Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr Hunter S Thompson

Hunter S Thompson's craziness has, of course, appeared on screen before, captured by both Johnny Depp (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, 1998) and Bill Murray (Where the Buffalo Roam, 1980). But Alex Gibney's documentary about the iconic writer makes for a more illuminating work.

The concept of 'Gonzo' embodied Thompson's spirit of excess - his appetite for freedom, drugs and experimentation - and when applied to the word 'journalism' this created work of madcap, daredevil greatness.

Wisely, it is this early, rich period of Thompson's life that Gibney concentrates on, rather than the bloated excesses of his later years. Via archive footage and talking heads, we journey from Thompson's debut feature for the Nation to the pages of Rolling Stone, where Thompson found his home.

There are wives, a son, the testimony of artist and longtime-collaborator Ralph Steadman, accounts of the 1968 Democratic convention, the 1972 election, Thompson's hatred of Nixon, and ultimately the writer's demise in a ruin of drugs and fame.

Gibney (who also gave us Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, 2005) is on fire here, showing himself to be a documentary-maker of great subtlety and bravery, with a sharp, keen eye for character. ·