covers all of Thompson’s life, but focuses on his rise to stardom in the late sixties and early seventies.  Gibney mingles vintage footage of Thompson, interviews, photographs, and reenactments to capture the birth of gonzo journalism and Thompson’s rockstar alter-ego, Raoul Duke.  Hunter’s wives, Ralph Steadman, Jann Wenner, Douglas Brinkley, Jimmy Buffett, George McGovern, Tom Wolfe, and others make appearances.

Perhaps Gibney’s greatest accomplishment is presenting Thompson’s passion for fighting for the ideal America and all it represents.  Thompson knew this was a losing battle all along, but that’s what made it noble and good.  Unfortunately, the cynicism, drugs, and reality that nothing was ever as clear-cut good and evil in American politics took their toll on Thompson.  He chose to end his own life in 2005.

Thompson’s coverage of the 1972 Presidential campaign is one of the highlights of this film.  The conventional reporters were in awe of Hunter because they saw the drugs and booze go in, but his behavior never changed.  This was also the point in his career when people began to realize they couldn’t separate the fiction from the non-fiction in his reporting.  He quickly became a “rock star” of journalism.  His home outside of Aspen became the party spot.  At one point in the film Keith Richards is there with a crowd of others.  But it doesn’t last.

Hunter’s coverage of the Rumble in the Jungle between Ali and Foreman was the beginning of the end.  Everyone assumed Ali was doomed, including Hunter.  He sold his and Ralph Steadman’s tickets to the fight and spent his time in Zaire on a cocaine binge.  Instead of going to the fight, he hung out at the hotel pool.  His article about the fight was nixed by Rolling Stone, and his writing was never the same.

Gibney does not spend much time on Hunter’s downward spiral through the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s.  He had a few good pieces during those years, but overall he was done.  9/11 and Bush’s two terms in office severely depressed him.  What’s odd is that everyone interviewed in the film said they expected him to commit suicide long before he did.  Thompson’s own son said it was a known fact that Thompson’s death would be by his own hand and by gun.  Gibney shows Johnny Depp’s lavish send off according to Thompson’s will, but the film does not make a definitive statement on Thompson’s impact.  Today we have reporters giving their own subjective opinions, but they don’t seem to be chasing a deeper truth about America the way Thompson did.  I’m not sure Thompson has a literary heir today.

Moby Dick – Comic Book Love 2

I recently bought a used copy of the Classics Illustrated Moby Dick drawn by Bill Sienkiewicz, and I was not disappointed.  This is the same Bill Sienkiewicz of Elektra and Daredevil fame, the same Sienkiewicz I thought was the greatest comic book artist of all time when I was a teen.

Sienkiewicz brings his unique brand of surrealism and expressionism to the great American novel about dark obsession and madness.  Sienkiewicz’s art captures Ahab’s madness perfectly.  As Ahab’s obsession grows, Sienkiewicz uses a recurring image of a scratchy black and white demonic face that appears in its own box.  This, of course, captures the book’s theme perfectly. Sienkiewicz’s feverish depictions of the crew show how Ahab’s madness spreads to even the most reluctant sailors, and his depictions of the monsterish white whale draw the reader into the fear and mystery that have twisted Ahab’s mind.

If you’ve never read the orignial Moby Dick, Herman Melville intertwined chapters of action and theme-driven plot with scientific chapters on whales and the industry of whaling.  It is a long and strange, but rewarding read. This graphic novel focuses on the action-driven plot and theme to capture the essence of the original story.  All of the famous images and scenes from the original are here: the opening scenes with Ishmael and the tattooed savage, Queequeg; the appearance of Ahab on deck; the making of the coffin and Ahab’s special harpoon; the tri-works, etc.

You can find all of these samples and much more on Sienkiewicz’s site:   http://www.billsienkiewiczart.com/

Uni-Ball Signo 0.18

Uni-Ball Signo 0.18

I got this gel pen in the mail today from Jetpens. The tip of this pen is advertised as being thin enough to write on a grain of rice, and I believe it. I like the feel of the pen in my hand, but the tip is too small for my big, sloppy American handwriting. I wish I could write well enough, but just couldn’t use this everyday. I can see this pen being great for people with very precise, tiny handwriting. There is a girl in my AP English class who could probably work wonders with it. I can also see artists using this for short lines and precise inking or coloring. It makes me want to start drawing. You can get an 8 color set from Jetpens. Overall, it’s a great pen for specific purposes, but not something I can use for common writing.