Review of The Rum Diary (2011) by Acquiredtastes — 31 Oct 2011

I can't say that I didn't like the movie, however, I can say that it also wasn't what I expected. I expected a better story and I suppose the director was limited by the screenplay and the original story that they wanted to tell from the book. I think that I may have enjoyed the book more for the "no doubt" description of the characters and situations. Having said all that I just loved Amber Heard ( she is one beautiful girl ) and enjoyed Johnny's performance. They had some nice chemistry between them that wasn't used to good advantage. I think that the movie would have been better if they had more Amber and Johnny scenes. In fact, I would have re-written the final scene with Johnny sailing off and then cut to him knocking on Amber's door in NYC and them looking soulfully and lustily at one another. Then, I would have mentioned that he'd married Amber in the typed aftermath. Perhaps, in the end, I am just a hopeless romantic at times? I think really that the movie would have been so much better with more of that relationship as it was quite pivotal (to me anyway) in many respects.

I'm trying to figure out, if I came up with a more satisfactory ending why couldn't they have thought of it? In effect, it was stated in the written aftermath that they (Johnny and Amber) got together. I don't believe that this will be a good moneymaker and even on an artistic level, it doesn't quite make it although the sleazy flatmates of the Johnny character were quite naturally repulsive losers with foul body odour as well as exuding an alcoholic musk too, no doubt. However, Paul Rispoli's character wanting to get to Mexico sounded good. I also wonder why the final credits didn't update us on their fates etc.? Too may loose ends that would have helped the picture.