Movies Totally Misrepresent These Historic Figures All The Time

Movies Totally Misrepresent These Historic Figures All The Time

Shannon Quinn - November 12, 2020

Movies Totally Misrepresent These Historic Figures All The Time
Photo of writer Hunter S. Thompson. Credit: GQ Magazine

15. Hunter S. Thompson

In 1980, Bill Murray starred in a movie called Where the Buffalo Roam, which was supposed to portray Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. Unfortunately, he hated this depiction of himself. Thompson called it “just a horrible movie, a cartoon”. He was also made into a character called Uncle Duke in the Doonesbury comic strip. Because of these fictional depictions, he felt as though he was expected to act that way in real life. Before filming Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Johnny Depp actually lived with Hunter S. Thompson beforehand to make sure he depicted the man as he truly was. However, Thompson admitted that even this more accurate wild side was a persona. All of this contributed to the existential crisis that lead to his suicide. This is an example of why it’s probably best to wait for potentially unflattering biopics until after the person has already passed away.

Advertisement