The Mosquito Coast
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Movie Reviews of The Mosquito Coast
Movie Review: Still among Ford's best work, but in retrospect...
Summary: 3 Stars
When I first saw this movie in the 1980s I was blown away by Harrison Ford's powerful portrayal of a God-like character that would do anything to maintain his kingdom.
In those days it seemed to have everything -- a solid plot, exotic location shooting, a big significant portrayal by a big name actor and solid support by the well-known cast.
When I watched it on DVD in 2005, it didn't seem quite that great anymore. After seeing Helen Mirren in "Calendar Girls", her performance in this film seems decidedly mono-dimensional. The late River Phoenix died of a drug overdose. And While Ford seemed credible as the 1980s era estranged inventor, he now seems wayward in 2005, a decade after guys spouting off just like his character blew up the federal building in Oklahoma City.
So none of the characters seems in 2005 quite what they were 20 years ago. Is it possible for time and real events to change the nature of my outlook on a film? Of course, but I don't think that's all that's changed.
Even though his movies continue to sell well as the box office and in post-theater sales, I don't think Harrison Ford has gone on to become a better actor since this film. When I compare his work here and in more recent fare like "Patriot Games", I don't see much growth. By comparison, Tommy Lee Jones' performance in "Rolling Thunder" and his work in "The Hunted" show great growth.
So did everyone simply overrate Ford's performance in this movie, and that overrating is now more apparent since his high profile divorce and establishment with the female star of a prime time televison show? Who knows.
I guess my point here is this -- this may have been the best acting of Ford's career when he was still a rising star in the 1980s. But viewing it 20 years later, it simply doesn't seem to be that great anymore.
Movie Review: My friends stopped letting me pick our movies after this one
Summary: 3 Stars
So, I found this gem who knows where, and my friends thought it was one of the worst movies they'd ever seen. So, if you enjoy generic modern movies - fast-paced, dialog you don't have to pay attention to, sexy folks, thrilling drama, smart-alec humor, etc. - then I would avoid this one. HOWEVER, if you would like to see a movie that tests and proves false an old fallacy of ours - that of the noble savage - then it is well worth seeing. Ford plays a brilliant but misunderstood & underappreciated inventor that keeps thinking that modern civilization is the source of many evils. Therefore, he moves his family to the jungle in South America to live the simplified life with "innocent" tribal folks. In doing so, he tests the often-held ideal that indigenous tribes or remote civilizations hold pure values that we have lost. The way that the movie works out this theme is incredibly believable and thought-provoking. Ford's journey as his last hope is shattered is also worth seeing.
Movie Review: Great beginning, but it peters out
Summary: 3 Stars
Harrison Ford is Allie Fox, an inventor and free-thinker, living with his family in America. Convinced the country is going to the dogs, he packs up the family and heads for a primitive area of Honduras. Combining the pioneer spirit with enterprise, he build a giant ice-making machine for the natives, along with a town to go with it. But Fox can't compromise his ideas or ideals and as things begin to go wrong, he slips into madness and drags his family down with him. Based closely on Paul Theroux's book, the movie has the same strengths and weaknesses: at first we are captivated by this eccentric but apparently right-thinking man, but as the scene shifts to the jungle, things become confused and incidents just seam to pile up one after the other. Like the book, what starts out as promising ends up disappointing.Movie Review: Slow
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a slow starter and finisher, but it has many powerful scenes and a great cast. Filmed in Beliz, it takes me back to jungle memories.Movie Review: Sadly, a forehead-slapping experience
Summary: 2 Stars
Having become disenchanted, as many viewers have, with Harrison Ford's recent choice in acting roles, I decided to check out some of his earlier, more adventurous efforts. "Witness" and "Frantic" both impressed me as empassioned performances outside Ford's usual action/adventure sphere. Unfortunately, "cast against type" doesn't always translate to "good," and this film is a striking example. Not that Ford doesn't try, but a patchy character arc, heavy-handed dialogue, and rather ludicrous symbolism more than counterbalance his sincere efforts. Indeed, the symbol serving as the centerpiece is not only total fiction, but what happens around it will have you slapping your head in disbelief. When paradise explodes, so to speak, watch a rocket literally shoot off into the sky. It's a pretty clear indication of where the film is going, into a lumbering fourth act that won't quit. While watching this film with a friend of mine (we both appreciate the books "Lord Of The Flies," and "Heart of Darkness," as well as films like "Walkabout" and "Fitzcarraldo"), the DVD paused about five minutes from the end, not moving forward or back, leading him to comment, "This disc must be cursed." We had to watch the remainder of the film on the pan-and-scan side.
All that said, "The Mosquito Coast" is not without some merits. It is strikingly photographed, and River Phoenix does his best to carry the real emotional weight, while ladies Helen Mirren and Martha Plimpton (given one hilarious line near the beginning and barely seen again) are relegated to the background. In the end, Ford's star power does not make this social commentary resonate any more than if Richard Dreyfuss had played the role, and noble intentions are buried beneath plot elements that disappear (the children's money system) or never get past ridiculous (the preacher played by Andre Gregory, who won't make anyone forget "My Dinner With Andre"). Too bad. I was hoping to discover an overlooked gem. I'm sad to say this film might be little-seen for a reason.