In Mosquito Coast, Harrison Ford goes against his character type. Ford, while usually portraying the roguish anti-hero, plays an insufferable, condescending individual. Allie is a man who is obsessed with his vision of what he believes America should be. To accomplish his goal of creating a perfect civilization, he will slowly degenerate into a man with no humanity. Allie changes very drastically throughout the film. He wants things his own way, and will step on those who oppose him. He obsesses over
In Act 1: Allie Fox in the beginning of the film travels to the local hardware store. As he is traveling there he talks to his son, Charlie, about how he feels America is declining tremendously and how the "American Dream" has died a long time ago. A focal point Allie makes on his way to the store is about the commercialism and deceit of American companies undermining American products, which in his mind is leading the way to the decline of America, and selling foreign products to the American people, leaving American workers with fewer and fewer job opportunities.
Scene: Allie refuses to buy the Japanese product from the store. In this scene it is clear that Allie is strong in his belief that he wants to get away from this "American Way" of doing this business. Allie is obsessed with his way of life and this clear fit of irrationality is the start of his fanaticism.
Act 2: Allie and his family are now living in the town of Jironimo. Allie goes into a state of mad power and basically makes the natives build the utopia he had envisioned. He wants to be seen as a God among the natives with his ice that he believes is he areas top commodity.
Scene:After Allie kills the men by locking them in the "Fat Boy", it becomes clear that the he has slipped into a trance that he is now trapped in. His is a man that will do anything to keep this world, he has created, alive.
Fox hopes to start a new civilization amidst the poverty stricken, illiterate natives. Although his goal is to ‘save” his family from the perceived declining social structure of the United States, he is at least partially driven by an egotistical desire to be regarded as the heroic “savior” of the simple people he hopes to live among. Despite achieving some remarkable goals. Fox’s quest ends tragically when the civilization he so despises encroaches on his jungle paradise. (Pfeiffer 156)
Act 3: After Allie has been shot and the family is sailing the river, Charlie ends the film with his final log. “He’s a good father and a bad father. He’s a monster, a clown, a fool, a genius” (Pfeiffer 157). This scene shows that the effect of Allie's fanaticism has had on his family, but more so on his son Charlie.
In Act 1: Allie Fox in the beginning of the film travels to the local hardware store. As he is traveling there he talks to his son, Charlie, about how he feels America is declining tremendously and how the "American Dream" has died a long time ago. A focal point Allie makes on his way to the store is about the commercialism and deceit of American companies undermining American products, which in his mind is leading the way to the decline of America, and selling foreign products to the American people, leaving American workers with fewer and fewer job opportunities.
Scene: Allie refuses to buy the Japanese product from the store. In this scene it is clear that Allie is strong in his belief that he wants to get away from this "American Way" of doing this business. Allie is obsessed with his way of life and this clear fit of irrationality is the start of his fanaticism.
Act 2: Allie and his family are now living in the town of Jironimo. Allie goes into a state of mad power and basically makes the natives build the utopia he had envisioned. He wants to be seen as a God among the natives with his ice that he believes is he areas top commodity.
Scene:After Allie kills the men by locking them in the "Fat Boy", it becomes clear that the he has slipped into a trance that he is now trapped in. His is a man that will do anything to keep this world, he has created, alive.
Fox hopes to start a new civilization amidst the poverty stricken, illiterate natives. Although his goal is to ‘save” his family from the perceived declining social structure of the United States, he is at least partially driven by an egotistical desire to be regarded as the heroic “savior” of the simple people he hopes to live among. Despite achieving some remarkable goals. Fox’s quest ends tragically when the civilization he so despises encroaches on his jungle paradise. (Pfeiffer 156)
Act 3: After Allie has been shot and the family is sailing the river, Charlie ends the film with his final log. “He’s a good father and a bad father. He’s a monster, a clown, a fool, a genius” (Pfeiffer 157). This scene shows that the effect of Allie's fanaticism has had on his family, but more so on his son Charlie.
Raven Richard
ReplyDeleteI agree with these scenes. Allie Fox has completely become obsessed with criticizing the way America did things. I think this film could have gone a little deeper into his issue with America. For example, why he does not agree with the customs and ideals. Act 1 is also the main scene because it shows why all the other events later happened. With Allie not liking the “American Way” it forces him to come up with other alternatives when it comes to living life to his own standard. His family begins to see his recklessness when he kills the two men inside “fatboy.” The oldest son begins to start thinking for himself at this point. This is also when we start to see a shift in the family and the friends that once supported Allie. I think it is also important that the last quote in the film was mentioned because it shows the true transformation of Charlie. Charlie was once Allie’s biggest fan, but through the journey of what they have been through, Charlie was pushed into reality and realized it was dangerous situation. Charlie was finally liberated at the end of the film.