Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
Gonzo Girl
Patricia Arquette showcased the U.S. premiere of Gonzo Girl, her directorial debut, at Tribeca Film Festival 2025. Based on the book by Cheryl Della Pietra, the film was first presented at the Toronto Film Festival.
Screenwriters Jessica Caldwell and Rebecca Thomas fictionalized Della Pietra’s real-life experiences as an assistant to famous journalist Hunter S. Thompson. In the film Arquette stretches current #metoo boundaries with a candid look at the relationships among Thompson and his women. Whether one judges Arquette’s outing as brave or shallow, clearly she teased out exceptional, memorable performances from the actors in Gonzo Girl.
Alley Russo is ‘Gonzo Girl’
The film opens focusing on narrator critical, canny Alley Russo (Camila Morrone), challenging comments by over-the-top journalist Walker Reade (Willem Dafoe) at a reading. Taken with her beauty and “in-your-face” boldness, Reade’s interest in her increases when she applies to be his assistant. As a budding writer, Russo yearns to find her own voice. Reade, an outrageous Thompsonesque figure, looms as one who might mentor her as she discovers her depths. But what might have been a journey of meditative self-discovery transforms into a wild, hellish ride into the abyss.
The problem with this particular, suffocating abyss is that it isn’t really hers to learn from. Reade governs her behavior, dangling acceptance and praise in exchange for her participation in his insanities. With leverage and intense persuasion he lures her into his darkness, selling his self-destruction as fun.
Throwing her background and upbringing to the winds along with her good judgment and caution, Alley follows his lead. She embraces co-dependence as a way of life, immersing herself in Reade’s chaotic fever dream of drugs and alcohol. By degrees she allows him to dismantle her self-esteem, confidence, values, and integrity.
Reade’s publishing company pays her to guide him and get him to focus on writing his latest novel. But Reade negates her influence and exploits her youth, beauty, and innocence to his own advantage in the guise of “freedom” without restraint. The more she relies on Reade for purpose in her own life, the more that purpose retreats. Furthermore, Reade’s lack of productivity and inability to concentrate at the task at hand becomes her responsibility.
Arquette as Claudia
Arquette plays Claudia, Reade’s onetime-lover, now maternal figure, who attempts to guide and warn Alley. At times Alley listens and tries, but Reade overpowers with his antics. A rivalry also develops between Alley and September (Lila George), whom Reade keeps as one of his sexual playmates to feed his ego. When he’s done with her, she will either join the household like Claudia or leave of her own will. September resents Alley’s intelligence, and though she knows that Reade and Alley have a professional relationship, she senses that will end because she understands Reade is an exploiter.
Eventually, Alley’s function to encourage and be responsible for Reade’s productivity disintegrates. Where she disengaged from any sexual entanglements with Reade in the past, she finally succumbs, thus losing her distinctiveness. Frustrated, one night she looks at the writing that Reade has accomplished thus far and takes liberties with it. When he discovers the interference, an explosion occurs.
Alley stands at a crossroads. She withdraws into herself as the delusion that she is developing her own voice by imitating his “gonzo” writing style crumbles. He denigrates her writing in a caustic takedown. As a result she realizes the true meaning of loss and isolation while “enjoying the party.”
Skillful Direction of an Excellent Ensemble
Though Arquette makes interesting, elusive editing and cinematic decisions, her ability to direct Willem Dafoe and Camila Morrone shines even more. Both portray their characters with power and authenticity. Amazingly, with the abusive Reade treating the women like his harem, Dafoe makes the reprobate likable. Pulling out all the stops as usual, Dafoe delivers a bravura performance that steals the picture, making it about the two individuals, not just about Alley.
For her part, Morrone delivers. As Alley realizes the hell she put herself through for a man concerned only with his own status and notoriety, she learns humility. And the miracle eventually happens. She perfects her true voice, first in her journal. The book Gonzo Girl evidences that she has made her art her own, finally.
Together, Dafoe and Morrone portray the dynamic between Alley and Reade with seamless, spot-on clarity. Additionally, as Arquette allows the events to unfold, the audience feels a part of the atmosphere. With an openness that offers no judgment, the film encourages viewers’ involvement. As a result, the turning point hits with greater power. Finally, it is the explosiveness of the rancor between Alley and Reade that provides the identity-related themes of the conclusion.
Gonzo Girl is one to see. Look for it on streaming platforms.
