This one is not bad. And it’s a great premise: A selfish prick (Vince Vaughn) discovers his buddy (Joaquin Phoenix) has spent the last two years in a Malaysian prison after he got busted with hash they’d bought together. So much hash, in fact, that the Malaysian authorities are going to put the buddy to death for violating local drug trafficking laws. Or they will execute him if the prick doesn’t travel back to Malaysia and accept his share of responsibility, along with a three-year prison sentence.

Would you give up your freedom — and possibly risk your own death — to save the life of a friend? It’s a compelling moral dilemma; you watch the movie half paying attention to the drama onscreen and half contemplating what your own choices would be in the same situation. The performances (especially from Phoenix) are so good I was surprised the film didn’t have a better reputation — at least until the script begins adding several absurd twists involving Phoenix’s lawyer (Anne Heche). Then I understood why I’ve never heard much about this movie before.