THE RUM DIARY
3 out of 5 stars

lotterman (paul’s boss): how does anyone drink 161 miniatures?
paul kemp: are they not complimentary?

LOL, i actually really liked this movie! it wasn’t as psychadelic/crazy as fear and loathing in las vegas, but it did a hunter s. thompson novel justice as a big screen adaptation... however, like i’ve said before, johnny depp REALLY needs to just stick with tim burton for maximum movie success. their relationship is like tomato and basil. they just go together really well. this is proof that johnny or juanny needs tim around more... ;)

so, if you’re not familiar with the work of hunter s. thompson, paul kemp (a semi-cleaned up johnny depp) is a reporter from NYC whose been relocated to write for a local san juan newspaper called the san juan star in 1950s puerto rico. he’s flown in to PR by the paper, and immediately meets his supervisor, mr. lotterman (richard jenkins), who immediately realizes paul is an alcoholic by his bloodshot eyes covered by his sunglasses. but it doesn’t matter because lotterman hired paul based on writing skill, not by how much he drinks in a day... ;) he also meets a sleazy businessman named hal sanderson (a gorgeous aaron eckhart) who has a business proposition for him, along with his beautiful GF chenault. (scarjo lookalike...amber heard!) she’s got some googley eyes for poor paul and so does he...but he can’t risk anything with jealous hal around. he befriends the paper’s photographer bob sala, who takes his under his wing, and between him, bob, and another drunkass reporter named moburg (giovanni ribisi nails this role!), they start some trouble in paradise PR by getting into a fight with some locals, a fight with the policia, and eventually a fight at a club during carnival. but paul’s biggest problem isn’t the clash with the culture. it’s actually finding his voice, and figuring out what it is as the while this shit is happening...

i really liked how the 1950s was captured with the color filtering, the costumes, the demeanor...everything. they did a good job capturing the essence of the 50s, but i could have used a little bit more humor and crazier situations. afterall, this IS a hunter s. thompson story, right? maybe i just needed to have drank some more rum before watching this? i dunno... :P