Film

Johnny Depp’s new flick, “The Rum Diary,” definitely follows the tone, pace and style of it’s inspiration, Hunter S. Thompson.

I’ve never read Thompson’s fiction novel, which the movie is based on, but I have read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, as well as Jann Wenner’s biography on the writer. Having read these pieces, I can see how true this film stayed to Thompson’s spirit. “The Rum Diary” is a little slow-paced, has some laughs, a love interest, an enemy, journalism, and drugs and alcohol- all staples in Thompson’s work (especially the last two.)

As a writer, I particularly enjoyed one quote in the film, which is said by Johnny Depp’s character, Paul Kemp. Kemp, who is a journalist, says, “I’ve got no voice, I don’t know how to write like myself.” When I was a journalism student at Ryerson University, my first-year reporting teacher told my classmates and I that the hardest thing to do is write in your own voice; so I’m sure many writers, myself included, can relate to Kemp’s struggle.

I enjoyed “The Rum Diary” and, since I’ve read Thompson’s work, it lived up to my expectations. To those humming and hawing over viewing the flick, I would say that if you enjoy reading Thompson, you will probably enjoy this movie; If you don’t like his writing, then you probably won’t like this film.

Have you read The Rum Diary or seen the film adaptation? Tweet me your thoughts @LAMcEachran.