MOVIE: Escobar: Paradise Lost

Escobar: Paradise Lost: The paradise that is lost is a surfing spot near Medellin, Columbia.  The Escobar reference is to Pablo Escobar, the Columbian drug lord.  The years are 1983 and 1991.  A young Canadian named Nick (Josh Hutcherson) and his brother, Dylan (Brady Corbet), come to Columbia to run a surf camp.  Nick becomes infatuated with a woman named Maria (Claudia Traisac) who is opening up a medical clinic for the poor.  The clinic is paid for by her uncle, Pablo Escobar (Benicio Del Toro).  I had forgotten that Escobar was an elected Columbian senator.  In the early scenes when you see Escobar interacting with his extended family, you start to wonder whether the storyline is going to present Escobar differently than his media image.  Andrea Di Stefano, who authored this fictional script, is also the director.  He has an interesting idea and, with Del Toro as Escobar, a superb actor giving a superb performance.  Unfortunately, part of the potential suspense was lost by opening the film in 1991 and then returning to 1983.  The second and larger problem is Nick as played by Hutcherson.  You have no idea why Maria is attracted to Nick nor do you have any idea why Escobar takes Nick under his wing, even knowing that Maria is a very favored niece.  Dylan, the brother, is more complex a character, but he virtually vanishes from the film once Maria and Nick start living at the Escobar compound.  Hutcherson has some strong scenes towards the end of this 120 minute film, which leaves you wondering where this guy was earlier when he could have listened to his brother’s warning.  The film is in English and Spanish.  While there is an undertone of violence, there is no on screen violence during the first two-thirds of the movie.  The film kept me involved, but Nick was just not a believable character.  If, like me, you are a fan of Benicio Del Toro, you won’t be disappointed.  Del Toro’s performance is the primary reason for seeing this movie.