The Mosquito Coast (1986)

Incredible performance in a somewhat morose film.

Mosquito Coast, along with Witness and Presumed Innocent, for me cemented Harrison Ford as the greatest actor of my early adult years.

While Witness was universally praised (as it should have been) Mosquito Coast flew under the radar for many, and truly it is a depressing film. Recently I found a copy in the bargain bin at a video store and brought it home, and my wife had no recollection of ever seeing it before. When I found her in the right mood to sit down and pay attention to it, we watched this moving story about a good man's descent into darkness and madness.

So here's the deal, Mosquito Coast is not an entertaining film; you may hate it if that's what you are looking for. However, if you are in the mood for a psychological study of how good intentions can go awry, then this is a movie that has some of the best dramatic acting you will ever see.

But that's just me.
July 8, 2008

Thoughtful script/Powerful performances

This film grabbed my attention immediately and didn't let go until the final scene. The main character, Allie Fox, played brilliantly by Harrison Ford is shown at first to be an eccentric guy who dropped out of Harvard "to get an education." He has a beautiful, intelligent looking wife, played by Helen Mirren who is apparently homeschooling her four kids, and they seem to be living a happy life in the country somewhere. Yes, he's a bit opinionated and is not shy about sharing his worldview, which is that the USA is going down the tubes, but he is warm and enterprising and obviously loves and is adored by his family.

Like others before him, he decides to put his ideals to the test. He has enormous confidence in his "genius" and his ideas and the trusting wife and four small kids leave everything behind, the dishes in the sink, and go with him to some jungle in Central America. I kept trying to like this guy, especially as I saw his wife's unquestioning faith in him, even though I found him annoying---not the kind of guy you'd want to get stuck with in a conversation at a party.

En route to their destination they meet up with a Christian missionary, played with religious zeal by Andre Gregory (of "My Dinner with Andre"). Fox hates religion and can out-quote the Bible to the minister. You might think that he'd be glad to make friends with the only other white people in the area, but his supreme arrogance brands everyone who differs from his opinions as bad. In this way the missionary is a perfect mirror for him, but he doesn't get the clue. He is as intolerant and narrow minded in his own vision, as he accuses the minister of being.

He buys a town from a drunken German and they set about to create their own utopia. The town comes with some local inhabitants and Fox embraces them and enlists their help in building the place up. There is a little racism here in that all of the natives are seen as good and all of the other white folks are seen as bad. Of course he is the "Father"--the one who is in charge, because he bought the place.

At first his superior mechanical abilities and tremendous work ethic pay off and they build a lovely little village with gardens and everyone looks happy. He builds his special invention, a huge ice maker, which he feels is his supreme contribution to the world---bringing ice to the jungle. It's a big hit with the natives but he isn't content with being the local hero; he learns that there are some natives a ways away and he forces his family and friends to lug large hunks of ice to show these folks.

Well, things go downhill from there on...some Whites who are armed with machine guns come for a visit and, things go from bad to very bad. Fox doesn't ever give in and even as he drags his family into increasingly distressing situations he turns his back at every offer of help. He becomes more and more paranoid and tyrannical and ends up being more destructive than he probably ever could have imagined.

As interesting as the events are, what is the most fascinating is the character development of the Fox family. We see the initial seeds of megalomania in Allie while he's still at home, and once he's on his own and is truly the king of his little kingdom, it gets worse. The unfortunate memories of Jim Jones did flash across my mind as I watched this. The two sons provide the most touching parts of the story. They obviously idolize their father in the beginning, but as things progress they are forced to realize that he is deluded and putting everyone in danger. This can't be easy for any young boy.

What I had a problem with was the characterization of Fox's wife, whom he calls "mother." As played by Helen Mirren, she seems to be a highly intelligent, beautiful, strong woman and that's the problem. I haven't read the novel so I don't know how she's portrayed there. As wonderful an actress as Mirren is, I think she is really miscast, because such a strong smart woman would have stood up to her husband much earlier on. Maybe Mirren just can't play weak, submissive women and I think that this is the major flaw in the film. Love for her husband is one thing, but putting her children in increasingly riskier situations is another.

Ford shines here as a complex character--so much more interesting than his other "hero" roles. The kids are good. The scenery is gorgeous. The music is good. It's definitely a worthwhile film. March 19, 2008

Ford's Finest Moment

"The Mosquito Coast" is one of the unheralded great films of the Eighties. I read Paul Theroux's novel after seeing the film on video and mesmerizing a book as it was I realized that though not unfilmable it would be difficult to translate to the screen. Director Peter Weir and writer Paul Schrader succeeded. What one would find problematic in the book is the Allie Fox character is a tad unsympathetic. What Harrison Ford has achieved without compromising the character is imbuing Allie with a little empathy. This demonstrates to those who would relegate Ford to the Han Solo or Indiana Jones parts what a consummate actor he is. Another difficult part is the one assayed by Helen Mirren as Mother. A lesser actress would lead you to believe that Mother is spineless and compliant in indulging her husband's preposterous whims. Watch Mirren in the closing moments of the film and you realize that Mother acquieses to Allie more out of love than a lack of backbone. Lastly, the late lamented River Phoenix makes his mark as the Fox's oldest son torn between idolizing adoration for his father and repulsion toward's Allie's thoughtless cruelty. The film contains lush tropic scenery and a haunting score by Maurice Jarre. "The Mosquito Coast" is a challenging film but adventurous filmgoers should pursue it. March 16, 2008

Wonderful Movie

I saw this movie when it first came out... and it has stuck with me all of these years!!! River Phoenix just getting his feet wet... and Harrison at his most eccentric!!! January 28, 2008

Great Acting, Lousy Movie

Although some of the acting is excellent, the movie becomes boring about half way into it. I can't tell you it is a lousy story because I'm not sure that is the problem. I do know the crazy man Ford plays and the whole movie gets a little tedious after he drags his family into the deepest jungle to build a giant ice machine. I have all Ford's movies but this one so I hope that tells you something. I do not recommend you buy this before you rent it. August 23, 2007

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