Strategically Communicating

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a movie premiere of “The Rum Diary,” starring Johnny Depp who returns to the role of Hunter S. Thompson, one he played in Terry Gilliam’s film adaptation of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” The movie details the 1950s newsroom in Puerto Rico where Depp brings “blasts of rage” against the greedy bastards destroying Puerto Rico.  According to a critque by RottenTomatoes.com, “a growing number of American entrepreneurs are determined to convert Puerto Rico into a capitalist paradise in service of the wealthy. When Kemp (Depp) is recruited to write favorably about his latest unsavory scheme, the journalist is presented with a choice: to use his words for the corrupt businessmen’s financial benefit, or use them to take the bastards down. — (C) FilmDistrict.” Aaron Hillis refers to Thompson as a “novelist in a journalist’s body” (http://www.ifc.com/news/2008/07/alex-gibney-on-gonzo-the-life.php).

The movie comes to theatres this Friday, October 28.  If you get the chance to watch the movie, please post your comments on how you see the curruption and political pressure from this era as relevant to today’s pressures on the news media.  Just thought I would spark some food for thought.