Return to Paradise (1998)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Joseph Ruben

Writers (WGA):

Pierre Jolivet (motion picture Force Majeure) and
Olivier Schatzky (motion picture Force Majeure) ...

Release Date:

14 August 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Give up three years of their lives or give up the life of their friend. They have eight days to decide.

Plot:

Two friends must choose whether to help a third friend who was arrested in Malaysia for drug possession.

Plot Keywords:

Vacation | New York | Prison | Drugs | Drug Possession

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Vince Vaughn	...	John 'Sheriff' Volgecherev
Anne Heche	...	Beth Eastern
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Lewis McBride
David Conrad	...	Tony Croft
Vera Farmiga	...	Kerrie
Nick Sandow	...	Ravitch
Jada Pinkett Smith	...	M.J. Major
Ming Lee	...	Mr. Chandran
Joel de la Fuente	...	Mr. Doramin
Richard Chang	...	Prosecutor
James Michael McCauley	...	Famous Divorce Lawyer
Brettanya Friese	...	Young Woman in Limo
Deanna Yusoff	...	Woman in Bar
David Zayas	...	Construction Foreman
Amy Wong	...	Ticket Agent (as Amy Wong)

Also Known As:

A Long Way to Paradise (USA) (working title)
All for One (USA) (alternative title)
Force Majeure (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, drug content, some sexuality and a scene of violence.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Philippines:PG-13 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 (video premiere) | Singapore:PG | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Eastern State Penitentiary - 2124 Fairmont Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Trivia:

Cuba Gooding Jr. turned down the role of Tony the architect.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Long opening series of street scenes, local "color", was obviously filmed in Buddhist Thailand, complete with saffron-robed monks and red-green-gold Thai temples - Malaysia (population has 30 % non-Muslim minorities) doesn't have go-go bars or obvious brothels unlike Thailand).

Quotes:

Sherrif: I know her. Like know her.

Movie Connections:

References Casablanca (1942)

Soundtrack:

Sonata In F Minor

Strong idea triumphs again!

I love it when a movie relies on a strong idea -- rather than excessive violence or high-tech special effects -- to win the audience over.

This premise is as simple as it gets: Would you give up years of your life in prison for a friend? And would you be willing to let him die if you didn't?

Watching these characters debate the issue for two hours seems like a boring time, but it isn't. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. There are some surprises and some not-so-surprises, but watching them get there is the fun part.

Not a perfect film, but a near-miss. In my top ten for the year, easily.