Johnny Depp obviously is a great fan of Hunter S. Thompson, who invented gonzo journalism with his series of "Fear and Loathing. . . ." reports for Rolling Stone. Depp portrayed the Thompson character, Raoul Duke, in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," met him during the filming. Later, Depp helped arrange for the publication of an early Thompson novel, "The Rum Diary," and has returned as the Thompson character, Paul Kemp, in the movie version that opens today.
"The Rum Diary," another tale of a reporter-drunk that casts no glory on reporters, is a fitfully entertaining movie, with Depp as a reporter who uses a phony resume and recommendation to get a job at the San Juan (Puerto Rico) Star, then gets involved with good guys and bad guys, lots of rum and lots of drugs. When he is interviewed for the job, and asked if he drank, the answer is, "Let's say I'm at the upper end of social."
Depp, as always, ranges from pretty good to very good, and Bruce Robinson, who directs and wrote the screenplay, has put together a fine cast, including Michael Rispoli as Sala, the photographer; Giovanni Ribisi as the ever-helpful Moburg; the excellent Richard Jenkins as the frustrated editor and Depp's boss; Aaron Eckhart as the villainous Sanderson; and the lovely Amber Heard as Chenault, Sanderson's gorgeous blonde girl friend who falls in unrequited lust with Depp.
There are a handful of good chase scenes, especially one involving a motorcycle, some ludicrous discussions involving a Puerto Rican land deal involving the ares where the U.S. military does target practice, and a rather funny drug scene. This involves drug delivery by eye drops and, thanks to the special effects folks, a sequence when Ribisi's tongue comes about a foot out of his mouth, frightening Depp into saying, "Your tongue is like an accusatory giblet."
That makes as much sense as the movie.
The Rum Diary opens today on several screens.
— Joe