The Rum Diary is worth a squizz…

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Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard, Books, Caribbean, Entertainment, fear and loathing in las vegas, Film, Giovanni Ribisi, Hunter S. Thompson, Johnny Depp, Movies, Music, Photos, Puerto Rico, Rum Diary, Soundtrack

Last night we went to see The Rum Diary.  If you are not familiar with the movie, it is based on the novel by the same name written by Hunter S. Thompson.

It’s a beautifully tangled love story of jealousy, treachery, and alcoholic lust in the Caribbean boomtown that was San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the late 1950s. The narrator, freelance journalist Paul Kemp (played by Depp), when drawn to a sexy and mysterious woman, is soon thrust into a world where corruption and get-rich-quick schemes rule and anything – including murder – is permissible.

Johnny Depp weaves his Johnny Depp understated magic on the movie.  Aaron Eckhart plays Hal Sanderson, the wealthy, corrupt businessman with just the right amount of slime.  Giovanni Ribisi is brilliant as the drugged out Moberg. Amber Heard – well, she looks gorgeous.

Things I REALLY want to do now that I’ve seen the movie:

1. Read the book!
2. See Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. 
3. See more of Giovanni Ribisi (which I always say after seeing him act.  He’s fab’.)
4. Download the soundtrack.  (Actually, that should be #1).  You can preview it here.

I reckon’ it’s worth seeing!

Homage to Roald Dahl

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BFG, Books, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Entertainment, Fantastic Mr Fox, Hollywood, James and the Giant Peach, Movies, Quentin Blake, Roald Dahl, Royal Mail, Stamps

(source: Royal Mail)

Have you seen that the Royal Mail has brought out a “Gloriumptiously Collectible” series of Roald Dahl stamps reflecting some of his most popular characters?  Each stamp features illustrations by Roald Dahl’s long-time friend and collaborator, Quentin Blake.  How gorgeous do they look?

The Hollywood movie adaptations – notably ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and ‘Fantastic Mr fox’ – have brought more recent acclaim to Roald Dahl’s work, but if you are not familiar with his fabulously imaginative story telling (where have you been?) or, if you think you might like to revisit them, I urge you to either pick up some of his stories for little people with BIG imaginations or, a collection of his short stories for adults.  They almost always have a sting in the tail.

One of his most famous adult short stories, ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’, tells of Mary who beats her husband, Patrick to death with a frozen leg of lamb and then roast the murder weapon and serves it up to the policeman who comes to question her.  It was later adapted for television by Alfred Hitchcock.  It’s leave-the-light-on stuff, yet beautifully told.

Roald Dahl Short Stories (one of my favourites)

AND, his books are all available on Kindle if you are a more modern kind of reader!

Don’t forget to leave the light on…!