The Rum Diary film review

The Rum Diary Theatrical Poster

“The Rum Diary” seemingly advertises itself as a companion piece to “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” — which was also based off of Hunter S. Thompson’s novel of the same title — yet it goes nowhere near what “Fear and Loathing” offered to audience members.
 
Based on Thompson’s book “The Rum Diary,” the film adaptation entails a voyeuristic journey of an American journalist, Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp), who pursues a freelance job in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1960.

Depp hashes up a watered down version of the “Fear and Loathing’s” lead in “The Rum Diary.” But that’s not surprising, considering “The Rum Diary” is basically a reproduction of “Fear and Loathing.”

The story of “The Rum Diary” begins with Kemp, who wakes up in the midst of an outrageous
hangover the night before. To his surprise, he’s thrust into a world of political greed and economic downfall in Puerto Rico. Then, he decides to search for an honest story, the truth or perhaps the American Dream.

I look pretty bored. What about you?

So, where is the American Dream?

It’s possibly somewhere in the heaping bags of rum, whiskey, beer and any other alcoholic drinks you can possibly name — don’t forget the hallucinogens, which seem to be core themes in Thompson’s stories.

But bogged down by the drugs and alcohol, Kemp seems unable to stumble upon it. Simply put, there is no American Dream. While the idea of the story sounds great, it becomes a quick mess on screen. We’ve all seen the same film before and we get it — the economy sucks and has for the past decade.

All those years of production and this is what I get?

Though the film tries to get this message across, it does a measly job of balancing the subplots. As the film progresses, characters are literally shoved into your face without giving you time to breathe. You would think that with a film that runs for approximately two hours, the filmmakers could find a medium to balance each subplot. But it doesn’t take long before the film becomes a fiasco of characters and subplots that you could care less for. And even the beautiful location and Depp’s routine antics can’t salvage the film in the end.

“The Rum Diary” tries excruciatingly hard to depict an escape from society’s corruption through alcohol, the tropics and, of course, the one and only Depp, but it simply and sadly falls flat in the end.

2/4

Paranormal Activity 3 film review

Paranormal Activity 3 Theatrical Poster

            There are some films that shouldn’t be made. With horror films, audience members have become so picky with finding a “good” one, they almost forget to appreciate those classical and less tacky films.

           

            Paranormal Activity 3 is film that sets the backdrop of the previous two films. Surprise, surprise. We hardly get anything new here.

An anticipated scene that is not in the actual film.

            My biggest problem with Paranormal Activity 3 was not its concept, but its execution. The film mainly relies heavily on cheap scares consisting of people barging through doors, light bulbs popping, and always something dropping. And the saddest part is that the “ghosts” do not cause most of these.

            I do, however, appreciate its attempt to redeem itself with a “classic” Paranormal moment where the character attaches his camera onto a rotating fan, which puts the audience members in a voyeuristic point of view. With each slow spin, audience members wonder what might be in that corner, or maybe the other corner. But, unfortunately, this becomes repetitive and dry.

Did you hear that? It's probably just some cat that will make an absurdly loud noise because it needs to in order for it to scare audience members.

            Apart from this measly compliment, there were much more gripes I had about the film. One, being the “twist,” that completely rips off of other mockumentary-style of horror films. First time with Blair Witch was creative. The next few times were O.K., but now…is it really that shocking? The audience constantly demands for a breadth of fresh air for horror films, but what we get is another big cliche, sadly.

            What’s more appalling is the enormous amount of money the film earned at the box office, setting the record for an opening horror film. If this will dictate the new horror genre, then mother of lord be with me.

1/4

Contagion film review

Contagion Theatrical Poster

Steven Soderbergh’s latest spin on disease and technology eerily infects its way to the audience members.

            An all-star cast – which I will not even bother to go in-depth with – does not ruin the film, fortunately. A film that generally boasts star-power may lead audience members to ask that question of whether or not the film’s substance is good enough for a  “less-appealing” cast to carry on. Apart from this, I cannot point out any more positive aspects of Contagion.

            The film begins with a woman who is obviously up to no good with a possibly ex boyfriend of hers (I’m not going to tell you too much about it). However, from the start, we hear her cough. Uh oh, she got infected.

"Stay right there. Do not touch anyone, speak to anyone, or do anything."

            The remainder of the film follows multiple subplots of different character’s accounts of the year as this epidemic disease becomes pandemic.

            It’s important to look at Contagion as not just a disease or apocalyptic film, but rather, as a film that portrays our modern society. The film addresses technology and its capability to spread news across this entire earth in just a millisecond. 

This is more complicated than some disease.

            The disease particularly serves as an allegory to show how society would act if a situation like this were to happen. It sometimes brings the worst out of people, but it can bring the best in people, too. As the film continues to build and society falls apart, the ending assumes that it almost didn’t happen. Maybe it’s suggesting that we overreact to something before it’s even that bad? (hint, hint)

            Contagion is a slick, well-executed film that boasts an incredible cast with wonderful performances. It’s one of the more important films about today’s society. I highly recommend Contagion.

4.5/5

50/50 film review

Theatrical Poster for 50/50

50/50 tells a sardonic story of Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who battles a rare cancer at the young age of 27.

A film about fighting cancer can only go two ways: the cliché route and the depressing route. Where does 50/50 land? In-between.

 

"I'm fine...okay?"

I was impressed with the film’s melancholic approach with life, which we all, as audience members, can relate to in some kind of way. We have the annoying, bothersome mother, the best friend as the comic relief, the girl-friend who cheats on her boyfriend with cancer, and his therapist, the only person he can relate to on a odd level.

As I continued to watch these characters unravel in the film, I couldn’t help but reflect back on my own life. The film’s theme is simple and clear-cut: don’t take life for granted. If you do, perhaps you might become a victim of some obscure kind of cancer that less than 1% of the population gets.

Now where is the time to make and take action of your bucket list? 50/50 successfully manages to address issues of our current lives. We continuously say that we are “fine” after we experience events after events, but it won’t be long until we reach our breaking point.

Of course, with its blissful and classical soundtrack, it’s hard not to get absorbed with the film based on the music alone.

 

Life is just better without hair...and the chemo.

50/50, however, can fall under the cliché category for many reasons due to its happy and up lifting turn outs, but it doesn’t convolute the film’s powerful message. The performances are all around fantastic, as well.

It was hard for me to purchase the ticket at the concession stands because I have my skepticism of these types of films, but to my surprise, I’ve made a deeper connection with this film than with any other [excluding The Tree of Life] this past fall season. I recommend 50/50.

4/5