PARADISE
US, 2014, 86 minutes, Colour.
Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Octavius Spencer, Nick Offerman, Holly Hunter, Kathleen Rose Perkins.
Directed by Diablo Cody.
Diablo Cody is best known for writing the screenplay of Juno. She also wrote Jennifer’s Body and Young Adult. Here she has written and directed Paradise.
The film has a tilt at narrow-minded religious communities in such states as Montana. The film focuses on a young woman, Lamb, played by Julianne Hough, who has experienced severe burns in a plane crash and who has lost her faith in God, and says this at a religious ceremony – where a minister had expected a good donation from the large payout that she received from insurance.
She decides to experience the world and goes off to Las Vegas which is presented in all its glitz as well is its pitfalls. Paradise is the nickname for the Strip section of Las Vegas.
The film shows on screen a list of seven sins to which she succumbs. However, she is helped by a sympathetic British barmen played in his usual eccentric style and accent by Russell Brand. Also helping is a middle-aged lounge singer, very unsuccessful, with a drinking problem, played effectively by Octavia Spencer.
Lamb goes through various experiences, succumbing to some temptations, learning lessons from others, especially the friendship of Octavia Spencer and gallantry of Russell Brand.
Holly Hunter appears in a supporting role as Lamb’s mother.
1. The title? Images of heaven? Heaven and earth? Las Vegas and its overtones?
2. The work of Diablo Cody, her screenplays, her stories about young women, direction?
3. The Montana setting, the church congregation, the contrast with Las Vegas, the Strip, Paradise, the real Las Vegas, the clubs, casinos, the touts in the street, the bars, the lounges? The feel for the city and its atmosphere? The musical score?
4. Lamb, her name, her family, the religious attitudes, Conservative? Going to the church, her parents in the congregation? The image of Lamb before the accident? The story of the fire, the plane, the crash, the pilot dying, the skin grafts and her explanation from the lectern, the huge payout? Her denunciation?
5. The parents at the church, anxious, her leaving, the return, her mother and yoga, her father and, wanting to be open-minded, but her to remain conservative? The talk, her making peace with them, her decision to go out and see the world?
6. The preacher, the introduction, the congregation, the reactions?
7. The device of listing the sins on the screen and Lamb’s experience?
8. Las Vegas, her intentions, naive, the hotel and settling in, having the plates? The big roll of cash? The tout, Amber’s photo on the card? The television
for the Chatelet on the television? The visit to the bar, the lounge, William the counter, his appearance, her talking to him, his offer of friendship, the drinks, the introduction to Loray, her singing, people booing? The talk afterwards, Loray and her hard style, not believing Lamb’s story? The raid deciding to take Lamb under her wing?
9. William, British, his look, his manner? His work at the bar, his humour? Lamb and the drink, Lamb’s story, his friendship?
10. Loray taking Lamb around the town, the loss at the poker machine, hard lessons, Loray and her continuing to drink? William finding them? Lamb being assertive, rude, going off?
11. Going to the Chatelet, in the restroom, recognising Amber, the drinking and being sick? Listening to Amber’s story, giving her the money, the cheque, the effect on her?
12. William finding her, the going to the arcade, on the high wire and the exhilaration, Loray and her Florida story, having to leave?
13. William taking her back to the hotel, her making advances, his resistance, sitting on the roof, her telling her story, William and his gallant behaviour?
14. Lamb and learning some lessons, the return home, the more quiet branching out, going travelling and seeing the world?
