“Return to Paradise”
Return to paradise (R)DT: This drama, starring Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche, poses one of the most interesting dilemmas I've seen in quite a while. There are three men, let's say "A", "B" & "C". To save the life of man "A", "B" & "C" must serve jail time in a Malaysian prison. If they both go they each spend three years in jail. If only one of them goes he must serve all six years. If neither of them go "A" will hang.
Who will go? Will both of the men? Will one of them or neither? When watching this film I found myself wondering what I would do. How would you go about making up your mind when you're not sure what the other guy will do? How could you live with yourself knowing that by not going you allowed an acquaintance to die? These are just some of the questions that two of film's characters must answer. It's their search for answers and their search for courage, that make this such a effective film.
Anne Heche plays the lawyer of the doomed man and she finds herself with his life in her hands and no real power to make either man go back. She can only appeal to their better natures.
While there may be no car chases, this film doesn't lack for tension. It makes you think and it should spark a few good discussions as well.
Score: DT 73