This is rather a rum film, which is not surprising when one considers its provenance. But first the plot. Set in a Puerto Rico in 1960 that looks like something out of a pretty picture book, it tells the tale of a newly arrived idealistic journalist Paul Kemp who’s perchance for doing good in the world is equally matched with his passion for consuming copious amounts of alcohol. Kemp is set to work by his new employer, the editor of the local rag, and is given menial jobs like writing the daily Horoscope and doing puff pieces on some of the locals. He comes across Sanderson a very shady property dealer, who tries to bribe him to write favorable coverage of his very dubious property schemes.
Sanderson has a shiny red corvette, a palatial beachfront mansion and Chenault a rather stunning mistress. It’s the later that Kemp naturally takes a shine too, and she quickly dumps Sanderson to move into Kemp’s hovel lodgings with no running water. Well, you would wouldn’t you?
Also now in Kemps’ life are Sala, the newspaper’s veteran deadbeat photographer, and Moburg the perpetual rambling drunk who is fired daily from his job as the newspaper’s Religious Correspondent with very little effect. Together they band together to help the poor people who have been out on strike for some time, and then themselves when they find that the newspaper is to be closed down.
Somewhere along the way as the picturesque view of the island gives way to the grim poverty-stricken underbelly that is the reality for most of the local inhabitants, the plot of this drunken haze of a movie loses it’s way a tad and some of its passion too.
Most of the film is made enjoyable by some rather wonderful performances from the likes of the funny Michael Rispoli as Sala, Giovanni Ribisi who as Moburg reminded us what a talent he is, and the stunning beautiful young Amber Heard as Chenault (and the only girl in the movie) who’s luminance made her dazzle on the screen almost as shiny as her bright red lips.
The star of the film is Johnny Depp who had been instrumental in finding both the original novel written by the infamous and late great Hunter S Thompson, and for getting it made into a movie. Mr. Depp already starred in the movie based on Mr. Thompson’s most successful book ‘Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas’ and is obviously a big fan of his work. Mr. Thompson was in Puerto Rico writing for a Sports Magazine in his early 20’s in the 1960’ s and was also a notorious drunk, so its safe to say there is a lot of autobiographical parts in this story. In fact Thompson’s own peculiar style of writing was later dubbed as gonzo journalism: i.e. its written without any claims of objectivity, often including the writer as part of the story via a first person narrative.
The movie is scripted and directed by actor/writer/director Bruce Robinson who’s 1987 cult movie ‘Withnal & I’ made him the perfect candidate for this job.
It has an exciting animated performance by Mr. Depp who imbues his role with the most perfect touches of humor making him a joy to watch as always. Beautifully shot too.
★★★★★★★
Posted by queerguru at 20:00
Labels: dramatized reallife
