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Brokedown Palace

Starring: Claire Danes, Kate Beckinsale
Director: Jonathan Kaplan
Genre: Drama
Year: 1999
Rating: 2 / 5

Some films earn their stripes through incredibly courageous, gutsy twists at the conclusion. Prime examples of this are Denzel Washington's Fallen and the terrorist thriller Arlington Road. An unexpected twist is not enough to salvage every film, however, as Brokedown Palace illustrates all too clearly. One critic, while lavishing praise upon this Jonathan Kaplan film, remarked that its ending is utterly unpredictable. I do agree with this statement, but the intriguing conclusion is dwarfed by substandard acting, bland supporting characters, and a misguided notion of loyalty.

Alice (Claire Danes) and Darlene (Kate Beckinsale), just graduated from high school, decide that their summer vacation will include a trip to exotic Thailand. Alice faces an uncertain future, while Darlene has big dreams of college. Before either can address the next step, though, the two young girls are determined to share one more experience with each other. During their stay, the girls meet Nick Parks (Daniel Lapaine), a mysterious stranger who offers to take them to Hong Kong for the weekend. Both girls develop a crush on him, but Darlene eventually succumbs to his charms, and the two young ladies head off to meet him in Hong Kong.

Standing at the airport gate waiting to board their plane, Alice and Darlene are searched and taken into custody by the police. It seems that a few pounds of illegal narcotics were found stashed in their backpack, meaning that the girls soon find themselves headed for a Thai prison. Consultation with a lawyer? Not likely. One phone call? Dorothy, we are not in Kansas anymore. Confusion abounds, as it becomes apparent that one of the girls packed the backpack while the other carried it. Could one of the two have planted the drugs? What role did Nick Parks play in all this? And, perhaps most importantly, will friendship win out in the end?

Claire Danes is often touted as one of Hollywood's most talented young actresses, and I am not about to disagree. Bill Pullman, long a cult favorite of mine, might not want to begin finishing his Oscar speech just yet, however. Granted, "Yankee" Hank Green does not offer him much to work with, but Pullman is as stiff as always. Kate Beckinsale is quickly reduced to a whimpering sideshow, and, from that point on, she only serves as a distraction. Though the films are fundamentally different, I enjoyed Richard Gere's American-in-a-foreign land turn in Red Corner much more than Brokedown Palace. It contained the sort of drama and compelling plot that made the viewer eager to see what happened next. Brokedown Palace is just that - an unwanted diversion along the way.

Cast:

Certification: Rated PG-13.
Running Time: 100 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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