Good but some lost potential

Rating: 8/10 (14 February 2000)

Because Leonardo Di Caprio is such a huge star and cult figure, some people have begun to dismiss his work and underrate his abilities. Naturally films like " Iron Mask " don't help, but there is definately something in him that gives him the classic " watchable " attributes made famous by legends such as Jimmy Stewart and Clint Eastwood. No I am not comparing Leo to them , it's just an example. This movie by Danny Boyle (if you haven't seen his best effort Shallow Grave you should) is curiously uneasy from the start as we see Di Caprio arriving in Thailand alone and looking for adventure. The plot keeps moving along well enough, although it does take a little too long to get to the island. Also, nitpicking here, the island seems to me to be a little too convenient to get to.....I mean it's visible by binoculars from a tourist beach ( come on ! ) Once there the characters that have lived on the island, peaceably we learn with some ruthless drug-farmers, for six years , simply welcome the three newcomers with open arms. Another slightly annoying trait among the "dwellers" is they all seem
to be refugees from the eighties, smurky, mid thirty types fed up with the corporate world and universally yearning for nature. Aside from this though, Leonardo and the gorgeous Virginie Ledoyen hold our interest. The sense of comradeship only begins to deal with it's dark side, which would have really made the sense of danger and mystery more alluring, but we do see our hero descend into a self-imposed nightmare when he is strangely exiled by the leader of the group. In the end he comes to terms with what's going on when more strangers arrive and meet their fate at the hands of the farmers..... but the conclusion is somewhat unsatisfying . Director Boyle could have made the finale much more gripping and tense but instead lets us down easily, diminishing the initial menace the concept of the Beach wants to emit. Overall though, I would recommend this movie. If you wonder at Di Caprio and what all the fuss is about ........see him in What's Eating Gilbert Grape . Js