Escobar: Paradise Lost#Pre-production

{{Infobox film

| name = Escobar: Paradise Lost

| image = Paradise Lost theatrical release poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| producer = Frederique Dumas
Dimitri Rassam
Jerome Seydoux{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/98180-josh-hutcherson-joins-paradise-lost|title=Josh Hutcherson Joins Paradise Lost|publisher=Comingsoon.net|author=Silas Lesnick|date=December 17, 2012|access-date=May 7, 2015}}

| writer = Andrea Di Stefano

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Max Richter

| cinematography = Luis David Sansans

| editing = David Brenner
Maryline Monthieux

| production_companies = Chapter 2
Nexus Factory
Pathé
Roxbury Pictures
uFilm

| distributor = Pathé Distribution (France and Switzerland)
Entertainment One (Spain)

| released = {{Film date|2014|09|11|TIFF|2014|11|05|France|2015|6|26|United States}}

| runtime = 120 minutes{{cite web | url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/escobar-paradise-lost-film | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121114621/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/escobar-paradise-lost-film | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 21, 2016 | title=ESCOBAR: PARADISE LOST (15) | work=British Board of Film Classification | date=July 16, 2015 | access-date=July 16, 2015}}

| country = France
Spain
{{Cite web|url=https://en.unifrance.org/movie/35234/paradise-lost|title = Escobar: Paradise Lost (2013)}}

| language = English
Spanish

| budget =

| gross = $3.8 million{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=paradiselost2014.htm|title=Escobar: Paradise Lost|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=September 7, 2015}}

}}

Escobar: Paradise Lost (also known as Paradise Lost) is a 2014 romantic thriller film written and directed by Andrea Di Stefano{{cite web|url=http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-pictures-benicio-del-toro-escobar-paradise-lost-josh-hutcherson/|title=First Pictures of Benicio del Toro in 'Escobar - Paradise Lost' with Josh Hutcherson|publisher=ropeofsilicon.com|date=August 12, 2014|access-date=August 21, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/josh-hutcherson-cant-escape-pablo-escobar-in-paradise-lost-trailer-video/|title=Josh Hutcherson Can't Escape Pablo Escobar in 'Paradise Lost' Trailer (Video)|publisher=TheWrap|date=July 15, 2014|access-date=August 21, 2014}} in his directorial debut. The film chronicles the life of a surfer who falls in love while working with his brother in Colombia and finds out that the girl's uncle is Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/first-look-at-benicio-del-toro-as-pablo-escobar-in/344348|title=First look at Benicio Del Toro as Pablo Escobar in 'Paradise Lost'|publisher=NME|date=July 16, 2014|access-date=August 21, 2014}}

RADiUS-TWC acquired the North American distribution rights of the film in February 2014.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/paradise-lost-acquisition-radius-twc-benecio-del-toro-pablo-escobar-681150/|title=Berlin: Radius-TWC Pays $2 Million For Pablo Escobar Pic 'Paradise Lost'|website=Deadline Hollywood|author=Mike Fleming Jr|date=February 11, 2014|access-date=August 21, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/berlin-radius-twc-nabs-pablo-679305|title=Berlin: Radius-TWC Nabs Pablo Escobar Film 'Paradise Lost' for North America|work=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Rebecca Ford|date=February 11, 2014|access-date=August 21, 2014}} The film premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2014 and had a limited release in the United States on June 26, 2015.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

Plot

Nick Brady is in Colombia with his brother when he meets Maria. She is the niece of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. As both Nick and Maria see how dangerous life can be around her uncle Pablo the pair decide to leave Colombia along with Nick's brother, wife and child.

Before they can all get away together Nick and several other "trusted" men are summoned by Pablo, where he will tell them that he made a deal with the Colombian government and will be going away to prison for a very long time. Because of this, he asks the men to go to various locations and to hide his valuable inventory in caves where it would stay for the duration of his prison term. Nick is then told to meet a guide, drive to a cave, place the boxes he's been given in the cave, then dynamite the entrance. Having done that, Nick is to then kill the guide, but Nick finds himself unwilling to kill, especially when the guide turns out to be only 15.

In aiding the guide, Nick discovers he is also on Pablo's hit list. Stuck in a small town where hired killers as well as local police and militia search for him, Nick narrowly escapes and tries to meet up with Maria at a Canadian consulate.

On his way to meet with Maria, Nick finally manages to call his brother's place to warn them to get out, but Escobar's men are already there and have killed his brother, and shoot his brother's wife and child while Nick is on the phone with her.

Two of Escobar's hired guns get into a shootout with Nick and he kills them both, but not before being hit by a bullet. He does manage to meet up with Maria across from the consulate, but he dies soon after. Maria’s fate is left unclear when she tries to get help from the consulate but runs into more of Escobar's men as she does.

