This career path looks marginally sunnier in the rum diary, based on a novel he wrote in the early 1970s. 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. Thompson, its especially appropriate that actor johnny depp is headlining the authors latest novelturned film adaptation, the rum diary as both men are known for especially intense and bizarre work ethics. Toward the end of the rum diary, the film based on the hunter s. In 2011, the novel was made into a movie starring depp, aaron eckhart, amber heard, and giovanni ribisi. There were 10 other movies released on the same date, including puss in boots, in time and like crazy. Background in summary, this airman, although talented, will not be guided by policy, heralded hunter s.
It is very much a young mans book, clearly based on thompsons own situation and some of the peoplemostly drunks and layaboutswho gravitated to. Or perhaps it was indeed a novel in the tradition sense, and thompsons imagination had been set into action by his experiences as a struggling journalist. Its too long and very sluggish in places, and theres no real payoff. The book aspires to present an overview of thompsons work for rolling. Not a place to start but if you are interested in a writer, going back and reading their early stuff i think is enlightening. 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 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.
Its worth reading the book, even if you plan to see the movie. The rum diary trailer, official 2011 movie trailer, is presented in full hd 1080p high resolution. But its an unofficial followup to 1998s fear and loathing in las vegas, and it marks the return of filmmaker bruce robinson, whose withnail and i. Club scene the background is that chenault is yeamons girlfriend. Thompsons first novel, entitled prince jellyfish, still remains unpublished. They have accompanied kemp hunters character, whose voice carries the novel and a few locals they met to a local black club. Everything you need to know about the rum diary movie 2011. Having read the book a few years ago, i was looking forward to the movie. The primary location was the historic and oldest areas in the capital city of san juan.
The rum diary, the movie, lacked a lot of the intensity that i felt existed in the book. The manuscript, begun in 1959, was discovered amongst thompsons papers by johnny depp. Its more about the theme, the romantic mood, and most of all, the exuberant wordplay. Thompson 1959 is thompsons memorable novel of lechery, drinking, and personal upheaval in san juan, puerto rico as the 1950s were coming to a rocky close for the author. As johnny depps the rum diary opens, brody brown talks to three sophisticates putting new twists on the pirate staple. Thompson wrote the rum diary, his second attempt at a novel, in the early 1960s, after having spent a year or so trying, without much. The narrator, freelance journalist paul kemp, irresistibly drawn to a sexy, mysterious woman, is soon thrust. The protagonist, one paul kemp, bears a marked resemblance to the hunter thompson we know and love. It is thompsons second novel, preceded by the stillunpublished prince jellyfish. Here and there i could see a patio or a screen porch where people sat beneath fans and drank rum. The film s trailers made rum diary into a rollicking comedy, in contrast to the downbeat novel. Made into a major motion picture starring johnny depp, the rum diarya national bestseller and new york times notable bookis hunter s. Set in san juan, puerto rico, in the late fifties and early sixties, the rum diary is vintage thompson.
The rum dairy movie hits theaters on october 28, 2011 the rum diary. Thompsons lone novel and written and directed by bruce. Thompson wrote the rum diary, his second attempt at a novel, in the early 1960s, after having spent a. 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. Thompson was written in 1960, but not published until 1998 when the manuscript was found among thompsons papers by johnny depp. The rum diary takes place in san juan, puerto rico during the late 1950s. The rum diary is an early novel by american writer hunter s.
Kemp is the last hope for the editor of a failing english language newspaper. 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. Oct 28, 2011 fear and loathing in las vegas is widely considered to be the best adaptation of a hunter s. Find out where the rum diary is streaming, if the rum diary is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. 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 film paints a colourful picture of the lazy, drunken journalists, and a frightening one. It was written in the early 1960s but was not published until 1998. The films trailers made rum diary into a rollicking comedy, in contrast to the downbeat novel. Kemp, the narrator gets involved with a woman who is with another man. A then 22yearold thompson wrote the rum diary in 1959, but it was abandoned until johnny depp found it among thompsons papers decades later. Although one line from the movie human beings are the only creatures on earth who claim a god, and the only living thing that behaves like it hasnt got one. For this reason it is a lovely book and a useful contribution to a body of.
