Gonzo Gets It

Johnny Depp stars in Hunter S. Thompson story

(NEWSER) - The Rum Diary is like a superhero origin story, several reviewers note: Set in Puerto Rico, it tells the story of how journalist Hunter S. Thompson became himself—complete with heavy drinking and plenty of sex.

• You get the sense that the film is a "passion project" for the impressive Johnny Depp, writes Betsy Sharkey in the Los Angeles Times . Puerto Rico is "beautifully rendered"—"even the poverty has an appeal"—but despite all that, Rum Diary never finds its voice.

Johnny Depp stars in Tim Burton film

(NEWSER) - Critics aren't thrilled with Tim Burton's latest offering, inspired by the late-1960s cult TV show of the same name and starring Johnny Depp as an 18th-century vampire who is buried alive, only to be accidentally dug up in 1972. The film isn't sure what it wants to be:

• Dark Shadows "tries to serve too many masters," writes Joe Neumaier in the New York Daily News . "Initially it’s an epic valentine to the show. Then it’s a vamp-out-of-water story. Soon it’s a gung-ho comedy. Finally it's a monster flick." Still, it "unearths enough fun."

Ziggy-produced film an 'oral history': Dana Stevens

(NEWSER) - A new documentary about the life of Bob Marley is an "exemplary music documentary in almost every way," writes Dana Stevens at Slate : It's "thoughtful and leisurely paced," it's positive without fawning, and it gives an in-depth look at Marley the youth, Marley the father, and Marley the musician. Stevens views it "as an oral history": It's "a 145-minute patchwork of old concert footage and talking-head interviews from people who knew, loved, and worked with the reggae giant." More»

Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz star in Rob Marshall's film

(NEWSER) - The latest Pirates of the Caribbean is more of the same, and it’s getting stale—but Captain Jack Sparrow remains somewhat compelling, critics say.

• It’s “exactly like what you'd expect: overlong (two hours and 20 minutes), overstuffed (with at least four separate beats that could count as endings), and extremely loud,” writes Dana Stevens in Slate . Plus, “I liked these movies better when you thought Capt. Jack Sparrow was gay.”

Morgan Spurlock helms documentary on advertising

(NEWSER) - Morgan Spurlock, the guy behind Super Size Me, calls his latest documentary—an exploration of our ad-obsessed culture—The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. And critics seem to agree:

• Spurlock “has this habit of making documentaries that come hidden in the Trojan horse of silly and then stab at your conscience,” writes Peter Travers in Rolling Stone . “As ever, he makes you laugh till it hurts.”