Mosquito Coast (1986)

Mosquito Coast: Directed by Peter Weir. With Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, River Phoenix, Jadrien Steele. An inventor spurns his city life and moves his family into the jungles of Central America to make a utopia.

“The Mosquito Coast is directed by Peter Weir and adapted to screenplay by Paul Schrader from the novel of the same name written by Paul Theroux. it stars Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, River Phoenix, Conrad Roberts and Andre Gregory. Music is scored by Maurice Jarre and cinematography by John Searle. Story sees Ford as Allie Fox, an inventor who has grown tired of what he sees as the disintegration of America. With his family in tow, Allie heads for what he hopes to be a happier life in the jungles of Central America. Building a self sufficient utopia, things start swimmingly, but can it last? Where does Allieu0026#39;s ambition end?u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI have never read the novel, but I have it on good authority that itu0026#39;s cracker-jack stuff. Viewing this brilliant film, I regret not having indulged in the source material first. With that out the way, I can say that Peter Weiru0026#39;s film held me in an vice like grip throughout, it proved to be utterly compelling and beautiful to look at, yet as Allie Foxu0026#39;s ambitions and mindset begin to alter, a bleakness hones in to view and looms large over the picture. Propelled by a quite excellent performance by Ford, his own personal favourite and a film he stands strong in support of, film asks questions of manu0026#39;s place in the imperfect world, idealism and religious fervour; both pro and con. Itu0026#39;s a bold and intelligent screenplay by Schrader, which only falters slightly with a mixed message come the denouement. Away from Ford and Searleu0026#39;s sharp photography, Phoenix and Mirren provide very strong support and Weir, a most undervalued director, paces it with his customary slow burn precision.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA hidden gem of the 80s and on Fordu0026#39;s CV, The Mosquito Coast is the kind of adult cinema we could do with more of these days. 9/10”