A Review of

While watching "The Beach," you'll feel every wave of water, every breeze of air, every ray of sunshine. But not much else. Director Danny Boyle's adaptation of Alex Garland's

Monday, February 14th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

While watching "The Beach," you'll feel every wave of water, every breeze of air, every ray of sunshine.

But not much else.

Director Danny Boyle's adaptation of Alex Garland's allegorical novel captures all the environmental exteriors without locating any psychological interiors. "The Beach" is a great-looking movie that's drained of human interest.

All the characters' discoveries, conflicts and resolutions are predictable. Anyone who's ever taken a long nap knows that dreams can turn into nightmares. Even worse, the movie's attempts to state important truths register as pretentious. Predictability and pretentiousness are a deadly combo for any movie.

"The Beach" follows the odyssey of a young man known simply as Richard, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Although he hardly qualifies as the soul of sensitivity, Richard has wearied of computers, cell phones, video games and the Internet. For him, modern technology has taken the place of human interaction, and he's searching for something more meaningful.

Shortly after arriving in Bangkok, Richard thinks he may have found an answer. He meets the picturesquely decadent Daffy (Robert Carlyle), who scribbles a map to a secret island that promises the lure of paradise. However, a sense of serenity apparently evades Daffy; after giving Richard the map, he slits his wrists.

Richard persuades an attractive French couple to join him on his quest. Francoise (Virginie Ledoyen) and Etienne (Giullaume Canet) seem ripe for adventure and prey on Richard's fear of sharks during an exhausting swim through the open sea. To reach the beach, they must also jump from a 120-foot waterfall. These action scenes are definitely the film's highlight.

Once on the beach, they encounter a secret group of travelers, all of whom have dropped out of society, and enjoy the island's natural riches. They join the community, which is supervised by the enigmatic Sal (Tilda Swinton). But such familiar foibles as greed, rivalry and jealousy create trouble in paradise.

The performances cannot be faulted. Ms. Ledoyen is convincingly sprightly and passionate, and Mr. Canet's unselfish Etienne provides the film's moral anchor. Ms. Swinton's strong, almost primitive, features are ideal for Sal, and Mr. Carlyle is as persuasively debauched here as he was in Mr. Doyle's "Trainspotting."

As for Mr. DiCaprio, he strives for a subtlety that the movie doesn't allow. As an actor, he invites your interest and even your empathy, but the detached screenplay prohibits such audience input.

As a result, you'll leave "The Beach" feeling washed out.