The Rum Diary

Bruce Robinson’s The Rum Diary had an odd effect on me. Nothing to do with watching many minutes of numerous people doing drink and drugs (though I was thirsty for a whisky afterwards), more to do with that fact that, even without such substances in my body, I couldn’t actually recall what the film was about just a few minutes after watching it. Things happen sure, but I don’t think there’s even really a plot. Has Robinson set a cinematic record by giving us a film where the whole shebang is actually a MacGuffin? The film stars Johnny Depp as Paul Kemp, a US journalist who joins a local newspaper in Puerto Rico during the 1950’s and eventually finds himself mixed up in a possibly fraudulent construction scheme. Sounds like a bit going on, doesn’t it? Not really though, as the plot is mainly a ruse to getting Kemp into various scrapes with the locals and the law, usually under the influence of alcohol. Robinson’s film does have a lot of plus points though. It’s very funny in parts, Depp’s banter with fellow journalists Bob Sala (the gravely voiced Michael Rispoli stealing the film) and Moberg (a bonkers Giovanni Ribisi) keeps things moving along and Amber Heard (as the love interest) is outrageously sexy. The film also looks fantastic. Shot on location the sweat drips from every pore and cigar smoke clouds the screen, all shot through with a hazy, but smooth, yellow filter. However, can all these things be used as an excuse for not having a coherent storyline? I don’t believe so, especially as, with a bit more care, this could have turned out to be a decent dramedy or even a black comedy. As it is, you’re left with too many questions about what is going on. For example, Robinson doesn’t exactly explain the political situation in Puerto Rico, he just assumes the audience will know the background (or maybe just not care). A fair approach if you’re politically minded, but I don’t believe the average Johnny Depp fan goes to be reading about Pedro Albizu Campos. It’s been 19 years since Robinson directed a film and the source material (a novel by Hunter S. Thompson) is hardly a classic so perhaps it’s not much of a surprise that this is a bit all over the place. In the end it’s a shame as a tighter script could have meant a much more enjoyable 2 hours. As it is you’re left with a bit of a mess and a shocking performance at the box office.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Rum Diary. Rum Film. Rating: 5/10.