Tired of the hustle and bustle of New York, journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) moves to Puerto Rico. Finding employment with a local paper he is soon put in touch with shady property developer Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart). Hiring Kemp to write glowing reports of his dodgy activities, the reporter is torn when he falls for Sanderson’s wife Chenault (Amber Heard). Increasingly caught between warring parties, Kemp’s visions of a rum soaked utopia soon become a quagmire of unseemly corruption.
Any work by Hunter S. Thompson always provides interest with ‘Rum Diary’ no exception. One can safely assume some of this is based on his travels with is exploration of American capitalism in 1960 consistently engaging. Kemp finds new inspiration in another country with his eyes opened to the extreme poverty and immense wealth the locale offers. Both protagonists use their surrounds for their own ends with the corporate influence increasing their stranglehold.
Director Bruce Robinson makes the most of the generally strong story. Whilst tending to lose focus with the meandering narrative, he wrings much from the amazing locations. You can easily see the many facets of Puerto Rico offering boundless opportunities. This plus the off-kilter but fascinating characters makes it easy to be swept in their various dilemmas with the well-handled comedic elements a bonus.
Dedicated to Thompson – who passed away in 2005 – ‘Rum Diary’ is a worthy tribute. His many works may have been eccentric but certainly unique providing a welcome oasis as in the climes which this film’s characters inhabit.
Movie Review Rating 7 / 10
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
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