Return to Paradise (1998)
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- R
- 1h 51min
- Drama, Romance
- 14 Aug 1998 (USA)
- Movie
Two friends must choose whether to help a third friend who was arrested in Malaysia for drug possession.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Vince Vaughn | ... |
Sheriff
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| Anne Heche | ... |
Beth
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| Joaquin Phoenix | ... |
Lewis
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| David Conrad | ... |
Tony
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| Vera Farmiga | ... |
Kerrie
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| Nick Sandow | ... |
Ravitch
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| Jada Pinkett Smith | ... |
M.J.
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Ming Lee | ... |
Mr. Chandran
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| Joel de la Fuente | ... |
Mr. Doramin
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| Richard Chang | ... |
Prosecutor
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| James McCauley | ... |
Famous Divorce Lawyer
(as James Michael McCauley)
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| Brette Taylor | ... |
Young Woman in Limo
(as a different name)
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Deanna Yusoff | ... |
Woman in Bar
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| David Zayas | ... |
Construction Foreman
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Amy Wong | ... |
Ticket Agent
(as Amy Wong)
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Is Issariya | ... |
Malaysian Woman in Hammock
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Ed Hodson | ... |
Features Editor
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| Kevin Scullin | ... |
Doorman #1
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Glenn Patrick | ... |
Doorman #2
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Yusmal Ghazali | ... |
1st Scruffy Guy
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Aril Izani | ... |
2nd Scruffy Guy
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Kwak Wai | ... |
3rd Scruffy Guy
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| Curzon Dobell | ... |
Client
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| Vincent Patrick | ... |
Tavern Waiter
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| Elizabeth Rodriguez | ... |
Gaby
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Patrick Teoh | ... |
Chief Justice
(as Teoh Kah Yong)
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Rebecca Bitton | ... |
Hotel Waitress
(as Rebecca Saifer)
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Rebecca Boyd | ... |
Restaurant Hostess
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Woon-Kin Chin | ... |
Guard
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Regina Wu | ... |
Bailiff
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Marshall Dancing Elk Lucas | ... |
Actor
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| Raymond J. Barry | ... |
Sheriff's Father (uncredited)
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| George F. Miller | ... |
Junk Yard Worker (uncredited)
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| Rose Sias | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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| Todd Stockman | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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| Ben Van Bergen | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Joseph Ruben | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
| Pierre Jolivet | ... | (motion picture Force Majeure) and |
| Olivier Schatzky | ... | (motion picture Force Majeure) (as O. Schatzky) |
| Wesley Strick | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Bruce Robinson | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| David Arnold | ... | executive producer |
| Alain Bernheim | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Lashan Browning | ... | assistant producer |
| Steve Golin | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Ezra Swerdlow | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Mark Mancina | ... | (music by) |
Cinematography by
| Reynaldo Villalobos | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Craig McKay | ... | (edited by) |
| Andrew Mondshein | ... | (edited by) |
Editorial Department
| Michelle Botticelli | ... | second assistant editor |
| Jennifer Davidoff Cook | ... | first assistant editor |
| John Scott Cook | ... | assistant editor |
| Naomi Geraghty | ... | assistant editor |
| David Orr | ... | color timer |
| John Sosnovsky | ... | assistant editor (as John Sosnovski) |
| Paul Wagtouicz | ... | post-production assistant |
| Laura Weinberg | ... | apprentice editor |
Casting By
| Kathleen Chopin | ... | (casting by) |
