"Mosquito Coast" - Harrison Ford's Best Work

Cafe Society
1

I don’t know how many of you have seen this movie, but I’d say its Harrison Ford’s best performances, in one of the best written movies he’s been in. Excellent performance as an ideallist reun amok. In case anyone hasn’t seen the movie, he’s especially chiilling when,

he compares the mosquito to the guerillas he’s about to freeze to death, saying, “Don’t be sorry for them.” And telling his family America was annihilated by nuclear war. And saying if his family leaves him they’re betraying him. Hell, he’s just so damn chilling and villinous so much, its such a great performance..

2

Oh, so you’re the person who liked this movie. :smiley:

I watched and absolutely hated the character. I just didn’t buy the performance. It was an interesting choice for Ford to make, I’ll give him that much.

3

I’m the other guy who liked this movie – it is, in fact, one of my favorites and one of my favorties with Ford.

All in all a well made and affecting film.

4

I liked it a lot. My favorite line was in the scene quoted above:

After telling the kid not to feel sorry for the poachers, Ford slaps a mosquito on his neck. Then he shows his hand to the kid and says, “See that? That’s not his blood. That’s my blood.”

Creeped me out.

5

I liked the book better than the movie.
Now you may ask: “What else is new?”

6

That’s the thing, though… I don’t think you were supposed to like the character. I hated him while I was watching it too – I hated what he was doing to his family, and I hated the way he was doing it. You’re not meant to enjoy it, really.

Which is the really amazing thing about Ford’s performance in the film. He’s normally the master of the instantly likeable character, but in this he’s completely unlikeable. It’s an impressive performance, and somehow the fact that it was Ford who pulled it off makes it even more so. He took audiences who love to love him and made them hate him.

Good movie… though my favorite Peter Weir movie is definitely Fearless (partially because you’re never sure what to think about the main character), Mosquito Coast definitely ranks high, and it also is definitely one of Ford’s best roles, if not the best outright.

7

I think about you when I go to the bathroom.

8

Odd…I was just thinking about this book today and wondered why I have not seen the film yet.

I think the reason is that I liked the book, but felt it was depressing enough to read it once - didn’t need to see the film to re-live the experience.

Seriously…this is almost creepy to see this thread, having thought of the book for no good reason today!

9

Best line in the film was at the end, when it’s obvious the guy is dying, and he looks at his wife and says, "Are we still going upstream, mother?

I loved the movie. I don’t know if it was Ford’s best, though. I think it’s a toss-up with Blade Runner*

10

When I’m feeling particularly insane I’ll try to slip the line:

Dead things go downstream, LIFE is UPSTREAM!

into conversation :D.
I liked the movie.

11

I can’t believe that a movie this stupid could actually be made? The plot and characters are tortally unbelievable! This idiot (Harrison Ford) decides (on a whim) to move his family to a malaria ridden jungle…and decides to show the indians some ice! Later, he escapes from a hurricane, by rebuilding an outboard motor that he finds on the beach? Frankly, I wish the whole family had perished…including that idiotic kid (the late River Phoenix).