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IMDbPro

The Rum Diary

  • 20112011
  • RR
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
105K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
246
169
Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary (2011)
Paul Kemp is a freelance journalist who finds himself at a critical turning point in his life while writing for a run-down newspaper in the Caribbean
Play trailer2:31
6 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
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 li... Read allAmerican 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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
105K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
246
169
  • Director
    • Bruce Robinson
  • Writers
    • Bruce Robinson(screenplay)
    • Hunter S. Thompson(novel)
  • Stars
    • Johnny Depp
    • Giovanni Ribisi
    • Aaron Eckhart
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bruce Robinson
  • Writers
    • Bruce Robinson(screenplay)
    • Hunter S. Thompson(novel)
  • Stars
    • Johnny Depp
    • Giovanni Ribisi
    • Aaron Eckhart
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 192User reviews
    • 274Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 4 nominations

    Videos6

    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:31
    Trailer #1
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:31
    Trailer #1
    "Driving Into the Sea"
    Clip 0:44
    "Driving Into the Sea"
    "Are You Out of Your Mind?"
    Clip 0:58
    "Are You Out of Your Mind?"
    "Contradictory Points of View"
    Clip 0:41
    "Contradictory Points of View"
    "I'm from Connecticut"
    Clip 0:51
    "I'm from Connecticut"

    Photos196

    Giovanni Ribisi and Richard Jenkins in The Rum Diary (2011)
    Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, and Amber Heard in The Rum Diary (2011)
    Johnny Depp and Richard Jenkins in The Rum Diary (2011)
    Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary (2011)
    Giovanni Ribisi in The Rum Diary (2011)
    Johnny Depp, Giovanni Ribisi, and Michael Rispoli in The Rum Diary (2011)
    Johnny Depp and Bruce Robinson in The Rum Diary (2011)
    Aaron Eckhart and Amber Heard in The Rum Diary (2011)
    Amber Heard in The Rum Diary (2011)
    Richard Jenkins in The Rum Diary (2011)
    Johnny Depp and Bruce Robinson in The Rum Diary (2011)
    Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Johnny Depp
    Johnny Depp
    • Kempas Kemp
    Giovanni Ribisi
    Giovanni Ribisi
    • Mobergas Moberg
    Aaron Eckhart
    Aaron Eckhart
    • Sandersonas Sanderson
    Michael Rispoli
    Michael Rispoli
    • Salaas Sala
    Amber Heard
    Amber Heard
    • Chenaultas Chenault
    Richard Jenkins
    Richard Jenkins
    • Lottermanas Lotterman
    Amaury Nolasco
    Amaury Nolasco
    • Segurraas Segurra
    Marshall Bell
    Marshall Bell
    • Donovanas Donovan
    Bill Smitrovich
    Bill Smitrovich
    • Mr. Zimburgeras Mr. Zimburger
    Julian Holloway
    Julian Holloway
    • Wolsleyas Wolsley
    Bruno Irizarry
    Bruno Irizarry
    • Lazaras Lazar
    Enzo Cilenti
    Enzo Cilenti
    • Digbyas Digby
    Aaron Lustig
    Aaron Lustig
    • Monkas Monk
    Tisuby González
    • Rosyas Rosy
    Natalia Rivera
    • Chenault's Friendas Chenault's Friend
    Karen Austin
    Karen Austin
    • Mrs. Zimburgeras Mrs. Zimburger
    Julio Ramos Velez
    Julio Ramos Velez
    • Intruderas Intruder
    • (as Julio Ramos)
    Rafael Alvarez
    • Taxi Driveras Taxi Driver
    • (as Rafa Alvarez)
    • Director
      • Bruce Robinson
    • Writers
      • Bruce Robinson(screenplay)
      • Hunter S. Thompson(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard first met while making this film. They became a couple in 2012 after Depp separated from his longtime girlfriend Vanessa Paradis, were married in February 2015, separated in May 2016 and officially divorced in January 2017, after a very public court battle, which was reignited in 2019 when Depp sued Heard for defamation.
    • Goofs
      When Kemp interviews the tourist couple at the bowling alley,"Telstar" by The Tornadoes is playing in the background. The song was released in 1962.
    • Quotes

      Paul Kemp: Oscar Wilde once said, "Nowadays, people know the price of everything, and the value of nothing."

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.16 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto De Blue)
      Written by Domenico Modugno, Franco Migliacci and Mitchell Parish

      Performed by Dean Martin

      Courtesy of Capitol Records, Inc.

      Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

    User reviews192

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Lacks Coherency or Flair
    The film begins with main character Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) waking up in a luxurious hotel room in Puerto Rico after a heavy night of drinking. After chomping down a few aspirin, Kemp stumbles into the editors office of the San Juan Star and is given a dead end writing job. After a few chance encounters, Kemp becomes the center of intrigue and corruption while consuming copious amounts of alcohol.

    "The Rum Diary" was originally a novella from the twisted mind of Hunter S. Thompson an eccentric journalist and novelist who in addition to smoking, snorting, injecting, drinking every drug, alcohol and carcinogen known to man, managed to change the face of journalism by calling it as he sees it. His writing can repel and enchant with equal measure and has a breakneck spontaneity which is rivaled by its frazzled incoherency.

    Incoherency would be the best word to describe this film. The story lacks any kind of focus jumping from a love story, a corrupt land deal, drunken antics, workplace politics and racial tensions. Watching "The Rum Diary" was like talking to a drunk grad student; little flashes of genius may linger but after what seems like four hours you realize you're talking to a drunken idiot and looking for the door.

    Thompson's other work adapted to screen shares a similar inconsistency but say what you will about "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" at least it was interesting. Director Bruce Robinson seems unsure behind the camera trying desperately to balance themes and while Terry Gilliam threw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, Robinson compensates by drawing out its screen time and keeping the camera-work and editing as dull and uninspiring as possible.

    The films only saving grace is the inclusion of Giovanni Ribisi as a cirrhosis addled, syphilitic cohort who takes LSD while listening to records of Nazi propaganda. His arguments with the Star's head editor (Richard Jenkins) provide some of the few precious moments of humor.

    The epilogue appears while Johnny Depp sails into the horizon explaining that while its the end of the story "...its the beginning of another." I would have liked to have seen the other story. At least by then the sardonic wit of Thompson was finally present.

    http://theyservepopcorninhell.blogspot.com/
    helpful•88
    62
    • bkrauser-81-311064
    • Oct 28, 2011

    FAQ5

    • Is 'The Rum Diary' based on a book?
    • Why is Yeamon, one of the main characters in the book, missing in the movie?
    • Was the cockfighting real?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 28, 2011 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Hunter S. Thompson's The Rum Diary
    • Filming locations
      • Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
    • Production companies
      • GK Films
      • Infinitum Nihil
      • FilmEngine
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $45,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,109,815
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,135,369
      • Oct 30, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $30,134,958
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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