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The Rum Diary - A Screenplay by Bruce Robinson (view source)
Revision as of 07:41, 25 December 2011
, 07:41, 25 December 2011no edit summary
For while this is a ripping action-packed read, the witty and sharp author's voice that emerges in the scene setting is expertly used to remind us of the real hero of the narrative, the beautiful, innocent island of Puerto Rica itself. In brief snatches of emotion rather than detailed description Robinson reminds us that away from the cheap tackiness of the bars and bowling joints, the sleazy US paper that tows the party line and the marinas oozing money there is a stunning, almost virgin land that is steadily being despoiled by those who both carelessly and knowingly exploit its beauty. Just like Chenault, the gorgeous female interest who is ultimately dragged down in spite of her beauty, Robinson makes us see that Puerto Rice is going the same way.
That Robinson is an experienced and accomplished dramatic script writer there is no doubt – 'The Killingfields' testifies to that – nor that he has a witty and erudite vision of the world, as in 'Withnail..'. In 'The Rum Diary' teamed with Thompson's explosive alternative world of drugs and drink, of fury at the destructive force of greed and colonial arrogance, Robinson has created here a simultaneously dramatic, comic and enraged screenplay which is carries both a powerful punch and ironically a redemptive message as Kemp turns away from drunken hack into a real journalist.
For a fascinating insight into the strange world of Hunter S Thompson, [[Ancient Gonzo Wisdom: Interviews with Hunter S Thompson by Anita Thompson (Editor)]] is something of a mixed bag, but in many interviews Thompson's fury at the betrayal of the American Dream is evident.