Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tilda Swinton and Robert Carlyle
‘A Captivating Classic’
The Beach
Not many actors that gained fame years ago are as beloved as Leonardo DiCaprio. Following the 1990’s, DiCaprio has proven to be an icon. Whether it’s destructive lovers, departed cops or Wall Street stockbrokers, DiCaprio has played countless compelling characters. Arguably, DiCaprio’s strength as an actor has often been his commitment to craft. He is a one of a kind actor which has poured both heart and soul into every role. Through ability to portray strong characters that are compelling, DiCaprio has created a legacy that is lasting. An actor with a strong commitment toward his craft, DiCaprio has become a celebrated icon in entertainment. Throughout a lasting career, DiCaprio has produced several memorable movies which are absolutely worth talking about without a doubt.
I’m a huge fan of DiCaprio and adore all the films he has created in his career. However, “The Beach” is his most underrated movie. Released back in 2000, Danny Boyle’s film offered a beautiful adaptation of a beloved mystery book. Packed with bold production, engaging storytelling and powerful acting, it is a mesmerizing mystery period piece. At the centre of it all is a terrific performance by Leonardo DiCaprio, who embodies an anxious teenager facing sorrow. Although “The Beach” is a great mystery movie, it is not a flawless film. It suffers from an uneven pace testing viewers’ patience. However, it offers engaging entertainment that would sadly fans of mystery films.
“The Beach” tells the story of a tourist that embarks on a journey to visit a mysterious beach. Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Richard, a young man with big dreams. Richard has often been fond of embarking on adventure to tropical locations. However, Richard’s life drastically changes when he visits a beach causing danger. What at first appears to be a peaceful paradise soon turns into a grim nightmare. As Richard discovers shocking secrets about the beach, he questions if it is possible to survive in a dark world without any speech. Faced with a dilemma, Richard questions whether it’s possible to find joy in a beach causing trauma.
Danny Boyle has often has been fascinated with themes of identity. A fantastic director, Boyle has often made engaging films about people that face identity disaster. His iconic movie “Trainspotting” offered an engrossing portrait of drug addicts questioning identity in mourning. With “The Beach”, however, the filmmaker made his first literary adaptation. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to adapt a legendary book about a mysterious beach but he succeeded tremendously. Using bold cinematography, Boyle captures a beach on a mysterious island that endures adversity. Evoking Robert Zemeckis’ “Cast Away”, the filmmaker expertly uses point of view shots to capture lives of islanders which are cast away. For instance, POV shots elevate the beach introduction scene. During this tense scene, Richard enters the beach for the first time discovering a paradise. Using stunning POV shots, Boyle builds portraits of beaches that are compelling. POV shots are complex techniques. As James Cameron’s “Titanic” proved, POV shots enhance classic disaster movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Boyle captures tensions that islanders on beaches are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “The Beach” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best movies made about beaches. Evoking Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws”, Boyle effectively uses the setting of beaches to capture the lives of individuals on beaches threatened by jaws. For instance, the settings of the beach elevates the attack scene. During this unforgettable scene, Richard discovers the consequences of the beach causing disaster. Through stunning beach locales, Boyle honours a bold book about beaches that’s compelling. Furthermore, the music score is magnificent. Angelo Badalamenti’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the burden that beach dwellers bear. Using strong production, Boyle captures beaches facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “The Beach” is a movie about beaches that is engaging. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture the tensions individuals on a beach experience. Evoking Sean Penn’s “Into the Wild”, Boyle effectively uses silence to capture hardship that individuals in the wild experience. For instance, the silence enhances the beach farewell scene. During this intense scene, Richard bids farewell to the beloved beach following years of living in it. Silence isn’t an easy technique to use in movies. As Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” did prove clearly, silence elevates films about aboriginal communities. Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” suggested silence enhances sci-fi films about dreams. Nevertheless, it works well in this film. Through a bold screenplay, Boyle captures the lives of beach dwellers facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Leonardo DiCaprio gives one of the best performances of his career as Richard. DiCaprio first achieved appreciations for playing doomed lovers in romantic films. With “The Beach”, however, he took upon his most complex role. It isn’t simple to portray a beach dweller facing adversity but he succeeds tremendously. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most iconic role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, desperation and curiosity of a beach dweller. It’s a powerful performance from one of the finest actors working in the industry today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for DiCaprio, the supporting cast is also great and worthy of appreciation. Tilda Swinton is terrific, capturing tension faced by a woman stuck on island facing destruction. Robert Carlyle is remarkable, causing style of a spy seeking to solve island causes which prove worthwhile. Lastly, Patterson Joseph merits appreciation. As an island dweller, he is unforgettable.
Fans of Leonardo DiCaprio would definitely enjoy “The Beach” and so would audiences seeking meaningful entertainment. A strong adventure classic, it honours an actor that’s iconic.
Nearly 25 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about individuals on a doomed island seeking paradise, it’s a bold reminder of an actor that has never lost his abilities to surprise making memorable films that audiences prize.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 