Depp movie sparks gonzo Occupy query

A block-busting new Johnny Depp movie called “The Rum Diary” hits theaters this weekend (including most of those in Maine) so naturally I’ve been awash in its backstory for most of the week.

In part, that is because the late 90s I lived in the Colorado high country and served on the Hunter S. Thompson team that helped produce the book, so to speak. It was good and honest work, even if it was usually third shift and I often made my way home along a twisted two-lane backroad while the sun peaked over the peaks.

For newcomers to Thompson and his “gonzo journalism,” and it seems there are thankfully more and more newcomers these days, he was a writer who created a genre focused on first-person narrative and becoming part of the story you’re reporting. Soundly denounced from the pulpits of journalism schools (nearly) everywhere for lacking objectivity, he nonetheless inspired many of the very students who were warned of his wicked, wicked ways.

And Hunter, who would have been 75 this year but killed himself in 2005, has been on a run of late.

The Rolling Stone magazine founding editor has published a fine new collection of Hunter’s writing, the Depp movie is opening on several thousand screens and there’s even a new teen coming-of-angst movie “Beware The Gonzo.” Meanwhile, The Rum Diary is back on The New York Times best-seller list.

Actually, this is the fourth time Hunter’s been played by Johnny Depp, which has to be some sort of record. Most famous of those was Depp’s “Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas.”

With all this attention, it seemed natural enough to pilgrimage to deeply Lower Manhattan last Thursday night to The Clocktower Gallery and join other gonzo alums in celebrating The Rum Diary backstory. The celebrating is made easier by the fact that it’s been captured by documentary filmmaker Wayne Ewing.

Wayne's "The Rum Diary Back-story" is a 10-part web series that begins with the “discovery” of Hunter’s long-lost novel. The story morphs through a savage editing job that becomes an equally savage deal-making binge that includes late-night meetings with Depp, Hunter and Hollywood executives.

But much of the conversation at Thursday night's event, even among the Hunter faithful, moved quickly beyone what he might think of Wayne's excellent series or this burst of cultural significance to "what he would think of the nearby Occupy Wall Street protests?"

The consensus, of course, is that one of history’s great rebels would embrace the rebellion.

But it was always risky to assume Hunter’s politics. Frequently, left-leaning journalists would arrive expecting standard liberal fare only to find us drinking hard liquor, gambling on football and shooting propane canisters with shotguns (you put an exploding target on the buggers – don’t do it, it’s really risky).

Hunter, who famously supported the National Rifle Association, made it clear that he was no liberal, and his loathing for President Clinton eventually challenged his contempt for President Nixon.

Plus: Hunter began his political writing career with the first 18-year-old vote election in 1972, when the new “youth vote” proved surprisingly absent. Over the decades, it turned out that counting on “the youth vote” was akin to budgeting that “check in the mail.”

Not until President Obama’s 2008 victory did young folks turn out in decisive numbers.

So his first question of Occupy would be the one that began most of his strategy sessions: What is the desired outcome?

And, so far, the Occupy movement lacks a really clear answer for that question beyond “social justice,” and even those they loathe can embrace goal. I believe Hunter might first question how many of the protesters are registered and vote, then he might begin to embrace the movement.

But much of his Rum Diary novel hinges on the theme of “selling out” as we get older, with the 32-year-old Paul Kemp conflicting with a more idealistic version of himself as a 20-something. The Depp movie combines the two characters while continuing the “sell out” theme via development.

No matter.

The point remains that we can be cautious about assuming how much Hunter would embrace Occupy, but his Rum Diary protagonist is “... tired of fleeing and tired of having no cards.”

Hunter may (or may not) have paused. But the Paul Kemp hitting your screen this weekend would be borrowing some camping gear and fishing his gas mask out of the toolbox.