Cast

Benicio del Toro as Pablo Escobar
Josh Hutcherson as Nick Brady
Claudia Traisac as Maria
Brady Corbet as Dylan Brady
Carlos Bardem as Drago
Ana Girardot as Anne
Aaron Zebede as Pepito Torres
Frank Spano as Christo
Laura Londoño as María Victoria
Micke Moreno as Martin

Production

=Pre-production=

Of the storyline, Di Stefano claimed "the idea came from three sentences [I] heard from a police officer about a real-life young Italian fellow who went to Colombia to meet his brother, somehow became close to the Escobar family, and then got in trouble."{{cite web|url=http://www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle/dubai-international-film-festival/andrea-di-stefano-on-getting-into-the-mind-of-gangster-pablo-escobar|title=Andrea Di Stefano on getting into the mind of gangster Pablo Escobar|publisher=thenational.ae|author=Rob Garratt|date=December 15, 2014|access-date=January 1, 2015}}

Hutcherson served as an executive producer for the film, alongside Andrea Di Stefano, assisting with casting and blocking shots.{{cite web|url=http://www.out.com/entertainment/movies/2013/10/09/josh-hutcherson-straight-talker-hunger-games-threesome|title=Josh Hutcherson, Straight Talker|publisher=Out|author=Shana Naomi Krochmal|date=October 9, 2013|access-date=January 1, 2015}}

=Casting=

On December 17, 2012, it was rumoured that Josh Hutcherson was in talks to be cast in the leading role.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2012/12/hunger-games-josh-hutcherson-joins-pablo-escobar-drama-paradise-lost-390380/|title='Hunger Games' Josh Hutcherson Joins Pablo Escobar Drama 'Paradise Lost'|website=Deadline Hollywood|author=Mike Fleming Jr.|date=December 17, 2012|access-date=January 1, 2015|archive-date=February 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201163653/http://deadline.com/2012/12/hunger-games-josh-hutcherson-joins-pablo-escobar-drama-paradise-lost-390380/|url-status=dead}} An announcement was made the following day that he had been cast as Nick Brady, the lead role.{{cite web|url=http://www.nextmovie.com/blog/josh-hutcherson-paradise-lost/|title='Hunger Games' Star Josh Hutcherson Heading to 'Paradise Lost'|publisher=nextmovie.com|author=Amanda Bell|date=December 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104130947/http://www.nextmovie.com/blog/josh-hutcherson-paradise-lost/|archive-date=January 4, 2013|access-date=May 9, 2018|url-status=live}} On March 25, 2013, Brady Corbet was cast as the lead character's brother, Dylan Brady.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/brady-corbet-lands-key-role-in-paradise-lost-460918/|title=Brady Corbet Lands Key Role In 'Paradise Lost'|website=Deadline Hollywood|author=Mike Fleming Jr.|date=March 25, 2013|access-date=January 1, 2015|archive-date=February 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201163659/http://deadline.com/2013/03/brady-corbet-lands-key-role-in-paradise-lost-460918/|url-status=dead}}

=Filming=

Principal photography was expected to begin in Panama in March 2013. Filming was initially expected to last a month and a half,{{cite web|url=http://dealante.com/index.php/cnodo/show/26908|title=Benicio del Toro will play the Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar|publisher=dealante.com|author=Highlander|date=April 4, 2013|access-date=January 1, 2015}} finishing on May 30, 2013. However, it was rumored filming was also conducted during June and July 2013.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

Release

Escobar: Paradise Lost made its world premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2014. It also screened at the 2014 Telluride Film Festival, San Sebastian Film Festival, Rome Film Festival, and Zurich Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.patheinternational.com/en/festivals.php|title=DOWNLOAD THE LINE-UP (No.5)|publisher=patheinternational.com|access-date=August 27, 2014}}

=Marketing=

On July 14, 2014, a teaser trailer was released.{{cite web|url=http://lci.tf1.fr/cinema/video/exclusif-la-bande-annonce-teaser-de-paradise-lost-avec-benicio-8450358.html|title=EXCLUSIVE - The teaser trailer for Paradise Lost with Benicio Del Toro|publisher=mytfinews|date=July 14, 2014|access-date=July 14, 2014}} In August 2014, four new stills were released.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-tiff-pics-benico-del-toro-josh-hutcherson-in-escobar-paradise-lost-20140812|title=New TIFF Pics: Benico del Toro & Josh Hutcherson In 'Escobar: Paradise Lost'|publisher=Indiewire|author=Edward Davis|date=August 12, 2014|access-date=August 12, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ParadiseLostLeFilm/photos/a.481190021969623.1073741826.435379589884000/696587757096514/?type=1&theater|title=You expect it, Paradise Lost, unfolds in four new pictures, to discover world exclusive daily until Friday on this page!|publisher=Facebook|date=August 5, 2014|access-date=August 12, 2014}} Official trailers were released on September 3, 2014{{cite web|url=http://www.premiere.fr/Bandes-annonces/Video/Paradise-Lost-VOST|title=Paradise Lost VOST: trailers|publisher=premiere.fr|date=September 3, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906155435/http://www.premiere.fr/Bandes-annonces/Video/Paradise-Lost-VOST|archive-date=September 6, 2014|url-status=dead}} and November 13, 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=42748|title=Escobar: Paradise Lost Trailer Unveiled|publisher=Empire|author=James White|date=November 13, 2014|access-date=November 14, 2014}}

