The Rum Diary

2011 • 119 minutes

About this movie

Tiring of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America, itinerant journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) travels to the pristine island of Puerto Rico to write for a local newspaper, "The San Juan Star," run by downtrodden editor Lotterman (Richard Jenkins). Adopting the rum-soaked life of the island, Paul soon becomes obsessed with Chenault (Amber Heard), the wildly attractive Connecticut-born fi ancée of Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart). 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 into a capitalist paradise in service of the wealthy. When Kemp is recruited by Sanderson to write favourably about
his latest unsavoury scheme, the journalist is presented with a choice: to use his words for the corrupt businessmen's fi nancial benefi t, or use them to take the bastards down.

Ratings and reviews

Done well!