(Curtis Robinson is the founding editor of The Portland Daily Sun. The Wayne Ewing vodcast of The Rum Diary Back-story can be found at hunterthompsonfilms.com.)

hompson team that helped produce the book, so to speak. It was good and honest work, even if it was usually third shift and I often made my way home along a twisted two-lane backroad while the sun peaked over the peaks.

    For newcomers to Thompson and his “gonzo journalism,” and it seems there are thankfully more and more newcomers these days, he was a writer who created a genre focused on first-person narrative and becoming part of the story you’re reporting. Soundly denounced from the pulpits of journalism schools (nearly) everywhere for lacking objectivity, he nonetheless inspired many of the very students who were warned of his wicked, wicked ways.

    And Hunter, who would have been 75 this year but killed himself in 2005, has been on a run of late.

    The Rolling Stone magazine founding editor has published a fine new collection of Hunter’s writing, the Depp movie is opening on several thousand screens and there’s even a new teen coming-of-angst movie “Beware The Gonzo.” Meanwhile, The Rum Diary is back on The New York Times best-seller list.

    Actually, this is the fourth time Hunter’s been played by Johnny Depp, which has to be some sort of record. Most famous of those was Depp’s “Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas.”

    With all this attention, it seemed natural enough to pilgrimage to deeply Lower Manhattan last Thursday night to The Clocktower Gallery and join other gonzo alums in celebrating The Rum Diary backstory. The celebrating is made easier by the fact that it’s been captured by documentary filmmaker Wayne Ewing.

Wayne's "The Rum Diary Back-story" is a 10-part web series that begins with the “discovery” of Hunter’s long-lost novel. The story morphs through a savage editing job that becomes an equally savage deal-making binge that includes late-night meetings with Depp, Hunter and Hollywood executives.

    But much of the conversation at Thursday night's event, even among the Hunter faithful, moved quickly beyone what he might think of Wayne's excellent series or this burst of cultural significance to "what he would think of the nearby Occupy Wall Street protests?"

    The consensus, of course, is that one of history’s great rebels would embrace the rebellion.

    But it was always risky to assume Hunter’s politics. Frequently, left-leaning journalists would arrive expecting standard liberal fare only to find us drinking hard liquor, gambling on football and shooting propane canisters with shotguns (you put an exploding target on the buggers – don’t do it, it’s really risky).

    Hunter, who famously supported the National Rifle Association, made it clear that he was no liberal, and his loathing for President Clinton eventually challenged his contempt for President Nixon.

    Plus: Hunter began his political writing career with the first 18-year-old vote election in 1972, when the new “youth vote” proved surprisingly absent. Over the decades, it turned out that counting on “the youth vote” was akin to budgeting that “check in the mail.”

Not until President Obama’s 2008 victory did young folks turn out in decisive numbers.

So his first question of Occupy would be the one that began most of his strategy sessions: What is the desired outcome?

And, so far, the Occupy movementugg boots for men ugg boots for men ugg boots for men lacks a really clear answer for that question beyond “social justice,” and even those they loathe can embrace goal. I believe Hunter might first question how many of the protesters are registered and vote, then he might begin to embrace the movement.

But much of his Rum Diary novel hinges on the theme of “selling out” as we get older, with the 32-year-old Paul Kemp conflicting with a more idealistic version of himself as a 20-something. The Depp movie combines the two characters while continuing the “sell out” theme via development.

No matter.

The point remains that we can beugg boots for men ugg boots for men ugg boots for men cautious about assuming how much Hunter would embrace Occupy, but his Rum Diary protagonist  is “... tired of fleeing and tired of having no cards.”

Hunter may (or may not) have paused. But the Paul Kemp hitting your screen this weekend would be borrowing someugg boots for men ugg boots for men ugg boots for men camping gear and fishing his gas mask out of the toolbox.

(Curtis Robinson is the founding editor of The Portland Daily Sun. The Wayne Ewing vodcast of The Rum Diary Back-story can be found at hunterthompsonfilms.com.)