- Actors: Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, River Phoenix, Conrad Roberts, Andre Gregory
- Directors: Peter Weir
- Writers: Paul Schrader, Paul Theroux
- Producers: Jerome Hellman, Neville C. Thompson, Saul Zaentz
- Format: PAL, Colour
- Language English, Spanish
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- VHS Release Date: 3 April 2000
- Run Time: 117 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CWC8
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 26,853 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Harrison Ford (Star Wars; Witness; Raiders of the Lost Ark; Cowboys & Aliens) has one of his best ever roles here in this grossly overlooked adventure/drama from the mid-80's.
Directed by Peter Weir (Picnic at Hanging Rock; Gallipoli) and based on a novel by Paul Theroux, it's the story of an eccentric and dogmatic inventor (Ford) who decides to sells his house and move his family, including wife, Helen Mirren (Savage Messiah; Caligula; Cal; The Queen) and eldest son, River Phoenix (Stand by Me; My Own Private Idaho; Indian Jones and the Last Crusade) to Central America so he can build an ice factory in the middle of the jungle.
Conflicts with his family, a local preacher and with nature are only small obstacles to his obsession !.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I read recently that this is Harrison Ford's favourite movies out of those he has made. It's not difficult to see why. It is certainly a departure for him. Although he is the leading charcater in it he is far from his heroic self. In the film he is a "serious" character whose manic obsession with creating his perfect world endangers both himself and more importantly his young family. In a classic "over-reacher" narrative, Allie Fox (Ford) pushes beyond the accepted level for a married man whose priorities ought to be his family. The results are predictably disastrous. At once, Fox is both hero and villain, funny and scary, likeable and loathable, driven and yet misguided. I also read that the film was first offered to Jack Nicholson who declined yet he would have been absoluteley perfect for the role since Fox might have been the sibling of MacMurphy in Cuckoo's Nest or Jack Torrance in The Shning. Yet Ford is perfect too and although he is avery different actor to Nicholson the fact that he pulls it off shows what depth he is capable of as an actor-a pity then that we have seen this depth in Ford's films far too seldom.
I decline from awarding the DVD of this film a full 5 marks due to the lack of extras-a documentary and an interview or two would have made the purchase of this DVD essential for all serious film fans.
I decline from awarding the DVD of this film a full 5 marks due to the lack of extras-a documentary and an interview or two would have made the purchase of this DVD essential for all serious film fans.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Witness. Dead poet's society. Green card. The Truman show. You've heard of those films I'm sure. But what about this one: The Mosquito Coast.. ? All directed by Peter Weir.
I'll admit to a little bias, this is my favourite film. I love those others too, so maybe if you liked them it's worth checking this one out. BBC2 show it from time to time. I only wish they would release it on DVD.
The film is a pretty close reproduction of Paul Theroux's book of the same name. BBC2 fans will know of the author's son, Louis, from his weird weekends and off beat interviews.
The action starts in typical America - predictable, arid, and swamped with Japanese imports... our (anti-)hero, maverick inventor Allie Fox (Harrison Ford) decides to uproot his wife and family (Helen Mirren, River Phoenix, etc), and relocate them all to a remote jungle town where they are to live in a utopia far removed from the modern world, but also far removed from what the native people are used to.
Of course this tense paradise cannot last, and the story unfolds with conflicts-a-plenty: undiscovered jungle tribes; bible bashing missionaries, and gun toting mercenaries.
The film is narrated by Allie's son Charlie (River Phoenix) in perhaps his best role before his untimely death. The feel of the picture is almost undescribable.. the cinematograpy awe-inspiring without being cliche.. the acting flawless, story captivating...
In short.. a little known masterpiece from an otherwise well known director
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
A truly inspiring film with scenery to match. River Phoenix excells in the role of narrator, and makes the film his own, Helen Mirren plays the long suffering wife to an insane inventor, when the inventor decides that America is no longer the place to be he goes in search of a dream. He finds his dream but before to long his dream turns into a nightmare, and is left to suffer the consequeces.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Perhaps Overlooked, But Still Great!
The Mosquito Coast may be a film that you have never heard of or seen on the TV. I am not sure why this is the case but the film did not really take off in the way it should have,... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Hayley Blondiee Shannon
The Mosquito Coast
Was strange script about church!
Seems a little bit daring to do,script seems to disrespect priesthood,lighting striked yet????Odd movie.
What was it about? Read more
Seems a little bit daring to do,script seems to disrespect priesthood,lighting striked yet????Odd movie.
What was it about? Read more
Published 7 months ago by Alison
Great film but no widescreen.
It's a great film which showcases Harrison Ford's acting talents beyond Indiana and Jack Ryan. Sadly it's presented in pan and scan. Shame on Warners. Where's the widescreen?
Published 13 months ago by Rafer Janders
Underwhelming Viewing
I read Mosquito Coast and then watched the video - I have to say I wasn't impressed! It wasn't an easy book to read and in fact most of the people in my book group gave up on it... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Canna
Living off The land with the church looking on
I thought that this film was very thought provoking in a fresh way. Ali Fox's Harrison Ford) sour view against the church and it's missionary work resonate in humerous outbursts... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Brian
The mosquito coast
Absolutley stunning performance from River Phoenix.
A very touching movie. I strongly recommend it to all River Phoenix fans. x
A very touching movie. I strongly recommend it to all River Phoenix fans. x
Published 20 months ago by jan
Gripping film.
This is one of those films that we forget. I think it was one of Harrisons Ford's best acting performances.
A wonderful story, with an excellent line up of actors. Read more
A wonderful story, with an excellent line up of actors. Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2010 by Ben
Great film
Great purchase and definitely a movie one can watch more than once. Not a big Ford fan but he was excellent in this film and so believable he gave me goose bumps. Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2009 by Albicocca
harrison ford at his meanest
at the start i only bought this film because of a still growing obsession with river phoenix. after watching it though it has become one of my favourite harrison ford films. Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2003 by Lilly Cunningham
Brilliantly acted, cutting and moving
This film was slammed by the critics, presumably because it portrays a horrific version of the American dream. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2001 by matt@cawson.fsnet.co.uk
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