The Rum Diary (2011)
A rum-soaked journey through 1950s Puerto Rico where one journalist discovers his conscience, his voice, and a whole lot of trouble.
The Rum Diary - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Rum Diary
- Release Year: 2011
- Directed by: Bruce Robinson
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy, Drama
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 2h 0m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: German, English, Spanish
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 13, 2011 (Russia - 16+), October 27, 2011 (United States - R), November 11, 2011 (United Kingdom - 15), August 2, 2012 (Germany - 12), November 30, 2011 (France), February 1, 2012 (Brazil - 16), April 24, 2012 (Italy), May 4, 2012 (Spain - 12)
- Alternative Titles: Rhum Express (FR), Diário de um Jornalista Bêbado (BR), O Diário a Rum (PT), 莱姆酒日记 (CN), Los diarios del ron (ES), Diario De Un Seductor (SV), 醉後型男日記 (TW)
- Production Companies: FilmEngine, GK Films, Infinitum Nihil, FilmDistrict, Mandate International
- Production Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America
The Rum Diary - Plot
Tired of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America, itinerant journalist Paul Kemp travels to the pristine island of Puerto Rico to write for a local San Juan newspaper run by the downtrodden editor Lotterman. Adopting the rum-soaked lifestyle of the late '50s version of Hemingway's 'The Lost Generation', Paul soon becomes entangled with a very attractive American woman and her fiancée, a businessman involved in shady property development deals. It is within this world that Kemp ultimately discovers his true voice as a writer and integrity as a man.
The Rum Diary - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see Paul Kemp's wild Puerto Rican adventure unfold:
One part outrage. One part justice. Three parts rum. Mix well.
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The Rum Diary - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Bruce Robinson
Main Cast
- Johnny Depp
- Amber Heard
- Aaron Eckhart
- Michael Rispoli
- Giovanni Ribisi
- Richard Jenkins
- Amaury Nolasco
- Marshall Bell
- Bill Smitrovich
- Julian Holloway
Writers
- Bruce Robinson
Producers
- Johnny Depp
- Graham King
- Tim Headington
- Anthony Rhulen
- Christi Dembrowski
The Rum Diary - FAQs
What is The Rum Diary about?
The Rum Diary follows Paul Kemp, a disillusioned American journalist who lands in 1950s Puerto Rico to write for a struggling San Juan newspaper. Amid rum-fueled misadventures, he falls for a captivating woman and gets tangled in shady real-estate dealings, ultimately finding his moral compass and his true voice as a writer.
Is The Rum Diary based on a true story?
It's based on Hunter S. Thompson's semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, written in the early 1960s but not published until 1998. The character of Paul Kemp closely mirrors Thompson's own experiences as a young journalist in Puerto Rico, making it one of his most personal works.
Where can you stream or rent The Rum Diary?
The Rum Diary is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It's not currently on a subscription streaming service, so a digital rental is your easiest option for a quick watch.
Why did it take so long to make The Rum Diary?
Johnny Depp had been trying to bring The Rum Diary to the screen for over a decade. He first optioned Thompson's novel in the late 1990s after befriending the author while making Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). The project stalled repeatedly before Bruce Robinson finally came on board to write and direct.
Who are the main actors in The Rum Diary?
Johnny Depp leads the cast as journalist Paul Kemp, with Amber Heard as the alluring Chenault and Aaron Eckhart as the slick, scheming Sanderson. Michael Rispoli, Giovanni Ribisi, and Richard Jenkins round out a strong supporting ensemble that brings the sun-drenched chaos of 1950s San Juan vividly to life.
Is The Rum Diary connected to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?
Both films adapt Hunter S. Thompson's writing and star Johnny Depp as a Thompson alter ego, but they're separate stories. Fear and Loathing (1998) is a hallucinatory road trip, while The Rum Diary is an earlier, more grounded tale of a young journalist finding his conscience in Puerto Rico.
How was The Rum Diary received by critics?
Critical reception was mixed. Many praised Depp's performance and the film's sun-soaked atmosphere, while others felt the story lacked the anarchic energy of Thompson's source material. It holds a modest score on Rotten Tomatoes, appreciated more by fans of Thompson's work than by general audiences.
Did The Rum Diary perform well at the box office?
The film struggled commercially, earning around $24 million worldwide against a $45 million production budget, making it a significant box-office disappointment. Despite a recognizable cast and the Hunter S. Thompson pedigree, it failed to connect with mainstream audiences on its initial theatrical release.
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