Written and directed by Andrea Di Stefano, Escobar: Paradise Lost is a French-Spanish romantic thriller. As the name suggests infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar is in the mix, but this isn't his biography. The Toronto International Film Festival (where it premiered) nicely sums up the plot: "A [Canadian] surfer (Josh Hutcherson, The Hunger Games) meets the girl of his dreams — but gets a brutal (sur)reality check when he meets her uncle, Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar (Benicio del Toro)." As you can imagine the dream quickly becomes a nightmare.
Benicio del Toro does a brilliant job being an Escobar you'll love to hate. Josh Hutcherson, aka Nick the Surfer, does not do such a spectacular job. Then again this may be because the character he plays is a complete idiot who doesn't notice the huge DANGER signs that life throws his way. He's blinded by love and seems oblivious to current affairs and the way the universe works. Overall, the film is engaging and yet has holes all at the same time. It has some great moments. But it can't be described as an especially good film. Watch it if you feel like being sucked into Colombia's underbelly. Also watch it if you appreciate Benicio del Toro's great talent as an actor and want to be awed by his on-screen presence. Just be prepared to meet the dumbest surfer ever.
Our rating: 7 Steps out of 10.
Watch the trailer here: