Plot: What’s it about?
I’m sure you’ve all heard a story about some young Americans going abroad, and ending up in some brutal foreign prison. Well, this is that story. Alice (Claire Danes) and Darlene (Kate Beckinsale) have been the best of friends since they were children, and they just graduated from high school. To celebrate and reward themselves, the girls decide to take a vacation, enjoy life for a little while. While their dream are endless, their money supply is very limited, so Alice suggests Bangkok, where the day to day costs are very low, and Darlene agrees. They live life to the fullest, throwing caution out the window, and soon meet a mysterious man who will change their lives forever. That man is Nick Parks (Daniel Lapaine), a handsome and charming Australian, who manages to sweep both of the girls off their feet. The girls roll with their feelings instead of thinking rationally, and agree to go to Hong Kong with him for a few days. At the airport on the way, things for Alice and Darlene turn for the worse, when they are accused of drug trafficking, and sentenced to prison. As you might expect, Thailand prisons are not pleasant, and the girls go from the high life to the lowest portion of their lives. They manage to enlist the help of a former attorney (Bill Pullman), but it’s not going to be easy to leave their new “home,” as they soon find out.
Brokedown Palace is a decent movie, nothing more, nothing less. Of course, instant comparisons will be drawn to Midnight Express, but I feel those comparisons are unfair. This movie is targeted at a younger audience, and as such uses different devices than Midnight Express, ones that most would say make Brokedown Palace an inferior telling of a similar story. I think Midnight Express is a better movie for adults, but Brokedown Palace will appeal more to the younger audiences, who would be more likely to dislike Midnight Express. While I did enjoy Brokedown Palace, it’s not for everyone, but fans of suspense will want to check it out. I’m sure a lot of people will assume they know what happens in the end, but it’s not your average predictable endings, which is one of the main reasons I enjoyed it so much. The movie uses some fantastic camera work, including some gorgeous landscapes shots, all which changes once the girls are locked up of course. I recommend this movie as a rental to fans of suspenseful dramas, as it is worth a viewing or two.
Brokedown Palace has a great cast, including some surprisingly good supporting performances. Of course, Claire Danes is the main draw of this movie, although judging from the box office results, she still lacks the power to pull in a loyal following. Danes (The Mod Squad, I Love You I Love You Not) is a good actress, but she’s yet to take on a role that calls for much, and Brokedown Palace is no exception. While Danes is good, she just doesn’t have the material to showcase her talents, and deepen the character. Also in a leading role is Kate Beckinsale, who I have seen in a few movies, and was interested in how she’s fare here. Beckinsale (The Last Days Of Disco) gives a nice performance in this flick, but again, the material didn’t allow for serious character development. I’m eager to see how these two will perform when given complex roles. Bill Pullman (Independence Day, Lake Placid) and Daniel Lapaine (Dangerous Beauty, Muriel’s Wedding) also have significant screen time, and turn in solid performances. The rest of the cast includes Lou Diamond Phillips (La Bamba, Bats), Jacqueline Kim (Volcano, Disclosure), and Amanda De Cadenet (Fall, Four Rooms).
Video: How does it look?
The visual transfer for Brokedown Palace is excellent, though not enhanced for widescreen televisions. The movie is presented in 2.35:1 widescreen, as mentioned above, it is not anamorphic, but it looks great nonetheless. Maybe I’m crazy, but the movie seemed to have a “golden glow” in most scenes, which seems intentional. Colors are solid, with natural schemes and correct flesh tones. Black levels are also top drawer, with no shadow layering issues or detail loss. I could not notice any compression errors either, another solid transfer from Fox.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a great audio track, powerful in it’s subtlety, and setting a perfect tone for the film itself. The first thing you’ll notice is the soundtrack, which varies from alternate rock to original score, which sounds outstanding on this disc. The surround channels will be active often during this movie, usually through smaller, subtle effects which help set the mood. Dialogue is well done, with no audibility troubles at all to report.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the theatrical trailer and some talent files.