Production Design by
| Bill Groom | ... | (production design) |
Art Direction by
| Dennis Bradford | ||
| Rui Xiang Peng | ... | (as Rosa Pang) |
Set Decoration by
| Beer Burimkoon | ... | (set decorator thailand) |
| Frank Grasso | ||
| Betsy Klompus | ||
Costume Design by
| Juliet Polcsa | ... | (costume design) |
Makeup Department
| Kathryn Bihr | ... | makeup department head |
| Lori Guidroz | ... | hair stylist: Personal for Anne Heche |
| Elaine L. Offers | ... | makeup artist: anne heche |
| Anthony Veader | ... | key hair stylist: New York |
Production Management
| Wan Allen | ... | production supervisor |
| Tim Clawson | ... | executive in charge of production |
| Joel Hatch | ... | production supervisor |
| Penny Kanjanapinchote | ... | production manager |
| Linda Shamest | ... | post-production supervisor (as Linda Rae Shamest) |
| Lucille Masone Smith | ... | assistant production manager |
| Ezra Swerdlow | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Julie A. Bloom | ... | second assistant director |
| Jack Gill | ... | second unit director |
| Tippawan 'Paew' Mamanee | ... | second assistant director |
| Michael E. Steele | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Natalie N. Dorset | ... | art department coordinator |
| Emily Gaunt | ... | scenic |
| Michael Herlihy | ... | carpenter |
| Teddy Janicki | ... | scenic industrial |
| Josh Liveright | ... | construction production assistant |
| Miguel López-Castillo | ... | assistant art director |
| Silvija L. Moess | ... | scenic artist |
| Christopher Nelson | ... | leadman |
| Celia Parker | ... | scenic artist |
| Addison Pettit | ... | graphic designer |
| Raymond M. Samitz | ... | construction coordinator |
| Karl Shefelman | ... | storyboard artist |
| Carol Silverman | ... | assistant set decorator |
| Thitiya Tongbai | ... | props (as Thitiya Thongbai) |
| Ross La Terra | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Stan Bochner | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Jeanne Gilliland | ... | boom operator |
| Bobby Johanson | ... | adr recordist |
| Richard Q. King | ... | sound effects editor (as Richard King) |
| Kevin Lee | ... | sound editor |
| Barry Malawski | ... | assistant adr editor |
| Branka Mrkic | ... | dialogue editor |
| William Sarokin | ... | sound mixer |
| Reilly Steele | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Brian Vancho | ... | foley artist |
Visual Effects by
| Craig Barron | ... | visual effects supervisor: matte world |
| Krystyna Demkowicz | ... | executive in charge of production: matte world |
| Paul Rivera | ... | digital composite supervisor: matte world |
| Morgan Trotter | ... | cg artist |
Stunts
| Joe Bucaro III | ... | stunt double: Sheriff (as Joseph Bucaro III) |
| Peter Bucossi | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Keith Campbell | ... | stunt double: Tony |
| Victor Chan | ... | stunts: Guard |
| Jack Gill | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Janet Paparazzo | ... | stunt double: Young Woman in Limo |
| Jimmy N. Roberts | ... | stunt double: joaquin phoenix |
| Jimmy P. Wong | ... | stunts: Guard (as Jimmy Pui Wong) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Peter C. Caldwell | ... | best boy electric |
| Michael Cambria | ... | second assistant camera: "a" camera |
| Jack Coffen | ... | gaffer: rigging |
| Phil Cohen | ... | first assistant camera: "b" camera |
| Steve Comesky | ... | rigging electric |
| Edwin Effrein | ... | first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Edwin A. Effrein) |
| James W. Finnerty | ... | key grip |
| Chris Hammond | ... | rigging electric |
| Matthew Hanlon | ... | rigging grip |
| Patrick Ho | ... | second assistant camera |
| Tom Kerwick | ... | best boy grip |
| David Knox | ... | camera operator: "a" camera (as David T. Knox) |
| Dave Lowry | ... | dolly grip (as David Lowry) |
| Jonathan Lumley | ... | gaffer |
| Bruce MacCallum | ... | camera operator: "b" camera |
| Scott Maguire | ... | camera trainee |
| Phil Oetiker | ... | additional camera operator |
| Mark Proscia | ... | electrician |
| Adam Putnam-Thomas | ... | second assistant camera: "b" camera |
| William M. Weberg | ... | grip |
| Jamie Weidenhorn | ... | assistant camera |
| Howard Weiner | ... | video playback |
| Barry Wetcher | ... | still photographer |
Casting Department
| David H. Kramer | ... | adr voice casting |
| Karen Meisels | ... | casting associate |
| Eric Zuckerman | ... | casting associate |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Elizabeth Feldbauer | ... | costume supervisor |
Location Management
| Jeffrey Angel | ... | location assistant |
| Patty Carey | ... | location assistant |
| Michael Kriaris | ... | assistant location manager |
| Derrick Loris | ... | location assistant |
| Lyn Pinezich | ... | location manager |
| King Lee | ... | location scout (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Ron Applegate | ... | musician: french horn solo |
