THE RUM DIARY

Year: 2011
USA: FilmDistrict Distribution
UK: Entertainment Film Distributors
Cast: Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard, Michael Rispoli, Richard Jenkins, Giovanni Ribisi, Marshall Bell, Amaury Nolasco, Bill Smitrovich, Julian Holloway, Karen Austin, Bruno Irizarry, Enzo Cilenti, Aaron Lustig, Tisuby Gonzalez, Natalia Rivera
Director: Bruce Robinson
Country: USA
USA & UK: 120 mins
USA Rated: R for language, brief drug use and sexuality
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language and infrequent drug use
USA Release Date: 28 October 2011
UK Release Date: 11 November 2011


Synopsis

Based on the debut novel by Hunter S Thompson, "The Rum Diary" tells the increasingly unhinged story of itinerant journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp). Tiring of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America, Kemp 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 fiancee 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.

However, 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 financial benefit, or use them to take the bastards down.