Return To Paradise
Return To Paradise
Did you ever have the situation in you schooling life where you were talking to your neighbor and the teacher turns around and asks "Who was it?". And did you pause for a moment just to see if she would let it go. But instead of going back to her work she says "If someone doesn't own up, your all going to be punished". Well, before you admitted to your guilt didn't you have all of these emotions inside of you telling you "Do It" and "Don't do it". Or a little angel that sits on your right shoulder and speaks in a high pitched, squeaky voice telling you how bad are, and a little red devil that smokes cigars and talks in a deep husky voice telling you "Go on kid, do it, screw that pussy angel". Or, for the more realistic of you who are not seeking medical attention, have you had your conscience tear at your insides. Well, it is that very battle of one's conscience that this film tries to address.
Set in Malaysia, three American twentysomethings get together for five weeks of drink, cheap drunks and the obligatory "Fi dollars, Love you lots, kissy, kissy" Asian girls. The three are from across the boards. There is Tony, the hot shot collage architect, Sheriff (Vaughan), unfocused New York limmo driver and Lewis, the monkey loving hippie. They have fun and part company.
We flash forward two years later to Sheriff, back in New York, driving a limo. One night, a new client sits into the back. She is Beth(Heche), Lewis' lawyer. As it turns out, the day after Tony and Sheriff left Malaysia, the police raided the holiday hut and found the cheap hash left overs. Lewis was the only one left and took the rap.
The only problem is that his punishment is death, and he will be hung in eight days time. But, if Tony and Sheriff return, all they would have to serve is three years each.
The film sets out to make you ask yourself, "Would I go back?". And it accomplishes just that. Instead of a speachy courtroom drama, the film is lobbed onto the shoulders of Sheriff(Vaughan). He is the one battling with conscience, at one minute listening to the little white angel and the next, turning right around and siding with the cigar smoking devil. You could say he is being a complete bastard at times, but put yourself in his shoes. He meets a guy on holiday, has a laugh for five weeks, goes home and hears the bad news two years later. You say,
DEVIL:"Oh come on, that was two years ago. We didn't kill anybody. We were just having some fun. This is completely unfair, I refuse to do it."
ANGEL: "Face facts Satan. A man will die. That's all that matters, life is a bitch."
DEVIL:" So could I"
ANGEL:"Well its down to what you believe is more important, your self preservation, or your humanity."
DEVIL:"Screw you, I'm busting."(puff)
And that's what the whole thing is about. Will they go back.
Now, without a strong cast this would have sunk in the first twenty minutes. But, Vince Vaughan IS Sheriff, he looks like a guy that would say "Screw you" turn his back and walk away. I remember one little thing so well, and it just makes Sheriff look like such a nasty character. Sheriff is going to visit father to tell him about his predicament. We see Sheriff park the limo outside him workplace, and there is guy sweeping a pool of water. Now, Sheriff has plenty of room to walk on either side of him, but he doesn't, he steps right into the puddle of water. At this moment I thought "What a prick". Do we really except this guy to give up three years of his life, Jesus, he couldn't even give up three feet. This makes the film more intense, we don't know what he will decide. Is he a bastard or a Bernadette?.
But the two other leads must be given praise as well, Anne Heche is perfect as the walking on thin ice in every corner lawyer. Frustrated but trying so hard to keep patient with everyone. And Joaquin Phoenix as Lewis does a good by the numbers job as the traumatized prisoner.
To flesh up the two hours. A couple of sub plots are thrown in. There is the romantic interest between Sherrif and Beth. And there is a snooping reporter that will never stay away from the story, no matter how much she is begged.
Somehow, I don't think the Malaysian tourist board will be recommending travelers to watch this film. Why? I just don't know.
"Look, a double parked tourist"
"Fifteen years in Pa Nang."
Seriously, this is a good film. Its a simple and well produced piece. That will make you put yourself in the same hypothetical situation, which has you asking "Would I do it?", for the rest of the night.
