The Mosquito Coast

Harrison Ford has had a lot of hit movies. He's been Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and Jack Ryan. He's went from being The Fugitive to the President. Even Blade Runner, which wasn't a hit at first is now considered a classic. They can't all be box office gold however, but even a big chunk of the ones that failed to find an audience are really terrific. Case in point, 1986's The Mosquito Coast.

Ford reteamed with his Witness director Peter Weir to bring Paul Theroux's novel to the big screen. Ford plays Allie Fox, an inventor who is fed up with modern society. He decides to move his family from the United States to the jungles of Panama. There he creates what he thinks is an advanced society. He also builds a giant ice machine, dubbed "fat boy" for his family and the locals. Things are good at first until a meddling missionary, Andre Gregory, tries to turn the locals against him and recruit them for his flock. Things get even worse when "fat boy" malfunctions and destroys everything Allie has worked for. This drives him to the brink of insanity and Allie drags his family down with him.

This is Ford's best performance. He truly grasps this one man's descent into madness. And Weir is the perfect director for this. He has handled this theme in some of his other works too, like Fearless and to some extant, The Truman Show. The supporting cast is terrific too. Helen Mirren plays Allie's wife Mother, and she is perfect. She's a woman torn between seeing someone you love lose it, but also feeling the need to stand by her man. River Phoenix plays the eldest offspring Charlie, proving once again that he was one of the most talented teen actors of the 80's. His character is torn as well. He's old enough to see that his dad is losing his grip but still idolizes him. Phoenix was always great at playing conflicted. Martha Plimpton is also really good as Emily, the daughter of the missionary. Her and Charlie fall for each other and there scene's together are heartbreaking. Phoenix and Plimpton would also have great onscreen chemistry together two years later in Running On Empty. They probably worked so well together because they were a couple offscreen as well.

If you want to see a powerful film with Ford at the top of his acting game, you need to check it out. It's not the easiest film to watch, but it is definately rewarding.

It's available on dvd.