Return to Paradise (1998)

Return to Paradise
Being a now middle aged child of the sixties with friends that these three mimicked I found the movie compelling and actually overwhelming with the intense need to know at the end of the film if the promise to Sheriff ( Vince Vaughn) in fact came true or if he suffered the same fate as his friend for coming forward to " the powers that be" and owning up to his involvement so that he could be a "good and righteous person". Once again a story showing how the "legal powers that be" do not take into consideration the humanity especially when it comes to these drug crimes. I wanted to know if this is a take off of a true story and wanted to have the happy ending when all was resolved. I probably will not sleep tonite. Vince Vaughn's character was intense.

Unbelievable Story
I would not reccommend this movie because I found the story unbelievable. There were no real substantial characters in it. The so-called characters were manipulated here and there to fulfill the demands of a preconceived plot. Vaughn acted not out of his beliefs and necessity but by what seemed to feel good at the moment, which was an obvious way for the writer to stretch out the movie.

The acting was only fair, but then what can you expect when the characters aren't given any solidness--depth, attitudes, understandings. Vaughn's "character", throughout the second act, keeps flip-flopping about returning to Malaysia until he has a bout of sex--Heche's manipulation, Vaughn's pleasure--and agrees to go. His so-called transformation near the end--becomming so compassionate and affectionate toward his friend in prison (Phoenix)--of the film was equally unbelievable. Real, believable change is often preceded by some ordeal or trauma that enables one to understand first hand the suffering of another. Only at the very end does this happen, but it should have happened much earlier for his change to be believed, from which a desire to save his friend should have developed, and not by some gratuitous sex affair.

Very good movie, tough getting through the prison scenes!
I stumbled onto this movie today, and decided what the heck, it was nothing else on anyway. Very emotionally charged film, and great acting, especially by Joaquin Phoenix. I have seen him in other movies, but this was a very good performance by him. It was really tough to watch the prison and courtroom scenes, especially that last prison scene with Vince Vaughn. It was hard not to cry. I walked away from the TV twice because the scene was so intense. What I really liked about the movie is how it slowly reeled you in at just the right pace. There were never dull moments, and made you that more curious to see how it would end. It also left you thinking about your own morality and friendships. I plan to buy this movie and add it to my collection, again Great Movie!