Tanya’s Score: Good-and-a-half*
Rated: 14A
Starring: Joker; a tall drink of water; an unrecognizable Caputo; Anne Heche
Plot: When a young man (Joaquin Phoenix) is arrested for drug possession in Malaysia, his two friends (Vince Vaughn; David Conrad) must decide whether to share the punishment or let him hang for the crime.
Tanya’s Verdict: This is one of those movies that offers up a harsh, scary yet very real lesson for the impressionable kids out there. Don’t do drugs. Especially in countries where you just aren’t familiar with the laws.
Phoenix is heartbreakingly great in this role – as he generally is in most of his movies. And Vaughn is believable and sympathetic in his scared loser trying to do what’s right schtick. Both the plot and characters provide us with a lot to think about in terms of ethics and morality as well as doing what is best, what is right and what you can live with.
I liked this one the first time I watched it . . . and I still like it now.
*Four score descriptions: Sh**; Okay; Good; Great