(1) The near-freebie prices amount to an especially generous giveaway to Venezuelans fond of large SUVs and gas-guzzling jalopies from the 1970s and 80s.
(2) The Rum Diary is a ramshackle jalopy of a movie, a bumpy ride that yields amusements and diversions here and there, and several interesting or loopy performances – including Aaron Eckhart as a slick resort developer Depp takes a dislike to, and Giovanni Ribisi as some breed of alcoholic Nazi-idolator.
(3) It was not pretty, for Higgins broke down more often than a jalopy, but in the end his heroic if ponderous young opponent had too much to do.