Return to
Paradise
DOWN &
DIRTY:
Drama: Two friends must decide
whether to return to Malaysia and
serve time in prison to keep a
third friend from being executed
as a drug trafficker.
NITTY GRITTY:
Three American friends, Sheriff
(VINCE VAUGHN), Tony (DAVID
CONRAD), and Lewis (JOAQUIN
PHOENIX), visit Malaysia where
they enjoy the company of the
local women, as well as the ample
supplies of rum and cheap hash.
At the end of their trip, Sheriff
and Tony return to New York,
while Lewis stays behind.
Two years later, attorney Beth
Eastern (ANNE HECHE) approaches
Sheriff and Tony and delivers
some startling news The day the
two left Malaysia, Lewis was
arrested for drug trafficking and
has spent the last two years in
prison. Sentenced to be executed
in eight days, the only way he
can be saved is if either or both
of his friends return to that
country, confesses their guilt to
possession of drugs, and serve
time in prison.
Neither men are crazy about the
idea, but the thought and guilt
of Lewis being executed, or
having either man serve the full
six year sentence begins to eat
away at both Sheriff and Tony.
Beth must also contend with an
ambitious newspaper reporter,
M.J. Major (JADA PINKETT SMITH),
who thinks her story could save
Lewis' life by raising
international awareness of his
plight. Beth realizes that any
such story will likely result in
the death sentence being carried
out.
Beth tries all sorts of tactics
to get the two men to agree to
her plan, she even has a romance
between her and Sheriff. The men
then discover that Beth is
actually Lewis' sister.
THE ENDING:
Tony and Sheriff finally decide
to go back. Along with Beth they
head back to Malaysia. Sheriff
gets in to see Lewis and sees the
conditions under which he has to
live.
Tony convinces Sheriff to leave
and they head to the airport. As
they climb aboard the plane,
Sheriff changes his mind and
stays, Tony leaves. Sheriff goes
back and turns himself in.
A hearing is held and it looks
good for Lewis. Then the judge
reads a story in the newspaper
that was written by Major that is
unflattering to the Malaysian
justice system. And so he decides
that Lewis must hang. Beth and
Sheriff are devastated. Lewis and
Sheriff are taken back to the
prison. Lewis is hanged and
Sheriff can do nothing but watch
from his cell window.
WHAT EVERYONE WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT:
The old 70s TV public
service announcements that chided
"When you're busted over
there, you're in for the battle
of your life."
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