TV ALERT–Hunter S. Thompson documentary with Johnny Depp airs on Starz tonight

A new documentary on the late Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, BUY THE TICKET, TAKE THE RIDE, airs on the Starz cable channel tonight at 10 pm. Produced and directed by Tom Thurman, the film weaves recollections from some of Hunter’s closest friends and associates, including Johnny Depp, into a narrative that is embellished with scenes from AMERICAN BUFFALO and FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS. USA TODAY’s Mike Snider calls the documentary both “celebratory and melancholy”–appropriate emotions for all of us who still miss the Good Doctor, who is lauded by Tom Wolfe in the film as “this century’s greatest comic writer in the English language.”

The documentary could not be complete with a discussion of Hunter’s farewell, and includes footage of the firing of the Gonzo cannon. The film quotes Johnny Depp on his mission to build the Doctor’s memorial and fulfill his wishes: “When I got the news that Hunter had made his exit, I remember thinking almost immediately, ‘The cannon, we gotta do the cannon [. . .]’ I know somewhere in his crooked mind, he knew I was the only one perhaps loyal enough, perhaps insane enough, to attempt it.”

If you don’t have access to the Starz cable channel, don’t despair: BUY THE TICKET, TAKE THE RIDE will be released on DVD next spring.

The Zone thanks Theresa for breaking the news and updating the story several times on the News & Views forum. You can read Mike Snider’s article HERE.