Review of Brokedown Palace

Introduction

Brokedown Palace was released a couple of years back without much fanfare and failed to make much of an impact at the box office. However, despite this, the film turns out to be a pleasant surprise, with good performances from the two female leads and a captivating, if slightly formulaic, script.

Alice (Claire Danes, from “Romeo and Juliet” and “My So Called Life”) and Darlene (Kate Beckinsale, who starred in the horrible “Pearl Harbor” and “The Last Days of Disco”) are two college-leavers on a summer holiday in steamy Thailand. Although I normally wouldn’t want to give the story away, both the trailer and the DVD box do so it seems to be OK: they both fall for a mystery man, who invites them for a weekend in Hong Kong. However, queuing at the airport check-in they are arrested for drug smuggling after police find heroin in their backpacks. From here they are taken to a prison, where they must soon discover what exactly has happened if they are ever to get out.

Video

The 2.35:1 anamorphically enhanced picture is an excellent example of what DVD can create. There is a high level of detail in every frame, the print is in great shape and the colours are spot on.

Audio

Although the bass and surrounds aren’t used hugely, the dramatic nature of the story means that it fits the film perfectly. The music is reproduced clearly and the dialogue is free from hiss.

Features

For what is a recent release with big name stars, there are disappointingly no extras of note here – only the theatrical trailer and cast & crew biographies. No documentary nor deleted scenes (of which I’d think there are quite a few judging by the short 96min running time). Very poor.

Conclusion

Although, from reading the plot summary on the back of the box, I first thought this movie was going to be a cross between Midnight Cowboy and Thelma and Louise, the storyline soon became very familiar. A trip to Thailand…check. Drug involved imprisonment…check. Thai prison brutality…where have I seen this before? Return to Paradise got there first and was a better film, but Brokedown Palace is still an interesting film in its own right. A little short on characterisation perhaps (the short running time smacks of studio enforced cuts) and it does have a cheesy ending, but Danes and Beckinsale work well together and regular ER director Jonathan Kaplan shows his efficiency behind the camera. The DVD is good technically, with great picture and good sound, but very bare. I would only get this if I could pick it up cheaply, otherwise I would rent instead of buy.