Genre: Drama

Year: 1999

Country: Germany

Rating:

Starring: John Travolta, Madeleine Stowe, James Cromwell, Timothy Hutton, Leslie Stefanson

Director: Simon West

My Review: The General’s Daughter - 1999 (Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime) Based upon a book (The General’s Daughter) by Nelson DeMille, this movie is directed by Simon West (Con Air, Lara Craft - Tomb Raider, The Mechanic), a mediocre director at best. Starring John Travolta, Madeleine Stowe, James Cromwell and several others. Thankfully the writing shines in this movie. The script is a damn fine adaptation with excellent plot development, thrilling escalation and delectable deception. The character development is excellent. A respected General’s daughter (Captain Elisabeth Campbell - played by Leslie Stefanson) is found raped and murdered on the grounds of the military base where he serves as commander! He’s headed for retirement and wants results. Chief Warrant Officer Paul Brenner (Travolta) is brought in to investigate the incident. Teaming up with a former flame (Sara Sunhill, played by Madeleine Stowe) the two are a likable pairing as CID (Criminal Investigative Division) agents and the former lovers background brings an extra element of tension to the screen. General Joe Campbell (played by James Cromwell) wants the investigation solved quickly and quietly. No press, no muss, no delay to his impending retirement. With only 36 hours to conduct an investigation, its soon apparent that someone’s trying to cover up the crime, to protect the guilty, to get away with murder. The mystery is well played, with enough twists and turns to make it interesting but not so much that it hurts your head. The casting is actually well done. John Travolta; who isn’t the best of actors, is well matched against the other cast members, and he hogs the camera just enough to portray the type A character he’s playing. You could actually feel his enthusiasm as he threw himself into the role. James Woods, playing his usual fast talking character, did a great job as the usual suspect/likely culprit. The military portrayal wasn’t spot on, but I can’t complain too much. It wasn’t handled as badly as many other movies with a ‘military’ setting. An excellent movie. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Summary: When the daughter of a well-known and well-respected base commander is raped and murdered, an undercover detective is summoned to look into the matter and finds a slew of cover-ups at West Point.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Year: 2011

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Rispoli, Amber Heard, Richard Jenkins

Director: Bruce Robinson

My Review: The Rum Diary - 2011 (Drama) Screenplay and direction by Bruce Robinson. Based upon a Hunter S. Thompson novel (same name). Starring Johnny Depp (Journalist Paul Kemp), Giovanni Ribisi (Moberg), Aaron Eckhart (Sanderson) and others. Johnny Depp plays Paul Kemp, a booze guzzling journalist of mediocre talent. He’s taken a job at a less than stellar agency in San Juan, Peurto Rico. The setting in Puerto Rico is one of the best qualities of the movie. Taking side jobs and shacking up with another journalist, Kemp manages to do very little writing while he indulges in his preferred lifestyle of slum licking, drug taking, scam dealing, debauchery. The character is morally reprehensible, but somehow endearing. If you’re a fan of Hunter S. Thompson you’ll likely love this movie. Being an interested party I wasn’t lulled into a false sense of adoration. The writing here emphasizes a life-style that I’m unfamiliar with, unappreciative of and slightly disgusted by. The drugs, the booze, the sex the indulgent life style speaks clearly (to me) of a damaged persona, disgust with ones personal accomplishments, ability and self worth. The story… Was there one? It was hard to find underneath the rum soaked cover, between the drug induced haze and morally ambivalent sexual liaisons. It was the 60s, I lived it, but I wasn’t an adult so I really didn’t enjoy the ‘liberal’ awakening of our culture. I’m not turned on by the ‘counter-culture revolution’, and don’t see how Hunter S. Thompson is such an icon - Drinking, taking drugs, and casual sex doesn’t seem all that glorious to me. The character in this movie didn’t seem like he was having a great time, he didn’t end up better for his efforts in the end, but the setting was gorgeous, and I enjoyed the screen play. I’ll give this movie a 3 out of 5.

Summary: Hard-drinking journalist Paul Kemp takes a job at a besieged newspaper in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His volatile editor, Lotterman, assigns him to tourist pieces and horoscopes, but promises more. Paul rooms with Sala, an aging and equally alcoholic reporter, in a rundown flat. Sanderson, a wealthy entrepreneur, hires Paul to flack for a group of investors who plan to buy an island near the capital and build a resort. Sanderson's girl-friend, the beguiling Chenault, bats her eyes at Paul. His loyalties face challenges when he and Sala get in trouble with locals, when a Carnival dance enrages Sanderson, and when the paper hits the skids. Is the solution always alcohol?