The rum diary 2011 r 1h 59m dramas based on contemporary literature a soberchallenged journalist starts anew in puerto rico but stirs himself into a dicey cocktail with a. As the eisenhower era draws to a close, journalist paul kemp johnny depp decides hes had enough of new york and takes a job in puerto rico. The rum diary takes place in san juan, puerto rico during the late 1950s. There, he becomes obsessed with chenault amber heard, the fiancee of a shady businessman named sanderson aaron eckhart, who wants to turn the pristine island into a capitalists paradise. Find out where the rum diary is streaming, if the rum diary is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. The johnny deppproduced adaptation of hunter s thompsons semiautobiographical novel is lovingly made, but its bit of a vanity project. Sexual content the main character flirts with a woman a great deal. It is very much a young mans book, clearly based on thompsons own situation and some of the peoplemostly drunks and layaboutswho gravitated to. It stars johnny depp, aaron eckhart, michael rispoli, amber heard, richard jenkins, and giovanni ribisi filming began in puerto rico in march 2009 and was released on october 28, 2011. It was written in the early 1960s but was not published until 1998. Sanderson, a businessman involved in shady property development deals, is one of a growing number of american entrepreneurs who are determined to convert puerto rico. The black and white image of thompson that appears at the end of the movie, and appears on the book cover of the rum diary, is of the author on palm beach in arubanot puerto rico. The postmodern esthetic that distinguishes the rum diary from its modern models is manifest in its recognition that desire is contingent on the centres of mimetic attention undergirding. The manuscript, begun in 1959, was discovered amongst thompsons papers by johnny depp.
Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Kemp is introduced to his newest coworkers and cigarchomping editor boss and is told he will be doing color stories for the paper. This makes the new film a prequel of sorts to terry gilliams. Thompson himself travelled from new york to san juan in 1960 to write for an illfated sports newspaper on the island of puerto rico. The rum diary isnt a perfect movie, not even close.
With johnny depp, giovanni ribisi, aaron eckhart, michael rispoli. Berney has the right to defend his star and film, but he was wrong to blame the bad showing on the author of the book that its based on. Written when he was still honing his skills, this novel shows peeks of the brilliant musical writing style thompson would become known for later in his career. Toward the end of the rum diary, the film based on the hunter s. The actor helped get the book a publisher, and more than a decade later persuaded retired writerdirector bruce robinson to adapt it into this film. Johnny depp stars as rum soaked journalist paul kemp in this adaptation of the hunter s. Many drinks are poured so there is a bit of violence too. The rum diary is a brilliantly tangled love story of jealousy, treachery, and violent alcoholic lust in the caribbean boomtown that was san juan, puerto rico, in the late 1950s. He dragged the manuscript around for years, plagued with doubt, and once had it stolen. The rum diary was released in 2011 on friday, october 28, 2011 in 2,272 theaters. The material doesnt make for a straightforward story on screen. American journalist paul kemp takes on a freelance job in puerto rico for a local newspaper during the 1960s and struggles to find a balance between island.
A then 22yearold thompson wrote the rum diary in 1959, but it was abandoned until johnny depp found it among thompsons papers decades later. But rum diary the book was never really about plot, and neither is rum diary the movie. Differences between the rum diary book vs movie page 1. That being said, if id never read the rum diary, id have dug the film, but there. A 2011 film starring johnny depp, based on hunter s. The rum diary is a 2011 american comedydrama film written and directed by bruce robinson, based on the novel of the same name by hunter s. Marielle two beers ratings i tried to get my hands on the rum diary book, but alas, the one copy at the library was on loan for the last two months. The story goes that johnny depp found the manuscript among thompsons papers in his colorado cabin on woody creek, and was instrumental in getting it published and now produced as a film. The story involves a journalist named paul kemp who, in the 1950s, moves from new york to work for a major newspaper, the daily news, in san juan, puerto rico. Of his novels, only the rum diary made it into print during his lifetime, in 1998, rather late in the game. Devouring aspirin to temper a wicked hangover, kemp shuffles through the steamy caribbean capitals streets to land a job at the local paper, the san juan star. Sala tags along with kemp, for a break from the puerto rican police.
