Loin du paradis

This well acted, intense drama is worth seeing on two counts:

1) The excellent performances by Lewis (Phoenix) and Beth (Ann Heche)

2) The uncompromising and original plot.

Three young men decide to party in Malaysia, leaving one of them, a Greenpeace activist, behind after two years. He is sentenced to hang for a drug charge; only his two friends who have returned to America can save him.

Not a car chase in sight, but the tension is high. The unexpected, emotion-filled ending is both gratifying and sad. I recommend this film with eight (8) stars.

This film is about moral dilemma – whether or not to give up three, or maybe six, years of life by accepting imprisonment in a Malaysian jail, or continue living in freedom knowing that a friend has died as a result. This point needs to be made up front – it is not a film about the rights or wrongs of Asian judicial or penal systems, nor is it a film about the morality of drug taking.

So we follow the two characters, Sheriff (Vaughn) and Tony (Conrad) who have to make this decision as they go through the decision-making process, prodded in no uncertain manner by their friend's attorney Beth (Heche). This tortuous process is played out against the comparatively comfortable background of their home city, New York. And not only the comforts of home, but also of employment and marriage prospects.

The process is played out a little unevenly although given the nature of the decision perhaps this is not surprising. But where it is flawed is the sudden blossoming of romance between Sheriff and Beth. Prior to this there had been no indication of this turn of events, indeed, quite the opposite as the two had regularly fallen out and appeared to have a mutual dislike for each other. Thus there is a feeling of a contrived piece of plotting which, to make matters worse, goes on to form the basis of the end of the movie.

Whether or not this is an accurate portrayal of the Malaysian judicial and penal systems seems an irrelevance. On a rather pedantic point where was the US embassy (and State Department) to provide support? It simply is not the case that in circumstances such as these that the lead characters would have been left on their own. That's not to say that the outcome would have been any different but it may well have affected some of the decisions individuals took towards the end. It might also have been an opportunity to add a little more reality and edge to the story, especially if the officials took an approach that put US foreign relations above the interests of its own citizens!

This is a movie that makes us think – and no movie that does that can be written off. And the acting, especially from Heche and Phoenix, is fine. But the plot flaws mean it's a good, rather than a great, film.

An Americanization of a 1990 French film called "Force Majeure", "Return to Paradise" tells a pretty straightforward story. Three young friends - Sheriff (Vince Vaughn), Tony (David Conrad), and Lewis (Joaquin Phoenix) - meet while vacationing in Malaysia. Lewis stays behind while the other two go home to America. Then, two years later, an attorney, Beth (Anne Heche), seeks out Sheriff and Tony to let them know that Lewis was jailed for possession of hashish (which actually belonged to all three of them). He's now due to be hanged, and Beth implores Sheriff and Tony to return to Malaysia and share in the blame in order to save their friends' life.

"Return to Paradise" isn't always consistently compelling - the romance between Sheriff and Beth doesn't work as well as the rest. But the film is pretty powerful in its best moments, spinning a fairly intelligent yarn about human responsibility, about owning up to ones' decisions and mistakes in life. It also deals with loyalty & friendship, the willingness to do anything to save someones' life, and the inadequacy of an oppressive prison system. It may have its viewers asking themselves the same question: would they be willing to put their lives on hold, and endure a depressing prison sentence, in order to help out a friend? In the case of Sheriff, it furthermore illustrates the idea that some of us do undervalue ourselves and underestimate our own strength of character.

The picture is directed with sensitivity and eloquence by Joseph Ruben, the veteran filmmaker who'd started out in exploitation films of the 1970s and graduated to things like "Dreamscape", "The Stepfather", "Sleeping with the Enemy", and "The Good Son" as his career went on. The performances are superb right down the line, although the Jada Pinkett Smith character, an aggressive reporter, may end up angering some viewers. Vera Farmiga has one of her earlier roles as Tony's concerned fiancee; Raymond J. Barry appears unbilled as Sheriffs' father. Phoenix is a standout as the sensitive, nature-loving do-gooder who wins audience sympathy quickly.

Although some viewers may feel that a climactic revelation a half hour from the end is not necessary, it does help the audience to understand just why a particular character is so determined to save poor Lewis.

A good film that never really did get its due 22 years ago, this is worth rediscovering nowadays.

Seven out of 10.

I am not a Fan of Drama/romantic Movies, but This Movie should have been overloaded with awards! smartly written, strong editing and great acting.

Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche are brilliant in their roles especially Anne Heche. I was never a fan of Vince Vaughn, but this was a great performance from Him.

Anne Heche took her character to another level. Joaquin Phoenix performance is very realistic.

One of the strengths of this film are the things in between. Afterwards, you can ask yourself if Beth is an actual Lawyer. Whether the proposal of three years actually has been and not concocted by Beth. And what were the motives of Sheriff. Yet the morally or in love with Beth. The two story lines are beautifully interwoven in each other with surprising twists here and there.

The only down point from this movie is that the director misused Heche by not giving her good camera angles and coverage of her expressive face.

'Return to Paradise' is one of the most underrated films ever. It deserved at least two Oscar nominations. Best actress: Anne Heche, Best supporting actor: Joaquin Phoenix

Even if you do not like this kind of movie, the movie is worth seeing for the performances which unfortunately have pretty much gone unrecognized. Check it out. Score: 9 out of 10

Sheriff and Tony are taking a hedonistic holiday in Penang, Malaysia. Hooking up with friend of the Earth, Lewis McBride they have a wonderful time and bonds are well and truly formed. Come the time for Sheriff and Tony to return to America, they leave Lewis their respective blocks of Hasish as gifts. The name Lewis McBride is forgotten by both men until two years later a lawyer turns up in New York to tell them both some startling news. After the boys left Penang, the police searched their beach house and found the Hashish, the volume of which got him arrested for drug trafficking. A crime punishable by death by Malaysian law. In 8 days time, Lewis, who has been locked up in dreadful Penang prison for two years, will be hung unless both the guys go back to Penang and accept their responsibility for the Hashish. An acceptance that will get each of them 3 years prison themselves.

Return To Paradise is a remake of a little known and seen French film from Pierre Jolivet called Force majeure. Throwing up a deep moral quandary and no small amount of surprises, it may just be one of the most undervalued films from the 90s. Starring Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Joaquin Phoenix and Jada Pinkett Smith, Jolivet's story gnaws away at the audience as it forces the issue at hand. Namely what would you do in the same situation? To save a friends life are you prepared to spend three years in a notoriously dank and desperate hell hole? Tho the piece is emotionally loaded in favour of doing what most would deem the right thing, the makers sucker us in, only to then steer us in other directions with a triple hander of a finale. There is also the impact of the press here, something that is crucial to the plot, and it's something that thankfully isn't glossed over. This really is a tightly constructed picture.

Vaughn {Sheriff} shows some great dramatic chops, it's refreshing to see him away from frat pack comedy shenanigans. Heche {Beth} looks gorgeous and gives her character real depth, while Phoenix as the imprisoned Lewis is heartbreakingly real. Not faring so well is Pinkett Smith as pesky reporter M.J. Major. Tho only a small part, it's really hard to accept her as a tough reporter who can get things done. Worthy of a mention is the cinematography by Reynaldo Villalobos, the shift in tones he uses between Malaysia to America is very smart and forces the issue of two completely different cultures. This is after all not just about a dilemma, it's also about differing laws on different continents. I found this film to be an emotional roller-coaster that stayed with me for some time after. It's hoped that more people will seek it out and get as much emotion and cranial ponderings from it that I most assuredly did. 8/10