The Movie Guys: Day at ‘The Beach’ proves unsatisfying

Friday, Feb. 11, 2000 | 8:52 a.m.

The Movie Guys, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears Fridays in the Sun (Movie Buzz written by Thomas Feeney). They can also be seen on the 11 a.m. Friday newscast on KVVU Channel 5. Plus, check them out online at lasvegassun.com/sun/sunlife/movies and themovieguys.com.

Grades: Jeff D, Dave C.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Virginie Ledoyen, Guillaume Canet, Tilda Swinton and Robert Carlyle.

Screenplay: John Hodge.

Director: Danny Boyle.

Rated: R for violence, sexual situations, brief nudity, profanity, adult content and drug use.

Running time: 120 minutes.

Playing at: Century Orleans, Century Cinedome 12 Henderson, Las Vegas Drive-in, UA Green Valley, UA Rainbow Promenade 10, UA Showcase 8, Regal Cinemas Boulder Station, Regal Cinemas Colonnade 14, REgal Cinemas Texas Station 18, Regal Cinemas Village Square 18.

Synopsis: Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Richard, an American who sets off on an exotic adventure in Thailand in search of "The Beach," a legendary tropical paradise free of conventional society's problems. However, when he finds a modern-day Eden, he learns that it hides more than a few disturbing secrets.

Dave: Where would one find their own piece of heaven on Earth? My idea of peace and tranquility is in the remote regions of, say, the Rocky Mountains, where I could hike and bike all day long and nestle under the stars in the comfort of a log cabin (sigh). As for my film partner and protege, Jeff, my guess would be he'd comb through the mysterious culture of Thailand in search of some hidden, sultry island, where a small community might exist without the constraints or outside influences of the dawning 21st century. Coincidentally, they made a movie about it! In his first leading feature role since gaining world-renowned fame from the Oscar-winning "Titanic," Leonardo DiCaprio loses his shirt and swims to the tropical shores of his latest film, "The Beach."

Jeff: The mood of "The Beach" owes its inspiration to the story "Heart of Darkness" and even "Apocalypse Now." The search for Paradise is an age-old theme in literature, and once Paradise is found, usually the inhabitants fall from grace. Richard (DiCaprio) finds a lost island by way of a map provided by an old traveler named Daffy (Robert Carlyle). With a French couple, Etienne (Guillaume Canet) and Francoise (Virgine Ledoyen), in tow, they journey across Thailand and swim shark-infested waters to eventually discover a secret colony of fellow travelers who are also in search of a tropical Shangri-La.

Here they have no worries of the outside world and their home rule consists of little discipline, but an abundance of fishing, starry-night walks on the shore and lots of beach volleyball. However, Paradise is threatened when Richard begins to shake up the balance of the colony.

Dave: Oh, and don't forget the Thai farmers who allow this hippie-like colony to dwell on the opposite side of the island as they field their plentiful crop of ganja -- or marijuana -- for the lay people. Surprisingly enough, John Hodge's script doesn't quite capture the materialistic impact and political agenda emphasized by author Alex Garland (based on his eerie 1996 novel) that has both spawned and influenced this secluded colony, which is unspokenly led by Sal (Tilda Swinton). Her actions, which conflict with Richard's lies, are what break the group's foundation, damaging everything they had, apparently, long stood for.

Taking on the role of the unsympathetic character Richard, DiCaprio looks to challenge his faithful audience by returning to a darker side, as he did in the cult film "The Basketball Diaries." OK, I can respect that. Unfortunately, he was much more convincing and compelling as a drug-abusing adolescent in his 1995 turn in "Diaries" as opposed to a pot-smoking youth in search of a challenge that will define the rest of his life. Screaming one obscenity after another, delivering each line as if the next depended upon it, and lowering his brow to convey any sort of angst, DiCaprio produces nothing more than a semi-performance that begins to damage any memory of a quality actor.

Jeff: Richard's search for Paradise and the perfect life is reflected and presented as nothing more than a glorified Club Med. You never take the characters' search for Eden seriously, especially when they act like a bunch of immature kids when their parents are away from home. The quick cuts and slick direction by Danny Bolye are exalted overkill. Never does the film deal with any complex social issues that every closed society encounters. Instead it becomes another episode of "MTV's Beach Party." The party does come to a halt when a few of the colonists are attacked by a shark and they deal with the pain by abandoning the victims. Out of sight, out of mind.

But soon the film returns to a day of fun in the sun. Leo shed all of his post-"Titanic" pounds and spends most of the film with little or no clothing, which will certainly delight both of my teenage nieces, no doubt. Leo has the talent, but I question his choice of roles. "The Beach" offers little to the body or soul and should have a sign posted: "Closed, until further notice."

Dave: In the film's defense, the locales are beautifully lush and serene, as one would expect with a film entitled "The Beach." Plus, the creative English filmmaking team of director Boyle, producer Andrew Macdonald and scribe Hodge, who have wowed critics and audiences alike with films such as "Shallow Grave" (1994) and "Trainspotting" (1995), stay in tune with their abstract style of storytelling. Yet the film seems to be too polished for the likes of these chaps, leaving little for Boyle to stretch his gritty innovative talents around. And I truly mean that as a compliment.

Finally, I must add: I sincerely believe DiCaprio has the ability to become a legendary talent, but when he kicks sand in our face like he does here on "The Beach," well ... I have to shake off my cinematic beach towel and question exactly what he is thinking.

Movie Buzz

More "Little"?: Columbia Pictures is moving forward with plans on a sequel to the surprise hit "Stuart Little." According to the Hollywood Reporter, the project could be up and rolling by 2001. At this point, original "Little" screenwriters Gregory Brooker and M. Night Shyamalan are not expected to return to write the sequel script. Also, none of the original film's lead actors are signed, although word has it that some have expressed interest in returning.

"Blair Witch" Trial: Sam Barber, one of the men involved with "The Blair Witch Project," will be allowed to proceed with his claim that he was unlawfully deprived of an executive producer credit on the hugely profitable film. "Blair," which cost under $100,000 to make and grossed about $140 million at the domestic box office. Barber claims he spent thousands of dollars to develop the film, prepare the treatment and investor package and shoot the theatrical trailer -- and that he was later frozen out of the venture.

"Rollerball" Rolls Again: Chris Klein ("American Pie") is in final talks to star in a remake of MGM's "Rollerball" for director John McTiernan ("DieHard," "The Thomas Crown Affair"). The studio may be looking at the sci-fi thriller as its major release for 2001. Shooting could start as soon as summer on the remake of Norman Jewison's 1975 cult classic. In the new version, Klein would play the starring role originated by James Caan. The story centers around teams of gladiators on roller skates and motorcycles that fight to the death for their corporate sponsors.

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