The Rum Diary [2011]

Based on a book by a famous American journalist Hunter S. Thompson, The Rum Diary is somewhat successful translation of an engaging novel. It seems that Johnny Depp cannot play a normal guy, so he reprises his role from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (also based on a novel by the same author). I think that this role required a more serious face, but what can you do. The rest of the cast was great, with the accent on phenomenal Giovanni Ribisi as an alcoholic journalist called Moburg. Thompson deals with some serious issues regarding property frauds, corruption and many other things that are not seen very often in movies of this caliber, so it is really refreshing to see something like this. All this is seen through the eyes of the ordinary man, with a set of troubles of his own that just tries to do the best he can. Of course, any movie of this genre must include a lot of alcohol and drugs so all you fun loving people of the world, might wanna check out this movie too.

Paul Kemp is a freelance journalist who finds himself in Puerto Rico, about to start working for a run-down paper. All in the staff are heavy alcoholics, and Kemp being one of them, blends in perfectly in this bleak world. And beyond that bleak world there are beautiful beaches, hotels and attractive women. Sanderson a local player, who used to be a reporter, introduces himself to Kemp planning to use him in one of his schemes, but what he didn’t know is that his girlfriend, beautiful Chenault, is the one that made Kemp stick around. In a hectic world of rum, drugs, corruption and lack of money Kemp feels overpowered and seeks inspiration in his struggle against those who are “Bastards”.

 Director: Bruce Robinson

Cast: Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Rispoli, Amber Heard, Richard Jenkins, Giovanni Ribisi

Fun Facts: Benicio Del Toro, Brad Pitt, Josh Hartnett and Nick Nolte were originally slated to appear.

Rating:

IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376136/