- Sep 22, 2013
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In the Danny Boyle film "The Beach" [2000], a pensive and adventurous young American traveller named Richard (Leo DiCaprio) finds himself on a paradise-like sheltered island off the coast of Thailand inhabited by a secret cult of voyagers from around the world gathered for an experiment in 'primalism haven' construction.
Richard contemplates the meaning of isolation and friendship and trust and individualism as he wanders around the island, befriends the cult's leader Sal (Tilda Swinton), and meets a strange anti-Cassandra like lunatic named Daffy (Robert Carlyle).
The visuals and soundtrack to this provocative and subtle Danny Boyle film are certainly entertaining and reminiscent of the experience-rich approach to storytelling he showcased (effectively) in "Trainspotting" [1996], a film about transcendentalism and transients starring the talented Ewan McGregor.
"The Beach" [2000] is a bit hurried and overly-eager in its Joseph Conrad-esque theme presentation, and its philosophy pedagoguery is somewhat pedestrian, but its overall focus on 'human euphoria' and 'human shadowlands' is certainly worth a look.
One particular sequence in which Richard (DiCaprio) is facing the 'reality' of a 'flipside' to paradise --- one that involves a deep meditation on anti-social behaviour, nihilistic apathy, and utter ghoulishness --- not only highlights the acting magnetism of the film's star (DiCaprio), but it also showcases Boyle's flair for the completely odd. This sequence in the film made me compare DiCaprio's Richard to the creepy American comic book character Penguin (DC Comics), a brooding super-villain who mixes 'crime with coffee.'
I give this film 3/5 stars, and it's a terrific Blu-ray purchase for Christmas 2016.
The Beach (Wikipedia)
Richard contemplates the meaning of isolation and friendship and trust and individualism as he wanders around the island, befriends the cult's leader Sal (Tilda Swinton), and meets a strange anti-Cassandra like lunatic named Daffy (Robert Carlyle).
The visuals and soundtrack to this provocative and subtle Danny Boyle film are certainly entertaining and reminiscent of the experience-rich approach to storytelling he showcased (effectively) in "Trainspotting" [1996], a film about transcendentalism and transients starring the talented Ewan McGregor.
"The Beach" [2000] is a bit hurried and overly-eager in its Joseph Conrad-esque theme presentation, and its philosophy pedagoguery is somewhat pedestrian, but its overall focus on 'human euphoria' and 'human shadowlands' is certainly worth a look.
One particular sequence in which Richard (DiCaprio) is facing the 'reality' of a 'flipside' to paradise --- one that involves a deep meditation on anti-social behaviour, nihilistic apathy, and utter ghoulishness --- not only highlights the acting magnetism of the film's star (DiCaprio), but it also showcases Boyle's flair for the completely odd. This sequence in the film made me compare DiCaprio's Richard to the creepy American comic book character Penguin (DC Comics), a brooding super-villain who mixes 'crime with coffee.'
I give this film 3/5 stars, and it's a terrific Blu-ray purchase for Christmas 2016.
The Beach (Wikipedia)
