By Sam Bauman

The movie “The Rum Diary,” currently housed at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, Stars Johnny Depp an roving journalist. It’s based on the book of the same name by Hunter S. Thompson, a ’60s star of the gonzo brand of journalism. To a large extent the film is a tribute to Thompson and is so noted at the end.

Film opens with Depp as Paul Kemp recovering from a hangover in what turns out to be a hotel room in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He’s unshaven, bleery-eyed and is at once nasty to the bellman who brings his breakfast to the room.

From the hotel he goes to the office of the local newspaper which has hired him. The editor, Lotterman (Richard Jenkins) spots him as a heavy drinker since Kemp keeps his dark glasses to cover up his hangover eyes. Kemp is told to sound the positive in his writing, and then meets photographer Bob Sala (Michael Rispoli) and a weird associate, columnist Moberg (Giovanni Ribisi).

Kemp eventually hooks up with rich businessman Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart) who takes him as an associate. That means Kemp gets to get close with Sanderson’s girlfriend Chenault (the slickly beautiful, icily-so Amber Heard).

Sanderson loans Kemp a ’60s sports car and Kemp and Chenault play around. Eventually the newspaper that hired Kemp goes bankrupt, Chenault flees to New York and Sala and columnist Moberg team up to expose Sanderson’s real estate deal.

Not a lot of rum drinking here, but that not to say booze doesn’t flow freely. Kemp is a chain smoker and casual about his limited journalistic efforts. It all ends with Kemp taking off solo in somebody’s sailboat for New York again.

Safe to say Hunter would probably enjoyed this sometime tribute to his gonzo way of life. Most viewers will get a kick out of the solid cast, with Depp very slick and keeping the boat moving along. Bruce Robinson directs and writes in the gonzo spirt in his first film in 19 years.

Give it a 6 on a scale of 1-10.
— Sam Bauman

Cast:

  • Johnny Depp as Paul Kemp, a journalist fed up with the Eisenhower America
  • Aaron Eckhart as Sanderson, a businessman
  • Michael Rispoli as Bob Sala
  • Amber Heard as Chenault, Sanderson’s fiancée and Kemp’s love interest
  • Richard Jenkins as Edward J. Lotterman, the editor of The San Juan Star
  • Giovanni Ribisi as Moberg
  • Amaury Nolasco as Segarra[
  • Marshall Bell as Donovan
  • Bill Smitrovich as Zimburger
  • Julian Holloway as Wolsey
  • Karen Austin as Mrs. Zimburger
  • Jason Smith as Davey

Directed by Bruce Robinson
Produced by Johnny Depp, Graham King, Christi Dembrowski, Anthony Rhulen, Robert Kravis
Screenplay by Bruce Robinson
Based on The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson
Music by Christopher Young
Cinematography Dariusz Wolski
Editing by Carol Littleton Studio GK Films
Infinitum Nihil Distributed by FilmDistrict
Running time 120 minutes, rated R