| Robb Boyd | ... | music production coordinator |
| Jon Clarke | ... | musician: oboe and english horn |
| Thomas S. Drescher | ... | music editor |
| Mark Mancina | ... | orchestrator |
| Dave Metzger | ... | orchestrator |
| Frankie Pine | ... | music supervisor |
| Fred Selden | ... | musician: solo flute and ethnic woodwind |
| Christopher Ward | ... | composer: additional music / music producer: score |
| Mark Mancina | ... | music mixer (uncredited) / music producer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Corey B. Yugler | ... | script supervisor (as Corey Yugler) |
Transportation Department
| Antonio Molina | ... | transportation coordinator: additional shooting |
Additional Crew
| Randall Balsmeyer | ... | title designer |
| David Boyle | ... | Vice President: Legal And Business Affairs - Propaganda Films |
| Lashan Browning | ... | assistant: ezra swerdlow |
| Jessica Johnson Tavenner | ... | second accounting assistant (as Jessica Johnson) |
| Takahide Kawakami | ... | set production assistant |
| Meredith Mills | ... | production secretary |
| Matthew Ogens | ... | set production assistant |
| Jodi Shapera | ... | first assistant accountant |
| Jude Poyer | ... | stand-in: joaquin phoenix, hong kong (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Polygram Filmed Entertainment (1998) (United States) (theatrical)
- Polygram Filmed Entertainment (1998) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner Sogefilms S.A. (1998) (Spain) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox Argentina (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Budapest Film (1999) (Hungary) (theatrical)
- PolyGram (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1999) (France) (theatrical)
- CIC Victor Video (2001) (Japan) (VHS)
- WOWOW (2001) (Japan) (tv)
- Universal Pictures (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- LA7 (2016) (Italy) (tv)
- LA7d (2016) (Italy) (tv)
- Justbridge Entertainment (2020) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Justbridge Entertainment (2020) (Germany) (DVD)
- One Gate Media (2023) (Germany) (DVD)
- Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
- PolyGram Video (United States) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Dolby Digital (in selected theatres)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- Kodak Motion Picture Film (acknowledgement)
- Lucasfilm THX / TAP Theater Alignment Program (Quality assurance services were provided by)
- Reeltime Creative (trailer music)
- Rocky Mountain Motion Pictures (filmed with: cameras)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Three friends share an exciting vacation in Malaysia, full of fun, drinks, women and hash. When the vacation is over, each have dreams of continuing their lives, and they all go their separate ways. One of them (Phoenix) remains on the tropical paradise to fulfill a dream of working with apes for research. Two years later, a lawyer (Heche) comes to New York and hunts down the other two friends to give some sad news. A few days after they left the island, police raided their camp and found amazingly large quantities of hash left about. Phoenix was still residing there, so he had to take the blame. He is set to be put to death in 8 days, and the only way the charges can be decreased is if the two friends come back to paradise and take their share of the responsibilty. If they do, they both will spend three years in prison. If only one does, he will spend six years behind bars... Written by R.P. Falvey |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Give up three years of their lives or give up the life of their friend. They have eight days to decide. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Opening Weekend United States | $2,465,129, 16 Aug 1998 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Film debut of Vera Farmiga. See more » |
| Goofs | Long opening series of street scenes, local "color", was obviously filmed in Buddhist Thailand, complete with saffron-robed monks and red-green-gold Thai temples - Malaysia (population has 30 % non-Muslim minorities) doesn't have go-go bars or obvious brothels unlike Thailand). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in How Stella Got Her Groove Back/Return to Paradise/Snake Eyes/The Rat Pack/Full Tilt Boogie (1998). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Jing Jing (Firefly) See more » |
| Quotes |
Sheriff:
I'm here, Lewis, I'm right here. You're not alone, Lewis. Look at me, Lewis. You're not alone, Lewis. Look at me. You're not alone. I'm here. Look at me. See me, Lewis. You're not alone. I'm right here. I'm right here, Lewis, I'm right here. I see you, Lewis. I'm right here. Lewis, you are not alone right now. I'm right here. You are not alone, Lewis. I see you. I see you, Lewis. I'm right here. You're not alone. You are not alone, Lewis! See more » |