MovieChat Forums > The Rum Diary (2011) Discussion > I don't feel any tragedy here

I don't feel any tragedy here

posted 12 years ago by MelanieSwift
3 replies | jump to latest

I haven't read the book, but shouldn't this movie allow us to feel some of the tragedy of a young life getting wasted through physically destructive amounts of boozing and aimlessness?

I don't mean this movie should have been all tragedy. I enjoy complex films that combine different genres and emotions in one movie, such as farce, moral outrage, and melancholy. Trouble is, I just didn't feel much of anything watching this.

Part of the problem is surely the direction and script. But Depp is at fault too.
His trademark faux-innocent hipster shtick doesn't work here. If his character doesn't much care about anything, why should I?

"I put the bastards of this world on notice that I do not have their best interests at heart. I will try and speak for my reader."

Sure, he says it. It's just that Depp and this movie don't make me believe it.

[–] Ass_E9 12 years ago

It felt like a very timid film.

Currently feeling:

(out of 5_s)

[–] anti0918 12 years ago

This was one of my problems with the film as well. They're stumbling about and occasionally acting like they care about things, but ultimately get nowhere and blame it on "the bastards".

It reminded me of Juno - she spends the entire movie not caring about anything, and then acts like we're supposed to start caring about her.

[–] MovieAddict2016 12 years ago

to be fair to depp, he was playing the character as hunter s. thompson. so i'm not sure what you're referring to about a 'faux-innocent hipster shtick' but the way he talks/acts in this film is pretty much an imitation of the book's author, as it is a semi-autobiographical story.

i haven't seen all of the film so i can't say yet whether i agree with your complaints. i'm about 20 minutes in right now and so far it seems alright. i like the cast. giovanni ribisi is good at these types of characters.

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