The Rum Diary

Based on Hunter S. Thompson’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, The Rum Diary is Johnny Depp’s homage to the great American novelist and journalist. Sure, director Bruce Robinson frames the film well; Aaron Eckhart, the smoldering Amber Heard and the scene-stealing Giovanni Ribisi merit some measure of praise for their acting. But the film is exactly what trailers made it out to be: the Johnny Depp show.

The star and co-producer of the film, Depp also took the lead in the Thompson adaptation Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Here, he plays the protagonist Kemp, a mirror of Thompson himself, and Depp’s passion shines through. Voice lowered, demeanor cool, the actor expertly takes his audience through Kemp’s alcohol- and drug-fueled trip to Puerto Rico.

As a matter of fact, The Rum Diary has no obvious plot or intrigue. It’s not about beating a bad guy, surely not about getting a girl, and absolutely not about finding how important your friends are—seriously, we’re talking about Thompson here. Kemp develops from a talented journalist with a drinking habit—described in the film as “at the upper end of social”—to a rage-driven alcoholic writing more about himself than anything else. By the end, he represents the twisted genius that would become Thompson himself, who drank alcohol like it was water and had an infamous taste for psychedelics of all sorts. The journey goes as far as Depp takes it, and he performs admirably.

Depp is one of a dying bread of true leading men, a veritable Hollywood star capable of chewing up scenery for two hours at a time. Let’s use some colorful examples: The Rock, the Buff werewolf dude from Twilight that was once Shark Boy, Jennifer Aniston with the emotional depth of, well, Jennifer Aniston—employed actors who are mostly famous for something other than their acting. Now on the other side, Adrien Brody? Colin Firth? Actors both, but not as recognizable as tabloid fodder. Then there are the greats who have the ability to balance fame with ability to produce art: Clint Eastwood, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep. Depp is in that league. His talent as an actor is indelible, and his name recognition and mass appeal are dominating.

And, unsurprisingly, both make the The Rum Diary worth watching. Even if, like Thompson’s original novel, it lacks a unifying plot, Depp’s passion and talent keep you riveted and bring everything together.