Film Review: "The Rum Diary" (2011)

[Sarabande]

"The Rum Diary", as its name implies, has about it the stench of cheap hooch and stale cigarettes in a smoke-hazed atmosphere which is often funny in its surreal and improbable plot twists. Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) is tired of New York, has been unable to have his novels published, and heads for San Juan in Puerto Rico. He has written a glowing resume which claims he is 'fluent' in Spanish, which he is not. There are many gags like this which work because the audience is given prior information. Kemp gets the job in a run-down newspaper which is fighting for survival and there we meet the off-beat characters who populate the film; Lotterman (Richard Jenkins), with his hysterical, over-the-edge demeanour as Editor, provides many of the film's memorable moments. Photographer Sala (Michael Rishole) - not in appearance unlike the American painter Marc Rothko whose work adorns the walls of the home of Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart) a corrupt businessman who wants to re-shape Puerto Rico in the image of the "American Dream" (irrespective of what the locals want). Rishole steals this film with a stunning performance. Living with Kemp and Sala is Moberg (Giovanni Ribsi) who might have been lifted right out of the pages of Samuel Beckett. The scenes with these three characters together are unforgettable in their depraved humour and pungent one-liners. This is not conventional American film-making and Depp was taking a risk which paid dividends. The scenes with cockfighting are both savage and funny and only possible in the somewhat crazy third world depiction of Puerto Rico. Here is a lens sodden in rum, gin and hallucinogenic drugs and one hilarious chase sequence in a very small car had me laughing out loud. Amber Heard is adequate as the sultry and enigmatic Chenault, who drives Kemp mad when he becomes infatuated with her. The film ensures that no conventional "love story" will emerge; we are mostly tantalized.

Depp's performance is satisfying, though he is somewhat 'upstaged' by the other actors and their caricature performances. I kept wondering, as the film progressed, how Kemp might be better portrayed, and with more nuance, by another actor (such as Greg Kinnear). But we'll never know. Taut direction and pace from Bruce ("Withnail and I") Robinson reminded me a little of Howard Hawks's "His Girl Friday" which, I'm sure, influenced this film one way or another.

A great entertainment and highly recommended.