PARADISE HIGHWAY
US, 2022, 115 minutes, Colour.
Juliette Binoche, Frank Grillo, Morgan Freeman, Hala Finley, Cameron Monaghan, Veronica Ferrers, Desiree Wood.
Directed by Anna Gutto.
The drama does not exactly live up to its title. This is no Paradise. And the highways are those of the southern states of the US, Tennessee, Mississippi…
In fact, this is a Juliette Binoche film. She has shown over several decades her versatility and a wide range of roles, French dramas and comedies, arthouse films, and quite a number of films internationally, even venturing into the world of Godzilla. But, we have not seen her in a role quite like this.
She plays Sally, a tough truckie, swearing-mouthed, driving her cargo around the highways, in radio contact with a number of her sister-drivers who do come to her help in times of trouble. She has a brother, strange to see her billed along with Frank Grillo who is best known for action thrillers, especially with Bruce Willis. He is in prison, bashed in prison, about to get out, but influenced by some of the thugs, and getting Sally to drive a special cargo.
So, while the film has the elements of drama and thriller, it has a strong social conscience because the cargo is a young girl (very vigorous performance by Hala Finley) who is to be delivered to traffickers. But, the young girl shoots the trafficker and she and Sally have to escape, to hide, and the police and the FBI become involved.
On the one hand, we have Sally and the girl able to escape the police, though Sally does go to the truckstop and gets drunk, and there is some sighting of the young girl. There is an escape, Sally drunk, and the girl driving the truck, evading the police on a side road. They then make contact with the brother who has come out of jail.
On the other hand, we have the earnest young FBI agent, Cameron Monaghan, rather wet behind the ears in terms of practical work, but working with an ex-agent who allows himself to go rogue when needed, and expected performance by Morgan Freeman. They work together, trying to solve the mystery of the dead trafficker, pursuing Sally, finding Sally and the girl.
In the meantime: Sally sells her truck, and plans to go to Florida with the young girl, caring for her. But, her brother is still in league with the traffickers and there is a violent showdown.
Very mixed reviews of the film, some condemning its cliche and predictability, others consider it a very serious drama about social issues and amazed at the performance by Juliette Binoche.
- A message film about human trafficking contained in a trucking thriller? Dividing the critics, dividing audiences, those focusing on the thriller aspects, those concerned about the social theme?
- The title, the open roads and highways, bridges, the towns, the truck stops, police precincts? The musical score, the use of One Thing and Another, and during the final credits?
- The cast, wide-ranging, Juliette Binoche and Frank Grillo as brother and sister? Accents? Morgan Freeman, his age, agent consultant? The truck drivers, Desiree Wood as a driver and is film consultant on trucking?
- The southern states, Tennessee, Mississippi… The police, human trafficking in young girls?
- Sally’s story, audience surprise at seeing Juliette Binoche in this role, tough, age, driving, swearing, drinking, her bond with her brother and the prison visit and phone calls with him? Memories of their childhood, later visiting the home? Her skill in driving, being asked to deliver the little girl, and willing, the pressure on Dennis from gangs within the prison, bashing him, making demands? Sally, the driving, the contact with the other women, the sisterhood of the drivers? The hostility of Leila, conflict between the two? The drive, arriving at the destination, the car and the dealer, Leila shooting him? Sally leaving him to die? Their escape?
- The introduction of the two traffickers, the contract with them, issues of the delivery, the money, getting in their car, driving, the death of the trafficker? The continued pursuit, where of the police, the buildup to the final confrontation? The link with Dennis?
- The murder scene, local police, the FBI, the young agent, nicknamed Yale, working with Derek, the banter between the two? Yale is very earnest, wet behind the years? Jerry, his age, his methods, working with Yale, their travels together, going to the truck stop, the interrogations, meeting Sally? Finding the leads, the pursuit of the truck, Sally invading them? Continuing to travel, Yale and is learning on the job? Derek and his conversations with Sally, his concern?
- Sally, at the truck stop, concealing Leila, Leila and the African American woman and her son, a moment respect? Sally, in the bar, dancing, drinking, escorted to the truck, the two women wanting Leila, Leila and the baseball bat? Sally being kicked? The escape, the police pursuit, Sally drunk, Leila guiding her, the side road and concealed?
- Dennis, released from jail, the going to the house, Sally and the scene of her selling her truck, wanting the money to look after Leila? Leila is a strong personality? The decision to go to the dealers and by Leila? Dennis going, meeting with the dealers, the gun, the shooting, the husband killed? Sally, the confrontation with Dennis?
- Meeting with Yale and Garrick, the conversations between Sally and Garrick, his letting him go, the future?
- The effect of the film as a drama, is a thriller, social concern?
