Common Sense Media Review
By Corrina Antrobus
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Backpacking drama has violence, language, suicide, sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Beach
What's the Story?
THE BEACH sees a restless young adult, Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio), pursue hedonism and adventure by backpacking to Thailand. When a troubled tourist called Daffy (Robert Carlyle) shares his secret map for a secluded beach, Richard embarks upon a dangerous pilgrimage, bringing along French couple Françoise (Virginie Ledoyen) and Étienne (Guillaume Canet) for the ride. After overcoming hungry sharks and gun-toting marijuana farmers, they find the beach led by Sal (Tilda Swinton) and join the tight community of young people living by their own rules.
Is It Any Good?
Sun, sea, and observations on how Richard (a young DiCaprio) survived the world without a smartphone make this 2000 film a satisfying title to reflect on with families. The Beach presents a young man's idea of pure escapism, and then gets to work shredding it into nothing but a dangerous fantasy. This is where the film's main success lies. Where it falls apart is within its muddle of genres from romance and thriller to mystery and drama, which makes for some bumpy storytelling. Yet watching the film decades later spurs a nostalgia for when young travelers searched for their version of paradise in the absence of social media.
Swinton (Sal) is always a joy to watch, and here she plays a mesmerizing role of a powerful matriarch on the brink of losing control. DiCaprio is also perfectly cast as a young, ambitious, and irresistible fool. The film is directed by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle, who has a tendency toward dark stories involving lost souls and big dreamers, usually in terrifying circumstances -- see Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, and Shallow Grave. The Beach echoes those signature themes, but with not as much grip as Boyle's better works.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Beach's violence and disturbing imagery. Was it necessary to the plot? Was it thrilling, or upsetting? How did the movie achieve that reaction?
What would be the pros and cons of living on a secret island? Was the community of people on the island reflective of a diverse society? Why do you think they wanted to keep their beach a secret?
Smartphones were not around in the '90s when this film was set. How do you think the film would be different if the characters had access to the internet on their phones? Would the storyline still work?
How was sex portrayed in the film? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Have you read the book the movie is based on? How did this compare? What other movies based on books have you seen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 11, 2000
- On DVD or streaming : January 3, 2005
- Cast : Leonardo DiCaprio , Tilda Swinton , Virginie Ledoyen
- Director : Danny Boyle
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 119 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, some strong sexuality, language and drug content
- Last updated : July 4, 2022
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