about the film

From Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney, whose Taxi to the Dark Side screened at !f 2008, comes a probing look into the highly original life of Gonzo journalism inventor Hunter S. Thompson. Thompson’s Gonzo approach did away with the myth of objective journalism, positing the writer as a central part of the story in a radical, politically progressive new way. A fast moving, wildly entertaining documentary with an iconic soundtrack, the film addresses the major touchstones in Thompson’s life —his intense and ill fated relationship with the Hell’s Angels, his near-successful bid for the office of sheriff in Aspen in 1970, the notorious story behind the landmark Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, his deep involvement in Senator George McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign, and the effects of fame on his career. Narrated by Johnny Depp, it is both an illuminating look at the evolution of a counter-cultural hero, as well as a document of a fascinating period in recent American history.

about the director

A graduate of Yale University, Alex Gibney also attended the UCLA Graduate School of Film and Television. Gibney is the founder of Jigsaw Productions. An Oscar, Emmy and Grammy award-winning producer, Gibney’s work as a writer/director includes the 2008 Oscar-winning film Taxi to the Dark Side and the 2006 Oscar-nominated film Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, both of which were screened at !f Istanbul.

festivals

• 2008 Sundance Film Festival
• Munich Film Festival
• Helsinki Film Festival
• London Film Festival
• Stockholm Film Festival