6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.6 |
Tiring of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of the late Eisenhower-era United States, journalist Paul Kemp travels to the U.S. pristine island of Puerto Rico to write for a local newspaper, The San Juan Star, run by downtrodden editor Lotterman. Adopting the rum-soaked life of the island, Paul soon becomes obsessed with Chenault, the wildly attractive Connecticut-born fiancé of Sanderson. Sanderson, a businessman involved in shady property development deals, is one of a growing number of U.S. entrepreneurs who are determined to convert Puerto Rico into a capitalist paradise in service of the wealthy.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Giovanni Ribisi, Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard, Michael RispoliDrama | 100% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
I tend to avoid alcohol...when I can.
The liquor-soaked latest from Actor Johnny Depp is The Rum Diary, a tale of justice, lust, cock fighting, binge drinking, and drugs set in
mid-20th century Puerto Rico. Based on the long-unpublished novel by acclaimed Author Hunter S. Thompson -- the writer of the original story behind
another of Depp's most
prestigious pictures, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas -- The Rum Diary is a film of
two halves, one a fun little piece following the life and times of a wet writer, the second a bit more of a straightforward Drama that sees the film lose
the luster of its liquored first half. Depp, long a fan of Thompson's work (the picture is dedicated to the late writer) and a driving force behind getting
the story made into a film almost since its 1998 publication, has finally brought the story to the screen, though the results aren't quite lucid. Sadly,
the movie plays like many of its characters live: with some direction, but not a lot of clarity. It has its moments of fun in the sun, offers up some
intriguing characters, and dabbles in some semblance of a cohesive, coherent plot, but a lackluster second half plays like a bad hangover that makes all
of the first half's fun
pretty much forgotten by film's end.
Yes, I smoke, too.
The Rum Diary's Blu-ray release is handsome. The 1080p, 1.85:-1-framed image is sourced from the native Super 16 film element, which yields steady details and a beautiful film-like texture. Moderate grain is visible throughout, which serves to enhance details in faces and clothing. The image is crisp, not razor-sharp, but consistently natural in structure. Brighter exteriors and darker interiors alike come alive with accurate, steady details and textures that suit the movie well. Colors often favor a slightly dimmed appearance, but red planes and cars, bright blue skies, dark blue waters, and island clothes are all nicely presented. Black levels are strong, and flesh tones are balanced. The image is free of intrusive banding, blocking, or wear. While The Rum Diary won't pass as brilliant eye candy, Sony's transfer is gorgeous and always representative of a good, innate filmic appearance that reflects the picture's natural elements nicely.
The Rum Diary features a polished and precise DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Music plays with superb spacing and fine body throughout, even at a club scene in chapter eleven where music spills into the listening area with a slightly muddled texture that represents the moment nicely and differs from crisper overlaying score. Ambience is a great strength; the picture naturally immerses its listener into every environment, whether it plays with the mechanical printing presses at the newspaper headquarters, the general clatter of ringing telephones and typewriter keystrokes in the office, the din of an outdoor protest march, or even the sound of booming explosions and whizzing artillery shells that zoom across the soundstage in chapter ten. Oceanfront waves all but soak the listening area, so naturally smooth they sound. Dialogue is consistently strong and plays naturally from the center speaker. The Rum Diary doesn't exactly scream out "awesome audio," but that's exactly what Sony's latest delivers. This one is great from top to bottom.
The Rum Diary contains a general featurette and a quality retrospective piece that looks at the novel's development to screen.
The Rum Diary is a scattered picture with an appealing first half and a meandering, detached second. The film never really comes to cohesion, which is an asset in a movie metaphorically drenched in liquor, but when it tries to build up a rather bland story about a drunken hero versus a sober tycoon, it loses its charm but doesn't ditch its hazy, unkempt structure that only undermines, rather than supports, whatever it's trying to accomplish. It's a shame, really, because the first half is downright superb -- entertaining, funny, engaging, and playing around with some great characters -- but it's only when it tries to make something of itself does it show that, in this case, aimlessness might have actually been the path towards the higher road. Sony's Blu-ray release of The Rum Diary does feature strong video and audio to go along with a couple of extras. Worth a rental.
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