Some films earn their stripes through incredibly courageous, gutsy twists at the conclusion.
Prime examples of this are Denzel Washington's Fallen and the terrorist thriller Arlington Road . An unexpected twist is not enough to salvage every film, however, as Brokedown Palace illustrates all too clearly. One critic, while lavishing praise upon this Jonathan Kaplan film, remarked that its ending is utterly unpredictable. I do agree with this statement, but the intriguing conclusion is dwarfed by substandard acting, bland supporting characters, and a misguided notion of loyalty. Alice faces an uncertain future, while Darlene has big dreams of college.