Leonardo DiCaprio is one of Hollywood’s biggest names but his early career saw him star in this movie, set against a tropical paradise, that has left viewers divided ever since.
The Beach features one of the world’s most famous and beautiful beaches, on the tiny Thai island of Ko Phi Phi Le. Ever since the film dropped, this once quiet island has become an absolute must-see on any backpacker’s bucket list but it’s not enough to get fans on board with the thriller.
Released in 2000, the film sees DiCaprio set out on an adventure as his character Richard travels to Bangkok and finds himself staying in a hotel near Khao San Road. Here he meets a fun-loving French couple and Daffy. They tell him tales of an unoccupied island, and Daffy leaves behind a map for him to uncover its hidden beach.
As they journey to the remote island, Richard becomes further infatuated with Françoise, one half of the couple he met, and when they reach their destination, things aren’t quite as they seem. They soon learn they aren’t alone and begin to form an unusual community with local settlers, while this forbidden romance with Françoise blossoms and further complicates their stay.
A Rotten Tomatoes review claimed: “Danny Boyle’s ‘The Beach’ offers an escape for those seeking it. It also emphasises the fact that even in isolation, paradise can consume. For those looking for a blockbuster Hollywood film with blockbuster actors… sure, you’ll find them. But you’ll miss the whole point of this film. Severely underrated film. Grateful for it.
Someone else shared: “Amazing and underrated. Not a love story or a dumb way to show a young DiCaprio. But an interesting reflection on our modern society on the research of pleasure at all costs and on the meaning of “paradise” in our lives.”
Starring alongside DiCaprio is Tilda Swinton, a big name in her own right, playing Sal, the leader of this newfound beach community on the island. Meanwhile, playing his love interest and the girlfriend of Étienne is Virginie Ledoyen, who was best known for her modelling career in the 90s and various roles in French films.
Others had less nice things to say about the Danny Boyle movie, criticising its storyline and adaptation of the book. One person wrote: “Just about watchable. Started ok but then descended into a muddled plot with Richard’s intangible mental collapse.”
Adding to the criticism, a viewer shared they felt the film was incredibly “problematic” when it came to the morals displayed by the characters. They wrote: “It glorifies acting selfishly, lying, manipulation and infidelity as positives. I have never actively HATED a main character more than Leo’s character in my entire life.
“He has blood on his hands, hurts people he is supposed to care about, ruins the paradise he spends the whole movie trying to find, and then the movie plays a happy jingle and shows you that everything works out fine for him, no consequences, no growth.”
According to Rotten Tomatoes scores, the Hollywood actor’s highest-rated film based on reviews is Catch Me If You Can, which came out just two years after The Beach.
Meanwhile, The Beach ranks way down the list at number 28 amongst his many films. To make up your own mind about DiCaprio’s role in the ever-divisive movie, The Beach, now streaming on Disney+.