Gonzo Girl

The film is based on the 'Gonzo Girl' novel written by Cheryl Della Pietra and marks Patricia Arquette's directorial debut. It's a fictional story loosely inspired by the author's real-life experiences working as an assistant to the famous journalist, Hunter S. Thompson.

The story follows Alley Russo (played by Camila Morrone), a young woman who becomes the assistant to the self-destructive writer Walker Reade (played by Willem Dafoe). As she immerses herself in Reade's chaotic world of journalism, drugs, and alcohol, their relationship gradually evolves into a codependent dynamic.

Alley finds herself entangled in Reade's erratic life, enabling his destructive behaviors while relying on him for validation and a sense of purpose in her own life. The codependency between them becomes a central focus of the narrative, highlighting the blurred boundaries between their personal and professional lives.

In their respective roles, Willem Dafoe and Camila Morrone deliver powerhouse performances that leave an indelible mark on the film. Dafoe's portrayal of the enigmatic Walker Reade is a tour de force, capturing the character's chaos and complexity with breathtaking authenticity. Morrone's portrayal of Alley Russo is equally outstanding, as she skillfully navigates the character's transformation from innocence to codependency with depth and nuance. Together, Dafoe and Morrone's on-screen chemistry is nothing short of electric, creating a mesmerizing partnership that fuels the heart of the film, making it a captivating and unforgettable cinematic experience. Their performances and chemistry are a testament to their extraordinary talents as actors, elevating the film to a level of brilliance that resonates long after the credits roll.

There are numerous films depicting the life of a writer. While some have substance, Gonzo Girl is a shallow and poorly written depiction of a novel based on a writer's experience as Hunter S. Thompson's assistant.

The film's only redeeming quality is a knock-out performance by Willem Dafoe, and while I'm happy to watch him for two hours, I'd rather unearth the 1993 disaster that was Body of Evidence than sit through a film that pretends to be deep, artistic, and edgy, only to fail miserably at all three.

Gonzo Girl is supposed to be about a young woman's journey into the writer's life as she takes an assistant writer's position, agreeing to help a much older man (fading literary star) work on the novel he's been avoiding. Yawn.

Tropes aside, the film manages to do the exact opposite of what it intends, and instead of giving the young, female protagonist agency, follows her as she allows herself to be humiliated, exploited, and objectified.

Perhaps the moral is that, just as writers are told to write what they know, filmmakers should make films about subjects they are familiar with. Otherwise you end up with Gonzo Girl: a Hollywood-ized piece of cinematic garbage that desperately wants to be illuminating and fails miserably.