The Rum Diary

The Book

Hunter S Thompson's only novel is still autobiographical and written from the point of view of a journalist. Write about what you know, I guess.

Paul Kemp, the protagonist, is a 30 yr old journalist who gets a job on a newspaper in 1960s Puerto Rico. He introduces a reportage staff of drunks and jaded hacks on a paper that seems to always be on the brink of folding.

I was quite disappointed by the book, after having seen the trailer for the film starring Johnny Depp. I didn't find it particularly humorous or colourful. There was little description or characterisation, just an aimless wandering story of drunken episodes featuring unlikeable people. I could understand why this early piece of juvenalia writing by Thompson, exploring his style and direction, had not been published until (apparently) Depp persuaded him to in 1998 - nearly 40 years after it was written.

 Rum Diary Film Website

The Film

The film jumps off from the basic story and creates a much more satisfying experience. Bruce Robinson, creator of the classic Withnail & I, produces a wacky story with quirky characters,which also explores the social and political background of the time (US exploitation of Puerto Rico and treatment of the natives at a time when Cuba was an issue). Depp returns to a toned down version of Hunter S Thompson that he played in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It is left to Giovanni Ribisi to indulge in a completely OTT Moberg reminiscent of Ralph Brown's spiked Danny in Withnail. Some of the characters amalgamate and work much better as a result. Chenault is pared with a more youthful and good looking Sanderson rather than the older and desperate Yeamon, who doesn't appear at all.