The Mosquito Coast
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Movie Reviews of The Mosquito Coast
Movie Review: The greatest chapter in the Peter Weir library
Summary: 4 Stars
For fans of director Peter Weir, whose films deal exclusively with themes of man confronting his destiny and / or madness, "The Mosquito Coast" is his greatest effort. Here, Harrison Ford plays Allie Fox, a heartland family man sidelining as a eccentric inventor who grows weary of the disenchanting greed and (what he perceives as) disintegration of America. He moves his family to South America where he ends up purchasing a small village, and successfully creates his own primal vision of utopia. Through a series of problems he fails to see as beyond his control (nature, internal turmoil, religious & milirary interferences) his utopia begins to crumble and Allie resorts to the selfish, materialistic American ideals he so venemously despised. However, Allie cannot see his own faults as he clings desperately to a dream that is ravaging himself & his family. The descension sends him into a palpable madness as his family helplessly watches. No screenwriter other than Paul Schrader communicates madness better. Ford unarguably delivers his best performance EVER; no other character portrayed by Ford has been given so much emotion and freedom to use (it would of been more appropriate for Ford to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for this film rather than for "Witness" - also directed by Weir). In some ways this film is more difficult than the Schrader-scripted "Taxi Driver" or Weir's "Fearless", which also deal with themes of dementia. Typically, what you receive is a character who is either combating their madness or completely unaware of it. With this film, inventor Allie Fox embraces his madness because he sees it as the only catalyst to his freedom. A powerful and overlooked film.
Movie Review: A great survival adventure with an underlying meaning
Summary: 4 Stars
The Mosquito Coast is a thoroughly enjoyable film by Peter Weir that, while not perfect, manages to be entertaining through its complex characters in the midst of extraordinary situations.When inventor Allie Fox (Harrison Ford) decides to call America quits, he takes his family down to live off the land in Central America. While surviving in the harsh jungles, Fox's fervent belief in his ideals, reflected in the eyes of a religious fanatic running a nearby missionary, slowly tear his family apart. The story is like a modern Swiss Family Robinson, except the family is stranded by choice, not chance.
It's this adventure quality that helps the film be so enjoyable, but it's also the complexity of Fox, a man you can't help but admire while despising, that keeps you riveted to the screen. Performances here by Ford as well as supporting actors including River Phoenix as his son are right on the money. The film serves as a commentary on how far is too far to follow your beliefs blindly, and the message comes out strong.
If there's any major problem with The Mosquito Coast, it's that it's too short. It feels like we're missing some of the story at times, and that could be due to its adaptation from a longer novel. An additional 20 minutes could easily fill the gaps in the story and help create a better sense of the amount of time the fox's lived in the wild. But on the other hand, the ending seems to go on too long after what seems like the climax, and the film would have benefited from condensed events at that point.
Despite these problems, The Mosquito Coast definitely doesn't fail as either entertaining or enlightening, and is well worth multiple viewings. Highly recommended for anyone who loves realistic outdoor survival films.
Movie Review: Good start - fading end
Summary: 4 Stars
Harrison Ford is an ingenious inventor who struggles with the American capitalism. So he takes his ideas and his family to live in the jungle at the 'Mosquito Coast' where he thinks the natives will be enourmously grateful for his ice-making machine. The story is told by his oldest son who does not judge on his fathers decisions for a very long time.
But in the jungle things do not turn out as expected. The plots has some unexpected turns and I really liked the characters which are very un-hollywood like, e.g. no one really is a hero or the glamorous saviour. However, during the families stay in the jungle, the father more and more looses contact to reality and gets obsessed with living from scratch, forcing his children and wife to follow him. I can understand that his wife is loyal to him, but I can at no point believe that she, as a loving mother, does not protect her children from their father. In my opinion, this is where the story looses its authenticity. The end is somewhat shallow, but you will have to look at it to make up your mind.
It is a very interesting movie with excellent actors and I can really recommend it if you are not looking for Hollywood-Drama or an Happy-End.
As to the features of the DVD, if I remember correctly there are none.
Movie Review: (Harrison) Ford Has a Better Idea
Summary: 4 Stars
Harrison Ford gives one of his most forceful and compelling performances as Allie Fox, an inventor who moves his family to the jungle of Central America to establish an isolationist utopia. As his dream builds, and then unravels, he moves along the scale from manic genius to meglomanic obsession, putting him at heightened odds with God, nature, man, and finally, his own family. Ford's dazzling performance is enhanced by Helen Mirren's quiet intensity as his loyal wife, and River Phoenix's thoughtful portrayal of his observant oldest son. Look quickly for cameos by Jason Alexander (TV's "Seinfeld") and Butterfly McQueen ("Gone With the Wind")! A beautifully photographed and handsomely mounted production, perceptively directed by Peter Weir.The DVD offers both widescreen and pan & scan tranfers; I preferred the widescreen which preserves the film's magnificent visual compositions. Video and sound are both clear and crisp, and the theatrical trailer makes a nice bonus supplement. Recommended for fans of Ford and Weir, and for viewers who like a strong mix of character study and action-adventure.
Movie Review: Incredible performance in a somewhat morose film.
Summary: 4 Stars
Mosquito Coast, along with Witness and Presumed Innocent, for me cemented Harrison Ford as the greatest actor of my early adult years.
While Witness was universally praised (as it should have been) Mosquito Coast flew under the radar for many, and truly it is a depressing film. Recently I found a copy in the bargain bin at a video store and brought it home, and my wife had no recollection of ever seeing it before. When I found her in the right mood to sit down and pay attention to it, we watched this moving story about a good man's descent into darkness and madness.
So here's the deal, Mosquito Coast is not an entertaining film; you may hate it if that's what you are looking for. However, if you are in the mood for a psychological study of how good intentions can go awry, then this is a movie that has some of the best dramatic acting you will ever see.
But that's just me.