=Home media=

Escobar: Paradise Lost was released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 19, 2015 in France{{cite web|url=http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=215708.html|title=Paradise Lost|publisher=allocine.fr|access-date=January 20, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ParadiseLostLeFilm/photos/a.481190021969623.1073741826.435379589884000/790121864409769/?type=1&theater|title=Find the story of a descent into hell worn by a duet of exception: Benicio del toro and Josh Hutcherson....|publisher=Facebook|date=January 19, 2015|access-date=January 20, 2015}} and April 15, 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.{{cite web|url=http://www.ondvdreleases.com/2277-escobar-paradise-lost-dvd-release-date.html|title=Escobar: Paradise Lost DVD Release|publisher=ondvdreleases.com|access-date=March 13, 2015}} Further DVD and Blu-ray releases include in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands on September 21, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.zavvi.com/dvd/escobar-paradise-lost/11107116.html|title=Escobar: Paradise Lost DVD|publisher=zavvi.com|access-date=April 16, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/escobar-paradise-lost/11107117.html?|title=Escobar: Paradise Lost Blu-ray|publisher=zavvi.com|access-date=April 16, 2015}}

Reception

=Box office=

During its opening in France, the film debuted with a weekend total of $601,554. Its opening weekend in Spain brought in $620,845 and $79,637 in the United Arab Emirates. As of September 7, 2015, the film had grossed $3,562,536 in the six foreign markets the film has been released in.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=paradiselost2014.htm|title=ESCOBAR: PARADISE LOST|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=September 7, 2015}}

In the United States, the film earned $195,792 during its first two weeks from its limited theatrical release in June and July 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekly&id=paradiselost2014.htm|title=ESCOBAR: PARADISE LOST|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=September 7, 2015}}

=Critical response=

{{As of|June 2020}}, the film holds a 55% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 56 reviews with an average rating of 5.62 out of 10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Its focus drifts frustratingly away from the titular druglord, but Escobar: Paradise Lost remains a mildly diverting drama, thanks largely to Benicio del Toro's glowering performance."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/escobar_paradise_lost|title=Escobar: Paradise Lost|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=June 8, 2020}} Metacritic gives the film a score of 56 out of 100, based on reviews from 19 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/escobar-paradise-lost|title=Escobar: Paradise Lost Reviews|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=January 1, 2015}}

At the Telluride Film Festival, Escobar: Paradise Lost received a generally positive critical response. Writing for The Hollywood Reporter, Todd McCarthy called the film "an absorbing and suspenseful drug trade drama" along with citing that "del Toro’s presence, like Brando’s in The Godfather, looms over everything that happens here". McCarthy also stated that "Di Stefano shows some real directorial chops in the film’s central and impressively extended action-suspense sequence". However, "the romantic interplay between Nick and Maria gets a bit tiresome and redundant due to the fact that they’re both so extremely nice and agreeable; Nick’s naivete and goody two-shoes Canadianism (he stresses that he’s not a Yank) also prove wearisome".{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/escobar-paradise-lost-telluride-review-729333|title='Escobar: Paradise Lost': Telluride Review|work=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Todd McCarthy|date=August 31, 2014|access-date=August 31, 2014}}

Writing for Indiewire, Eric Kohn gave the film a B and praised the performances of del Toro and Hutcherson writing that del Toro "turns Escobar into a subdued terror whose ability to order murders with ease provides the movie with its chief source of dread", while Hutcherson "imbues the character with a believability that transcends the script's limitations". However, Kohn also criticised the film as it "fails to develop the rest of its characters as well as it does for its two central men. The screenplay is similarly marred by formula, lagging whenever it hits certain high melodramatic notes, and reminding us of the stakes in play with mopey, dime-store gravitas".{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/telluride-review-josh-hutcherson-flees-menacing-benicio-del-toro-in-solid-b-movie-escobar-paradise-lost-20140831|title=Telluride Review: Josh Hutcherson Flees Menacing Benicio Del Toro in Solid B-Movie 'Escobar: Paradise Lost'|publisher=Indiewire|author=Eric Kohn|date=August 31, 2014|access-date=August 31, 2014}}

=Accolades=

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ Awards
Year ! Award ! Category ! Recipient ! Result
2015 \|Platino Ibero-American Film Awards \|Best Actor{{cite web\|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/wild-tales-to-kill-marshland-face-off-at-2nd-platino-awards-1201450348/\|title=<'Wild Tales,' 'To Kill,' 'Marshland' Face Off at 2nd Platino Awards\|work=Variety\|author=John Hopewell\|date=March 11, 2015\|access-date=March 13, 2015}} \|Benicio Del Toro \|{{nom}}

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Awards

Year

! Award

! Category

! Recipient

! Result

2015

|Platino Ibero-American Film Awards

|Best Actor{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/wild-tales-to-kill-marshland-face-off-at-2nd-platino-awards-1201450348/|title=<'Wild Tales,' 'To Kill,' 'Marshland' Face Off at 2nd Platino Awards|work=Variety|author=John Hopewell|date=March 11, 2015|access-date=March 13, 2015}}

|Benicio Del Toro

|{{nom}}