Paradise Found (2003)

Kiefer Sutherland ("24") and Nastassja Kinski star in this stirring gorgeous epic film about the renowned painter Paul Gauguin. Dissatisfied with his work as a highly successful stockbroker in Paris Gauguin gives up his lucrative job to further his self-taught painting skills. But as his dreams to revolutionize the art world lead him and his family into a downward spiral of financial ruin Gauguin discovers that he must travel to a new strange world in the South Seas to rekindle the passion to create his masterpieces.System Requirements:Run Time: 94 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 012236207214 Manufacturer No: 20721 Product Description

Pretty scenery, but that's about all

As an artist, I'm often frustrated by the way artists are romanticized in movies. Few films actually manage to get it right. This isn't one of them.

That's not to say it is lacking in charm. The movie is full of beautiful scenery. In fact, if the whole story were edited out, it would be a better film. There are lush tropical forests, waterfalls, beaches...and part of the film takes place in France, rendered with equal style.

The plot features the early life of Gauguin up to the point where he decides to sail for Tahiti, interspersed with scenes that happen after he gets there in a complex, rather annoying format that disrupts continuity possibly to make a point about the differences between Tahiti and France.

The scenery is beautiful, the costumes are beautiful. The film is a treat for the eyes.

The supporting cast are all fine. The problem is Kiefer Sutherland and Nastassja Kinski, who play Gauguin and his wife. Neither of them are particularly good actors, but in this film they seem to be competing in some kind of duel to see who can be the worst actor of all. It's strange to watch a movie in which the supporting actors consistently outshine the two leads by so much. But that gives you an idea of just how bad Sutherland and Kinski are.

Sutherland's performance is alternately flippant, maudlin, hilariously overwrought, and curiously flat. It is clear that he doesn't understand the character he is playing. He also sports the worst mullet ever seen on a human being. It's painful to behold!

Nastassja Kinski sulks, nags, and occasionally bursts into histrionic temper tantrums. I found myself longing to reach through the screen and slap her.

The facts of Gauguin's life are ignored if they don't fit the filmmaker's romantic pretentions. He's made to seem a romantic figure who found success following his dream; the film doesn't bother to point out that Gauguin's greatest works were painted by a half-blind, diseased wretch lying in a hammock because he was too sick to stand. Or that he was about to die of syphilis. It perpetrates a false view of artists - that REAL artists have no material concerns, leave their wives and children to starve, and don't care about anything but painting the perfect picture. No wonder nobody likes us!

This is the kind of movie you wouldn't mind watching on an airplane. But it's not worth much more than that. Unless bad movies are your guilty pleasure.

If you want a good movie about Gauguin, try to find a copy of "Wolf at the Door" featuring Kiefer's father, Donald Sutherland. Donald has an amazing talent that his son has not managed to inherit. It's not on DVD for some reason, but you can find copies of it on VHS.




July 8, 2008

Gaugain

What can I say? Keifer did a great job portraying Paul Gaugain. If you are an artist you'll love it. If not you'll probably walk away not getting it. Great movie to learn more about the artist! June 29, 2008

The Price of Passion

This is a marvelous film focusing on artistic passion, and the sacrifices made in fulfillment of that need. Kiefer Sutherland nicely portrays impressionist painter Paul Gauguin, who painfully sacrifices family, home and wealth to seek out a career as an artist. March 18, 2008

A Nice Bio-Pic About A Great Artist

I am a big fan of Kiefer and I always wonder why he's in (usually) crappy movies. This is a nice change of pace for him since his character doesn't carry a gun or work for the government. Everything is well done in this move, the settings are great and the acting is done well. It would have been nice to have some extras on this DVD, but I guess somebody was too cheap for that. Oh well. Still a good movie. August 9, 2007

Following your dreams is the hardest thing in life...

This movie is for the artist in all of us. We all have in one time or another that little voice inside that wants us to be something that it might not be the best career choice, but that it would make us feel complete.

Kiefer Sutherland as Paul Gauguin is fantastic and you feel for his struggle during the whole film. It makes you wonder and think how many of us have an incredible talent in something but we do not follow or instincts because we are trapped in our careers and in our jobs...

This movie makes you reach inside and think what you rather be doing in your life, that would be worth leaving everything for...what is your dream, what makes you happy and complete...

Loved the movie...Kiefer Sutherland gives us a great performance once again July 3, 2007

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