An alcoholic tale of American insertion in a foreign culture with greed and an appetizing temptress tangling together a love story sets the tone for The Rum Diary. A long awaited film, not to mention that the book had a lengthy wait in the archives amongst some of the most pioneer writing of its time, The Rum Diary finally made it to the theaters.
Coerced by actor Johnny Deep, starring in many Burton films such as Edward Scissorhands, as well as the other cult classics like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S.Thompson final published some early giblets of his youth called The Rum Diary in 1998. Later in 2005, Bruce Robinson, directed Withnail and I and Jennifer 8, picked up the book and eventually wrote the screenplay and directed the film. The story is about a young journalist, Paul Kemp played by Johnny Depp, moving to Puerto Rico in the late 50’s to work for dying newspaper called the San Juan Star.
Amber Heard, who had starring roles in Friday Night Lights and Pineapple Express, plays Chenault, the temptress that is sure to cause confusion whether it be swimming nude in the sea or sleeping on a plane. Sanderson, played by The Dark Knight‘s Harvey Dent, otherwise referred to as Aaron Erkhart, plays the role of the wealthy playboy with Chenault on his arm and greed as his game. Schlepping along Kemp will be Sala, played by Michael Rispoli, roles include Death to Smoochy and Rounders, a fellow coworker that will be Kemp’s tour guide and partner in self-sabotage, but not to forget Moburg, played by the talented Giovanni Ribisi, having starred in such roles as Gone In Sixty Seconds and Public Enemies, plays an eccentric journalist that lives inside the bottle and splashes out truths, myths, and a journey not to be avoided.
Kemp struggles to play nice with Sanderson and his business tyrants due to the greed factor not to mention the man has the golden girl and all the extras one might consume in the early 50’s. Leaving Puerto Rico and returning back to the states to pursue happily ever after is the entire spoiler I will supply.
Coerced by actor Johnny Deep, starring in many Burton films such as Edward Scissorhands, as well as the other cult classics like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S.Thompson final published some early giblets of his youth called The Rum Diary in 1998. Later in 2005, Bruce Robinson, directed Withnail and I and Jennifer 8, picked up the book and eventually wrote the screenplay and directed the film. The story is about a young journalist, Paul Kemp played by Johnny Depp, moving to Puerto Rico in the late 50’s to work for dying newspaper called the San Juan Star.
Amber Heard, who had starring roles in Friday Night Lights and Pineapple Express, plays Chenault, the temptress that is sure to cause confusion whether it be swimming nude in the sea or sleeping on a plane. Sanderson, played by The Dark Knight‘s Harvey Dent, otherwise referred to as Aaron Erkhart, plays the role of the wealthy playboy with Chenault on his arm and greed as his game. Schlepping along Kemp will be Sala, played by Michael Rispoli, roles include Death to Smoochy and Rounders, a fellow coworker that will be Kemp’s tour guide and partner in self-sabotage, but not to forget Moburg, played by the talented Giovanni Ribisi, having starred in such roles as Gone In Sixty Seconds and Public Enemies, plays an eccentric journalist that lives inside the bottle and splashes out truths, myths, and a journey not to be avoided.
Kemp struggles to play nice with Sanderson and his business tyrants due to the greed factor not to mention the man has the golden girl and all the extras one might consume in the early 50’s. Leaving Puerto Rico and returning back to the states to pursue happily ever after is the entire spoiler I will supply.
When compared to Hunter S. Thompson’s other book movies, Where The Buffalo Roam and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Rum Diary is still just as entertaining but ending with slight disappointment because of Bruce Robinson’s screenplay. Although not entirely horrible adaption but knowing how Thompson was on set he probably would have never let the weasels get away with it. “One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production.” This quote from Thompson says a lot about Thompson and even though The Rum Diary was his first novel and left and the shelf for over thirty years, you can still hear his pre-gonzo style throughout the book and movie. If desiring a sequel to Fear and Loathing this isn’t it and will not fill that void. While it does have copious amounts of rum and an added surprise it is not the drug induced journey of the Vegas tale.
With the infiltration into a foreign country’s culture, it does shine some light on the shady side of American motives. Acquired through war and exploited by greed Puerto Rico remains a commonwealth and who can blame them. It’s interesting how much profit we always seem to accumulate after war and related to present day what will be the reward now, land or natural resources or both? Cause justice doesn’t feed mouths.
This movie will appeal to all the gonzo enthusiasts, the generation that knows anything about the late 50’s and sixties, as well as to the group who just want to see a Johnny Depp movie and a beautiful lady on the big screen. Theaters overall probably won’t do that well, but I can see the aftermath of DVDs and other medians that will eventually turn this into a cult classic. With mixed reviews the majority of critics pummel this movie till they run out of breath. Maybe they have not read the book, or perhaps not aware that almost every time without fail movies always turn out different.
I felt that the movie was a little bit on the average side of the scale, with the lack of Thompson on set to make sure his work wasn’t tainted is exactly what this movie missed out on, although it will join my movie library regardless. I would recommend reading the book, but not necessarily before in this case because the book has such a different feel and flows so fast you’ll feel like you just read a short story because you won’t be able to put it down.Overall the book will leave you much more satisfied at the end opposed to the movie.
I’m actually considering going back and watching it again even with my mixed feelings, but instead of filling my flask with cheap white rum I’m going to throw some cognac in there and enjoy it for what it is with no expectations, I recommend you do the same. After that it’ll be time to open those classic pages to refresh my brain with a fallen American pioneer’s words. So after viewing the corrupted ending I can indulge in the original presented masterpiece.
I’m actually considering going back and watching it again even with my mixed feelings, but instead of filling my flask with cheap white rum I’m going to throw some cognac in there and enjoy it for what it is with no expectations, I recommend you do the same. After that it’ll be time to open those classic pages to refresh my brain with a fallen American pioneer’s words. So after viewing the corrupted ending I can indulge in the original presented masterpiece.
The real question is when do I get to watch Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga?
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