Welcome to another edition of Adam's Reviews!! **queue in intro music**
Today's movie review is the movie adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's comedy-drama-boozed flick The Rum Diary (2011) starring the ever-versatile Johnny Depp as Paul Kemp who is a journalist seeking the truth in Puerto Rico. Throughout the movie the character who mutters in a low jarring voice, drifts away into the absurd as he finds himself as an unsung-hero while engaging as a full-time alcoholic but never seems particularly drunk. He uncovers corruption in the form of American greed to exploit Puerto Ricans and soon believes he can write a piece that will ultimately be his life's legacy.
Kemp crosses paths with a few individuals he can relate to including Bob Sala, his photographer sidekick who mingles with cock fighting and crazy Moberg who listens to Nazi related tunes. The three soon live together in a decrepit house in San Juan and go through hilarious adventures. Kemp soon finds himself drawn into a shady land development plot by Sanderson who is trying to capitalize financially by exploiting underdeveloped beach sites in Puerto Rico. To make things worse Kemp finds himself obsessed Sanderson's partner Chenault, played by the sensuous Amber Heard as a woman who is tired of her partner's wealth and ego and inexplicably drawn to Kemp's shabby life and disreputable friends.
So, what did I think of the film??? There is a true surface here as it is set in the 60's, including the low-down cars, the tunes including Cantare by Volaire, the tensions between the rich white Americans and native Puerto Ricans and the demise of the American dream. Having said that the film loses its edge and lacks the intensity while not driving character arcs and the director providing a deflated ending. I feel the filmmakers didn't capture the tone of the book and didn't develop the characters and the environment they introduce us to the full extent.
The core of what the director is trying to engage the audience in making you think about moral in society and regardless of which era you are in, nothing has changed in the way that people continue to do what they do. This includes the mixture of corruption and manipulation. Add this with high amounts of high-octane rum, the film is enjoyable in a sense that you start liking the characters. But the movie itself doesn't try to entertain you as the movie viewer. It is more relative to a TV movie that a motion picture flick. It borrows elements as the movie and character developments are flat as is the ending. Overall 6.5/10
Today's movie review is the movie adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's comedy-drama-boozed flick The Rum Diary (2011) starring the ever-versatile Johnny Depp as Paul Kemp who is a journalist seeking the truth in Puerto Rico. Throughout the movie the character who mutters in a low jarring voice, drifts away into the absurd as he finds himself as an unsung-hero while engaging as a full-time alcoholic but never seems particularly drunk. He uncovers corruption in the form of American greed to exploit Puerto Ricans and soon believes he can write a piece that will ultimately be his life's legacy.
Kemp crosses paths with a few individuals he can relate to including Bob Sala, his photographer sidekick who mingles with cock fighting and crazy Moberg who listens to Nazi related tunes. The three soon live together in a decrepit house in San Juan and go through hilarious adventures. Kemp soon finds himself drawn into a shady land development plot by Sanderson who is trying to capitalize financially by exploiting underdeveloped beach sites in Puerto Rico. To make things worse Kemp finds himself obsessed Sanderson's partner Chenault, played by the sensuous Amber Heard as a woman who is tired of her partner's wealth and ego and inexplicably drawn to Kemp's shabby life and disreputable friends.
So, what did I think of the film??? There is a true surface here as it is set in the 60's, including the low-down cars, the tunes including Cantare by Volaire, the tensions between the rich white Americans and native Puerto Ricans and the demise of the American dream. Having said that the film loses its edge and lacks the intensity while not driving character arcs and the director providing a deflated ending. I feel the filmmakers didn't capture the tone of the book and didn't develop the characters and the environment they introduce us to the full extent.
The core of what the director is trying to engage the audience in making you think about moral in society and regardless of which era you are in, nothing has changed in the way that people continue to do what they do. This includes the mixture of corruption and manipulation. Add this with high amounts of high-octane rum, the film is enjoyable in a sense that you start liking the characters. But the movie itself doesn't try to entertain you as the movie viewer. It is more relative to a TV movie that a motion picture flick. It borrows elements as the movie and character developments are flat as is the ending. Overall 6.5/10