Review of The Rum Diary (2011) by Raheem H — 13 Jul 2012

The semi-autobiographical novel "Rum Diary" by Hunter S. Thompson reminded me of my first newspaper job at a crummy startup tabloid in the East Bay. But instead of an exotic locale, buckets of rum and ceremonial rape, we had refinery stench, meth alleys and regular rapes.

The film "Rum Diary" from "Withnail and I" director Bruce Robinson take some needless, sometimes jarring detours from Thompson's evocatively plotless, knockaround tale of maladjusted reporters on the make. But a lively cast (Giovanni Ribisi steals his scenes as the louche, moonshining reporter Moberg) and quotable script take some sharp, relevant jabs at the media, land barons, carpet baggers and every "bastard" who subverts truth for profit.

That's the real rape that goes on in the 1960 Puerto Rico depicted in this story. It mostly hangs together, too, up until the final frame postscript â" a misplaced tribute to author (and Johnny Depp's late friend) Thompson. That tacked-on happy ending (also not in the book) undercuts the righteous venom that defined the gonzo journalist's blistering, unforgettable career.