With johnny depp, giovanni ribisi, aaron eckhart, michael rispoli. Recruited by sanderson to write an article that praises an. Air force in november 1957, a considerable understatement given the iconic. The rum diary stars johnny depp and is a film adaptation of hunter s. This is different from thompsons other books in that it was a genuine attempt at a novel, with a plot and stories that didnt. Oct 28, 2011 johnny depp plays a boozy american journalist in the style of hunter s. 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. 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. The rum diary definitely is not another fear and loathing in las vegas pharmaceuticalfueled freak show, in other words. 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. The film boasts one of the most critically acclaimed actors johnny depp, who is joined by other noticeable stars such as aaron eckhart the dark knight, giovanni ribisi gone in 60 seconds and upcoming beauty amber heard. 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. This is different from thompsons other books in that it was a genuine attempt at a. 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 schmoes grab a bottle and head to puerto rico with the new film the rum diary. 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. Thompsons the rum diary, the first time that paul kemp johnny depp meets chenault, while out in a tiny paddle boat, he believes her to be a mermaid. Johnny depp is an aspiring author who hasnt been able to sell a book. Kemp is introduced to his newest coworkers and cigarchomping editor boss and is told he will be doing color stories for the paper. Differences between the rum diary book vs movie page 1. The rum diary official trailer its rare for a movie to have such great acting, writing, and visuals that it doesnt need a very good director to make it a solid film, but thats the case. The new film takes giant liberties with thompsons early novel. 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. Thompson book, but there can be no bigger love letter to the late author than the rum diary written.
The differences were very significant and while the overall story remains, the differences are enough to let you enjoy both. Thompson, 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. Oct 28, 2011 adopting the rum soaked life of the island, paul soon becomes obsessed with chenault amber heard, the wildly attractive connecticutborn fiancee of sanderson aaron eckhart. A soberchallenged journalist starts anew in puerto rico but stirs himself into a dicey cocktail with a shady entrepreneur and his listless companion. Filming began in puerto rico in march 2009 and was released on october 28, 2011. The rum diary, written and directed by bruce robinson, expertly cannonballs into the grit and glam with raw exuberance. Rent the rum diary 2011 starring johnny depp and aaron eckhart on dvd and bluray. I recently watched johnny depp in the rum diary film and i was curious to see the book. A 2011 film starring johnny depp, based on hunter s.
Thompson, the rum diary is a brilliantly tangled love sto. Oct 28, 2011 the rum diary manages to successfully capture the spirit of the source material even if the result is a scattered piece of filmmaking. 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. Peter mountain film districtap johnny depp, left, and aaron eckhart are shown in a scene from. 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. Thompson himself travelled from new york to san juan in 1960 to write for an illfated sports newspaper on the island of puerto rico.
Paul kemp accompanies zimburger on his assignment to the island he intends on turning into a tourist paradise. Rent the rum diary 2011 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. The rum diary is what the brits might call a rum movie an oddly. Making the book more of a thinker rather than a viewer. Semiautobiographical, the rum diary is lovingly and carefully written, not quite gonzo, although hsts linguistical stamp is certainly on every page. Thompson, the rum diary is a brilliantly tangled love story of jealousy, treachery, and violent alcoholic lust in.
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. Dec 07, 20 perhaps the rum diary is a novel like on the road was a novel, just a cover for a twisted reality. Differences between the rum diary book vs movie page 2. Thompson novel, this film stars johnny depp, amber heard, aaron eckhart and richard jenkins. Made into a major motion picture starring johnny depp, the rum diary a national bestseller and new york times notable book is hunter s. I enjoyed reading it and hsts straight journalism articles from south america as i think they show his development as a writer. A bad book can always be turned into a great movie. 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. This movie is an adaptation of the novel of the same name, the rum diary.
The narrator, freelance journalist paul kemp, irresistibly drawn to a sexy, mysterious woman, is soon thrust into a world where corruption and getrichquick schemes rule, and anything including murder is permissible. There is a lot of jealousy and treachery in the novel. Watch the rum diary online stream full movie directv. The rum diary is neither remarkable nor revolutionary, but it functions well as an enjoyable romp through a minefield of journalistic ethics. Oct 29, 2011 the rum diary, the movie made of hunter s. The rum diary, bruce robinsons amorphous hodgepodge of a film, wants to be many things. I walked a block or so, trying to get the feel of the place, and the bells kept coming closer. 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.
Rum diary is not a great novel by any means but it has flashes. Newly hired at puerto ricos san juan star newspaper, paul must decide whether to report on social injustice issues or shill for arrogantly rapacious real estate developers. The rum diary stars johnny depp as kemp, an alcoholsoaked reporter in puerto rico in 1960. It stars johnny depp, aaron eckhart, michael rispoli, amber heard, richard jenkins, and giovanni ribisi. Many detailsincluding thompsons position at the san. 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. Thompsons novelmemoir of the same name, was, like the book, set entirely in puerto rico. 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. May 25, 2012 a bad book can always be turned into a great movie. Go see johnny depp in the rum diary but read the book first. Thompsons brilliant love story of jealousy, treachery, and violent lust in the caribbean. The editor asks him to cover the bowling alleys where fat tourists from the mainland congregate. Many drinks are poured so there is a bit of violence too.
Thompson wrote the novel in the 1960s based on his experiences as a newspaperman in puerto rico, but didnt have it published until 1998. But rum diary the book was never really about plot, and neither is rum diary the movie. Amber heard discusses mystifying johnny depp in the rum diary. The johnny deppproduced adaptation of hunter s thompsons semiautobiographical novel is lovingly made, but its bit of a vanity project. He then said that he revisited the book because its got a romantic notion.