Director: Danny Boyle
Release Date: 2000
Genre: Adventure
Running Time: 1hr 59 minutes
Rating: 15
Synopsis:
Richard embarks on a journey to Thailand where he finds himself in the possession of a strange map. Rumour has it, that it shows the way to paradise. A solitary beach.
Based on the novel of the same name by best-selling author Alex Garland. Director Danny Boyle takes us all the way to paradise in this fantastic film adaption. Phi Phi Leh Island is approximately 53.9km from Phuket, before this film was made it was relatively unknown to most of the public. It is now one of the most sought out places on Earth. Backpacker Richard (Dicaprio) embarks on a journey to Phuket Thailand, in search of something different. One night backpacker Daffy (Carlyle) breaks into the hotel room next to Richard, he desperately tries to convince him paradise really does exist and that he knows the way. Before killing himself he leave the map for Richard to find where he embarks on a life changing journey with a french couple, Etienne (Canet) and Francois (Ledoyen).
As far as film adaptations are concerned, this is probably one of the best you're going to find. Although a few changes have been made, Danny Boyle has been very strict and fantastically kept to the original story. We're introduced to Richard at the beginning of his journey in Phuket, Thailand, where he searches for something a little bit different. As far as the Thai's are concerned, Richard is a typical American tourist passing through. The thought of living on an island will be daunting for some, others a dream come true. Richard, Francoise and Etienne realise as time passes that it's not as magical as they had original hoped for. Even paradise has it's problems.
Leonardo Dicaprio is terrific as Richard, young and somewhat naive, he's unaware of the dangers he's really in. Spontaneity can be a good thing, however teaming up with two strangers you don't even know and then travelling to a remote island is a pretty risky idea. The characters relationships have been adapted for film, although the changes are small, they don't pull away from the original storyline, the characters interactions work well for film, Boyle chose to introduce new characters to the story which work really well. Dicaprio shows deep emotion and characterisation in his role, he's exceptionally likable, you want to make him see it through. Survive.
Tilda Swinton delivers a tremendous performance as island leader Sal, her character unfolds nicely throughout the course of the film, her colours really begin to show, she's not the woman you thought she was. Selfish and unfaithful, Swinton really immerses herself into her character. Virginie Ledoyen and Guillaume Canet deliver good performances as Francoise and Etienne. Both French actors, they naturally fall into their characters. The storyline focuses on very real issues, drugs, love, conflict, the islanders don't want to lose what they have, they'd risk losing one of them, if it meant keeping their island a secret.
Beautifully set in Phi Phi Leh Island, Thailand. Director Danny Boyle has really brought the book to life. Film critics and audiences around the globe slammed the film's initial release, due to the terrible misuse of the island (ironically the 2004 tsunami changed it back to the way it was), this however shouldn't stop you from immersing yourself into this fantastic film. A thought provoking film that makes you question, how long have they been on this island? The production design is exquisite, huts that really look lived in, art on the walls, their only source of food, fish and rice. Danny Boyle and production designer Andrew McAlpine have gone to great lengths to really capture it on screen.
A mixture of orchestral music and a contemporary soundtrack really go hand in hand together. The contemporary soundtrack explains the story fantastically through lyrics and song titles as the film progresses through big names such as Leftfield, All Saints and Moby. Unkle's "Lonely Soul" in the closing credits speaks volumes about the journey Richard, Francoise and Etienne have been on, the heartbreak that they've had to leave behind, returning to civilization, returning to normality. Lonely souls that were sadly left behind. The book is drastically violent in comparison to the film, the decision to leave a lot of violence out of the film adaption was a fantastic idea, the story works brilliantly without it, it also left room for freedom, for the islanders to return home to some sort of normality. To start over.
A highly entertaining film that shouldn't be overlooked.
5/5 stars
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