The Beach (2000)
Genre: Adventure / Drama
Duration: 119 minuten
Country:
United States / United Kingdom
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Virginie Ledoyen and Tilda Swinton
IMDb score:
6,6 (272.178)
Releasedate: 3 February 2000
The Beach plot
"Somewhere on this planet it must exist."
In a cheap hotel in Bangkok, American backpacker Richard meets Daffy, a thirty-something who is scarred by years of drug use. He claims to have discovered paradise on earth. It is the perfect beach, hemmed in by steep cliffs and inaccessible to ordinary tourists. It is even forbidden territory for them. Richard is immediately intrigued. After all, he has left the US for a quest for the ultimate beauty, excitement and danger. That same night, Daffy commits suicide. As a parting gift, he leaves Richard a card with the description to "The Beach". Richard embarks on the ultimate adventure with the French couple Françoise and Etienne. During their journey, all three must push their limits and face the great danger.
Reviews & comments
IH88
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- 9903 messages
- 3205 votes
“Anywhere you go, desire is desire. The sun cannot bleach it, nor the tide wash it away...”
The first hour of The Beach is so brilliant. Boyle and the actors make for a very atmospheric film. The beautiful locations, the cinematography, the music (amazing) etc. It all contributes to an almost hypnotic movie experience. It's like smoking the cannabis yourself, which grows in abundance on the beautiful island.
DiCaprio, Canet and Ledoyen (beautiful actress) make a fun trio and their search for a remote island is very entertaining. I always think Boyle is a very nice director who has an eye for visually beautiful scenes but always puts the story first. The sense of community is also very well expressed and that subcutaneous tension can be felt all the time. After DiCaprio and Swinton return from their trip to the mainland, everything seems to come crashing down like a plum pudding. It becomes a bit long-winded and boring with a DiCaprio wandering through nature like some kind of crazy Rambo. His "turnaround" at the end is completely laughable. A real shame, because that first hour is beautiful cinema.
Translated from Dutch · View original
RuudC
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- 4636 messages
- 2529 votes
Wonderful adventure in Thailand. I believe I first saw The Beach sometime in 2001 or 2002. Even then, the idea of an idyllic island in the tropics really appealed to me. The Beach was very stimulating and it still does. I have now been to Thailand myself and after this review still quite close. Ko Pha Ngan was then one of the destinations. After tonight's review, I realized it's close to where this movie is set. By the way, I was on a fairly quiet part of the island and the main season was over.
Again, wonderful adventure to follow. The film is always captivating. From the bizarre encounter with Daffy (great role by Robert Carlyle) to the discovery of the beautiful paradise and all its fantastic inhabitants, although I think that could have been given a little more attention. Now I can appreciate the lock a lot better. I can imagine that many people think that the film derails there. It's all a bit abrupt, but it does make for a happy ending. I don't think the link that is made with Apocalypse Now in the film is really appropriate. I think the music is terrible. I listened to Moby a lot around 2000, because my dad likes that CD. I just don't understand why you would put that record on voluntarily.
It only remains for me to say that for two hours I really enjoyed the story, the pictures and the atmosphere. Fortunately, it's not all peace and quiet, even if you'd like to. Good role from Leo too. He comes across as hysterical at times, but it fits the role well.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Kooiker
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- 153 messages
- 116 votes
The beginning is nice, but on the island it becomes an illogical mess, lacking any logic. Sometimes it feels more like a bad trip. Or is he dreaming it all? And except for the three main characters, the others act rather amateurishly. What some give this film a high rating for is beyond me. A memory of Thailand or another Asian country during a holiday? And what is the film actually about? A quest for paradise that is unattainable? Is that the message?
Translated from Dutch · View original
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