The road of “The Rum Diary” getting to the big screen has been a long one. The novel, by Hunter S. Thompson, was written in 1960 but wasn’t published until 1998. Back in 2003, it was reported that Benicio Del Toro was set to direct and co-star in the film along side Johnny Depp (they also paired in Terry Gilliam’s “Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas,”which was also based on a novel by Thompson), but Del Toro dropped out because it took over 18 months to get the cameras rolling. But shortly, Bruce Robinson stepped in to take over. Who you ask? The writer/director had a one-two punch with “Withnail & I” and “How To Get Ahead In Advertising”, but after that his career has fizzled like our open can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. What? Did you expect us to write a story about Hunter and not be drinking?
Anyhow, the novel/movie involves a journalist named Paul Kemp (Depp), who moves from New York to work for a major newspaper, The Daily News, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The novel encompasses a tangled love story of jealousy, treachery, and violent alcoholic lust among Americans who staff the newspaper. Basically a Tuesday night at Tiger’s house, but ripe stuff for the big screen. The film — which also stars Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard, Giovanni Ribisi and Richard Jenkins — finished a while ago but still appears to be in post-production. We hadn’t heard much about it in a while, except last month when Eckhart started speculation going be saying offhandedly, “…they’re trying to get [the film] into Cannes, maybe.”
Well, more clues have emerged that perhaps the film is a bit closer to showing in some form or another at Cannes. According to a press release from Shoot Online (via Hollywood Elsewhere) Nina Saxon of Nina Saxon Design has finished the title sequence and also confirms that producer Graham King will be at Cannes seeking distribution for the film. Maybe he’ll have something on hand to show as well? We hope so. Will we buy the ticket? Of course. We just don’t know if the ride will be worth the wait. – Scott Ludden