So, Rum Diary Gets the distinction of being the first film that I am going to review on this blog.Why so? The answer is a simple one.Johnny Depp happens to be my favorite Hollywood actor of today.So when Rum Diary released in India a few months ago, i rushed to the theaters since it starred Johnny sir in the lead.My excitement was even more as this one has Johnny Depp not only as a lead actor but also in the role of the producer of this film.More so, this film was based on a novel by Hunter S. Thompson ,whom i like a lot.So, i went with a lot of expectations but alas, the film was not so good.
The film begins with the famous song “volare’ and the first shot is of an aircraft flying over the sea.Set in 1960′s , the film sees Johnny Depp as a journalist who has migrated to Puerto Rico from the US as he finds New York too noisy & mad and too conventional too.The newspaper that he now works for isn’t exactly flourishing.It’s Downtrodden editor wants him to write about the Big people and their interests only as he feels that these people are his chief audience.Johnny boy on the other hand is more interested in writing about about the poor locals of Puerto Rico and wants to use his writing power against the American Capitalists who want to turn Poor Puerto Rico into a commercial haven.During his stay , he becomes Obsessed with Chenault ,the girlfriend of an American Capitalist Sanderson.Depp also befriends his colleagues Sala and the perennially drunk Moburg,whom his editor boss just can’t stand.
Adapting the rum culture of the island,Depp whole life starts revolving around his obsession with Rum and With Chenault.Chenault’s boyfriend, the powerful Sanderson and his capitalist friends engages Depp to write favorably about their new unsavory scheme in his newspaper , so that public opinion can be turned in favour of their unscrupulous means.Johnny boy picks up the offer and is offered a lot of money.
But things go wrong on holiday trip to an island where Sanderson wants to build a hotel.Chenault gets in mighty trouble due to her foolishness from which J0hnny boy is not able to save her.Sanderson breaks up with Chenault and withdraws his offer made to Depp.Realising that Depp might use his pen to uncover his fraudulent ways,Sanderson goes all out to close his newspaper down while depp goes all out with help of his two friends and Chenault to bring the true face of these American capitalists out in public.What happens then?You better watch out the film for that.
The film has got a good and thoughtful plot but the problem lies in the execution.Director Bruce Robinson,by no means a bad director,is somehow not able to give the film his best touch.The first half is quite boring and it seems that the filmmaker is losing interest in making the film himself.Thankfully,the last few scenes before the interval in which Depp and Rispoli are being chased around by angry natives is a very well written and directed scene which makes you return to the film after the interval.
Second half is definitely better with some well written and directed scenes which showcase the struggle that Depp’s character goes through to unmask Sanderson and his Colleagues.Performances wise and technically, the film is okay.But sadly when the film ends,you seem to have missed something.This film has everything except Soul,spirit & essence and is not able to do justice to the film’s storyline.It also suffers from Hollywood’s tendency to add those typical and boring Yankee scenes of abuse & sex.
In short, a one-time watch.
Major cast-1] Johnny Depp-Journalist Kemp
2] Aaron Eckhart- Capitalist Sanderson
3] Michael Rispoli-Sala
4] Amber Heard-Chenault
5] Richard Jenkins-Editor Lotterman
6] Giovanni Ribisi-Moburg
Major Crew-1] Bruce Robinson-Director,Screenplay & Dialogues
2] Hunter S. Thompson-Novel[story]
3] Christopher Young-Original Music
4] Dariusz Wolski-Cinematography
5] Carol Littleton-Editing
6] Dawn Swiderski-Art Direction
7] Collen Atwood-Costume Design
What’s Hot-Good storyline & an unconventional ending.
What’s not-Shoddy screenplay,Average direction & lead heroine Amber Heard’s acting.
Rating-3/5
Verdict-One-time watch.
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