Throwback Thursday: Brokedown Palace (1999)

A vacation is supposed to be a time to relax, take a breather, and enjoy ourselves. It should not be a time to worry about entanglement with law enforcement.

In the 1999 film Brokedown Palace, Alice (Claire Danes) and Darlene (Kate Beckinsale) are best friends. To celebrate their high school graduation, they decide that a trip to Thailand is in order. Their party grows from two to three when they meet Nick Parks (Daniel Lapaine), a handsome and charming Australian.

Nick convinces the girls to extend their trip by going to Hong Kong before heading home. At the airport, drugs are found in their luggage and they are detained. Sentenced to three decades in jail, their only way out is American lawyer Hank Greene (Bill Pullman). Hank can get Alice and Darlene out of prison and on their way home, for a price.

This is an interesting coming-of-age tale. Most of the narratives within this genre are usually romances. But this is different. It is about friendship, the loss of innocence, and the decisions that are made during difficult times.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

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Throwback Thursday Part II- Little Women

Little Women, for me as a reader, was a rite of passage. I was introduced to the March sisters at a young age. A precursor  of my addiction to classic literature by female authors in the 18th and 19th centuries, Little Women holds a place in my heart.

There have been several film adaptations of the novel. The most recent big screen adaptation was released 20 years ago.  Inhabiting the lives of the March sisters are Trini Alvarado (Meg, the sensible eldest sister), Winona Ryder (Jo, the tomboy who wishes to be a writer), Claire Danes (Beth, the homebody) and Kirsten Dunst / Samantha Mathis (wild child Amy). Rounding out the cast is Susan Sarandon as Mrs. March, Christian Bale as Laurie, Gabriel Byrne as Friedrich Bhaer and Eric Stoltz as John Brooke.

I like this movie. It’s true to the book while not sacrificing cinematic quality. This movie is good and still holds up after 20 years.

I recommend this movie.