VHS : Return to Paradise [1998] [1999]

Rating: - AN INVENTIVE AND PROFOUND MODERN DAY MORALITY TALE...
This is a wonderfully creative movie, with top notch directing and award calibre performances by a talented cast. The premise is a fairly simple one. Three young men, Sheriff (Vincent Vaughn), Tony (David Conrad), and Louis (Joaquin Phoenix), who previously did not know one another, team up in Malaysia and party hearty. They have fun drinking, smoking hashish, and picking up girls. Sheriff and Tony head back to the states, leaving Louis behind, as he has a wildlife conservation idea involving orangutans that he wishes to pursue while in Malaysia. Before they go, Sheriff makes it a point to leave his dope stash in the house in which Louis is remaining. Later, the police come to search the premises on a matter unrelated to the dope stash. When they find it, however, they arrest Louis, who literally has been left holding the bag.

Two years later, Anne Heche enters the picture as a lawyer, ostensibly working on behalf of her client, Louis. She seeks out Sheriff and Tony with a proposition. It seems that while Sheriff and Tony have been getting on with their lives, Louis has been rotting in a Malaysian prison for the past two years and living in sheer terror. You see, Louis is scheduled to be executed in eight days as a drug dealer, as the amount of dope that had been left behind and discovered by the police was just over the threshold amount that would classify it as being for distribution, rather than for personal use. The only hope Louis has of staying alive is if Sheriff and Tony go back to Malaysia to take responsibility for their part in this and serve three years each. If only one returns, then the sole returnee faces six years. Will it be all for one and one for all? Will Louis live to personally thank his friends? Watch the movie and find out.

Vince Vaughn as Sheriff gives a compelling performance. Playing the quintessential Everyman, he struggles with his moral obligation. It is strictly a moral one, as legally he can just sit by and do nothing. Tony, too, undergoes some soul searching. They finally both come to the same conclusion, or do they? The dilemma that they face is an excruciatingly personal one. The movie builds up to a level of suspense that is totally unexpected. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.

Meanwhile, Joaquin Phoenix, one of the finest young actors of his generation, gives a performance that will haunt the viewer for days. Anne Heche also give a noteworthy performance, intense and relentless in her quest to save what life Louis has left. Jada Pinkett also gives a strong performance as a newsreporter who is interested in the story. Her interjection into the movie brings into the forefront the issue of the responsibility of the press. When you see this movie, you will understand what this means.

This film is excellent on all fronts. The only weakness was an unnecessary subplot, which involved a blossoming romance between Sheriff and the character played by Anne Heche. Were it not for this digression, I would have given the movie five stars. It is an otherwise profoundly moving film that deserves to be seen.

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Rating: - Return to Paradise is the best film you could watch!
Return to Paradise is brilliant. If this film doesn't make you cry.......see a doctor. It is the best film you will see and shows the James Camerons and Peter Jackson's of the Film Industry that you don't need a billion dollar budget and special effects to capture your audiences imagination and attention!

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Rating: - A modern day tale of morality
At first glance, 'Return to paradise' appears to be yet another hard-hitting, near-exploitative film about moral arguments and responsibility. The basic scenario-2 men must decide whether or not to return to Penang to save their friend's life, in turn sentencing themselves to years in prison-could easily have been directed towards the cliche fairytale that we are accustomed to, while the acting talents of those involved would have been wasted. Rather, the director has skillfully created a movie that twists and alternates our emotions as we follow the afflictions suffered by the main characters.
The acting here is unquestionably faultless, with Vince Vaughn giving possibly the finest performance of his career to date. As the morally challenged 'Sheriff', Vaughn superbly masters the complexity of his confused character. Anne Heche is also worthy of praise for her performance, most notably towards the final scenes of the movie. These two actors are in turn supported by an ensemble cast of promising thespians.
However, the real triumph in this film has to be the performance given by Joaquin Phoenix, who, as the doomed 'Lewis', gives an utterly heartbreaking and emotionally devastating portrayal of prison life and the intricacy of human character. Despite the dissapointingly short screen time that he has, Phoenix manages to steal the limelight from all others in the film without being too overwhelming.
The only flaw to be found in 'Return to paradise' would have to be the unecassary romance that develops between Sheriff and Beth(Heche), which slows down the plot with pointless scenes of dialogue and sexual tension. Even so, this relationship fails to detract attention from the final scenes of the movie in which we learn the ultimate fate that awaits Lewis. It is in these moments that the film establishes its detatchment from mainstream cinema, erupting into one of the most powerful and unexpected climaxes ever to grace the silver screen.
'Return to paradise' is an emotionally exhausting film, and will fill the viewers head with thoughts and questions that will remain there for weeks to come.

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Rating: - A truly gut wrenching movie
At first glance, 'Return to paradise' looks like yet another hard-hitting, near-exploitative film about foriegn justice , ala Brokedown Palace. The truth is that it unfolds quite differently, bending our emotions and expectations at an alarming rate towards the end of the movie.
The performances are top-notch, with Vince Vaughn giving possibly his best performance yet as the morally challenged 'Sheriff'. When his character is forced to make a literal life or death decision, there is not a single member of the audience who is not thinking, "What would i do if i were him?". Anne Heche takes a change from her usual characters as 'Beth', a surprisingly passionate young lawyer. These two actors are in turn supported by a range of excellent actors, both Amereican and Malasian.
However, the real gem in the stone has to be Phoenix, giving one of the most heart-wrenching performances ever to grace the silver screen. His portrayal of 'Lewis' gives us an intensly emotive view of prison life, and despite his short appearances in the movie he manages to steal the limelight from all others in the film.
The only flaw to be pointed out has to be the romance between Heche and Vaughn, which-while believable-is innapropriate and unnecassary. However even this cliche relationship cannot detract detention from the final climatic scene, which will have the watcher in a state of despair as we discover what fate lies in store for Lewis-will his friends give up what they have to save him, or leave him to recieve the ultimate punishment?
This film will place itself under your skin and will stay there forever.

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Rating: - Speechless........
It has to be said that very few films these days can leave an entire room lost for words, but this is one such film. From start to finish the acting and direction of this gripping tale were superb. I found myself dumbstruck at countless points throughout the film, reeling from the question 'how can this be happening?'. Finally a climatic ending with very powerful acting and an intense soundtrack left no doubt that this is a truly fantastic film.

It shows the moral dilemma faced by two ordinary people when confronted by an unimaginable situation. Do you do the right thing and give up 3 years of your life, or turn your back on a friend? A question I'm sure many of us think we could answer in an instant. However, we are shown clearly here that life sometimes gets in the way of the heroic image we sometimes paint of ourselves.

The acting in general is superb, with a great performance by Phoenix and possibly the best I've seen yet from Vaughn. Anne Heche really shines in this film, notably in the final court room scene. She manages to hold the audience's attention with ease and I found myself really believing the agony she must have been going through faced with this horrific situation.

This is a superb film that is guaranteed to leave you asking yourself what you would have done in the same situation. Buy it and share it. I have no idea why this film performed so poorly in the box office, but one thing is for sure, that you will kick yourself if you miss out on it.