Thompsons lone novel and written and directed by bruce robinson paul kemp arrives on the island of puerto rico after being enlisted to become the newest reporter for the san juan star. Rent the rum diary 2011 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. Thompsons novelmemoir of the same name, was, like the book, set entirely in puerto rico. He discovers a newsroom full of misfits and miscreants led. The film paints a colourful picture of the lazy, drunken journalists, and a frightening one of the islands venal politicians and the burgeoning activities of what eisenhower identified in a. I dont think a great book can always be turned in a great movie, in fact it is probaly easier to turn a great book into a bad movie. A novel and millions of other books are available for instant access. Thompson biographer william mckeen on the story behind thompsons beloved novel. In fact, thompson was only 22 when he wrote the rum diary, but his fear of winding up like moberg was well founded. Thompsons alter ego, a young writer named paul kemp, is played by johnny depp. Thompson this study guide consists of approximately 36 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the rum diary. I generally just like his characters because they live lives that are different and while reading i always find myself a bit jealous of the carefree lifestyles they appear to have while going on adventures. This is different from thompsons other books in that it was a genuine attempt at a novel, with a plot and stories that didnt.
Thompson, the rum diary is a brilliantly tangled love story of jealousy, treachery, and violent alcoholic lust in. Paul kemp, author of two and a half unpublished novels, has just deplaned and gotten smashing drunk on rum at his hotel in san juan, puerto rico. The plot showcases a young writer who finds himself in the virgin territory of san juan. The rum diary, written and directed by bruce robinson, expertly cannonballs into the grit and glam with raw exuberance. I did enjoy the film though, it was quite different from the novel but it was a good piece in itself. Having read the book a few years ago, i was looking forward to the movie. Everything you need to know about the rum diary movie 2011.
Made into a major motion picture starring johnny depp, the rum diary a national bestseller and new york times notable book is hunter s. He then said that he revisited the book because its got a romantic notion. You can, however, have some fun tracking down exactly where it was filmed, not to mention where it wasnt. Recruited by sanderson to write an article that praises an. In the movie paul kemp accompanies zimburger on his assignment to the island he intends on turning into a tourist paradise. What saved him was the fantastic conflagration of the 1960s, a fiery wind on which the reptilian wings of his prose style could catch and soar to the.
The new film takes giant liberties with thompsons early novel. Club scene the background is that chenault is yeamons girlfriend. The rum diary, the movie, lacked a lot of the intensity that i felt existed in the book. Thompson, the rum diary is a brilliantly tangled love story. Made into a major motion picture starring johnny depp, the rum diary a national bestseller and new york times notable bookis hunter s. Many detailsincluding thompsons position at the san.
Intriguing performances help the rum diary successfully capture the spirit of the source material even if the result is a scattered piece of filmmaking. Kemp, the narrator gets involved with a woman who is with another man. Thompsons brilliant love story of jealousy, treachery, and violent lust in the caribbean. The novel has been the national best seller 1 in the us the novel is based on the real life incidents of the author hunter s. The rum diary bluray and dvd arrive february 14th dec 19, 2011. The rum diary is an early novel by american writer hunter s.
Watch the rum diary online stream full movie directv. Directed by cult filmmaker bruce robinson, the rum diary has all the ingredients of a cult classic in the making, but only for adults. Its more about the theme, the romantic mood, and most of all, the exuberant wordplay. American journalist paul kemp takes on a freelance job in puerto rico for a local newspaper during the 1960s and struggles to find a balance between island culture and the expatriates who live there. The rum diary is a mediocre movie made with the best of intentions. The rum diary, written and directed by bruce robinson, expertly. There were 10 other movies released on the same date, including puss in boots, in time and like crazy. The primary location was the historic and oldest areas in the capital city of san juan. The johnny deppproduced adaptation of hunter s thompsons semiautobiographical novel is. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app.
The book aspires to present an overview of thompsons work for rolling. The rum diary s narrator, kemp becomes a postmodern observer as he vacillates between depicting the central object as inaccessible or consumable 217218. It has been a while since ive read it, but i really enjoyed the rum diary, much like i enjoyed other stuff by hunter s. This movie is an adaptation of the novel of the same name, the rum diary. A bad book can always be turned into a great movie. This career path looks marginally sunnier in the rum diary, based on a novel he wrote in the early 1970s. There is a lot of jealousy and treachery in the novel. Thompson in the early 1960s and was not published until the late 90s.