Review of The Rum Diary (2011) by Ola G — 28 May 2012

It is the early 60s. Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) is an author who hasn't been able to sell a book. He gets a job at a newspaper in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A place that reeks of American exploitation and tourists. At the newspaper he meets Sala (Michael Rispoli), the photographer, who gets him acclimated to his new work environment. Kemp also meets Moberg (Giovanni Ribisi), a swedish deadbeat alcoholic reporter who can't be fired. Kemp checks later into a hotel and there he meets Chenault (Amber Heard), who's avoiding a company party. Kemp is immediately smitten with her. Kemp bumps later into Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), a freelance realtor, who offers him a job writing ads for his latest venture, a massive hotel project. Sanderson is engaged to Chenault. When Kemp has overused the papers finances a bit too much due to his hotelstay, he is forced to move in with Sala, who also rooms with Moberg. Kemp begins to see the poverty and exploitation of San Juan, but Lotterman doesn't want him to write about it, as it's bad for the paper and the tourism. Kemp entangles himself in difficulties through Sala, Sanderson and Chenault. And the overexcess in rum does not help. Will he be able to get out of San Juan alive and finally get his writing in order?

Hunter S. Thompson wrote the novel The Rum Diary in 1961, but it was not published until 1998. I red the novel sometime ago, and I reckon it is not as good as "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas", but it is not bad either, but one feels it was written by a very young Hunter S. Thompson, thus the writing is not as strong as it was later in his career. The movie adaptation has a good foundation to stand on, good actors/actresses and an impressive setting/environment during an interesting timeperiod. But, the script has altered the novel in a few ways into territories that makes the movie much more blend somehow. There is a lot of things form the novel that is perfectly transferred to the screen, and then there is several things that does not. The movie adaptation feels almost a bit unfinished. I reckon they cut out too much of the novel. Chenault has for example a more central role in the novel compared to here. Thus Amber Heard does not get that much to work with and becomes more or less just eyecandy. But, I have to admit that I am deeply smitten by Amber Heard and her stunning looks. Been since I saw her the first time. Johnny Depp does Raoul Duke yet again, but in a more minimalistic way (which makes sense), but I reckon it is a bit tiring to see him as these "crazy" characters. He has done one too many the past 10 years. He is on autopilot more or less in avery role now it seems. And personally I liked Giovanni Ribisis charactization of Moberg. There are pros and cons of this movie. "The Rum Diary" is not a perfect adaptation, but there are several glimpses of something that could have been greater.