Customer Reviews

Beyond Borders (Widescreen Edition)

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

BEYOND BORDERS doesn't seem to know where it is going as a movie: an international love affair, a poster film for the courage of the human soul, a documentary, a promotional film for Angelina Jolie's laudable contributions to global charity, a study of the mismanagement of fundraising and fund disbursement for the victims of famine, starvation and war around the globe, etc etc. If you can get past the need to hone in on a single concept then there is plenty to like about this movie. For once Jolie is able to play a woman obsessed with aiding the unfortunate instead of towering above all others as a fictive comic book character. And there are truly fine performances by Clive Owen (wholly commited to his role as a physician for the masses), Linus Roache, Teri Polo, and Noah Emmerich and of course minor roles played with aplomb by actors from the various locales needing aid - Ethiopia, Cambodia, Chechnya etc. This film has the appearance of a Blockbuster in style and execution, but its real importance is in its depiction of the suffering that covers the globe. In a very touching passage physician Clive Owen addresses the quiet courage of the people in extremis and at that point the message of the movie is driven home with great impact. Recommended.

Before I say my praises, I will advise for anyone who enjoys not having their movie spoiled, not to read a review by BANANAGURL, who totally spoils it by giving away the ending!

Anyways, I found this to be more of a heart moving, touching movie, than a love story with a war/refugee backdrop. It made me realise and appreciate all that I have in my life. The warmth, safety, food and cleanliess, that 50 million people, such as those portrayed in the movie lack.

This wasnt a boring, draggin-on movie, but a moving drama, that really shows the raw and deep pain of human suffering that goes on, out of peoples minds and awarenss. Hunger and pain, spreads through those people like a great colossos of doom. Great perforamnce from Angelina, and Cliwe. I'm very glad I got a chance to experience this visually moving project.

I underestimated this movie when I first picked it up. The first 5 minutes blew me away. This is obviously the kind of movie that makes you realize how much you take for granted. I can grab my keys and bank card, drive 5 minutes to the store and buy food, drinks and snacks. When I think about hard it is for those people; dying all the time, weak, fragile, depressed, etc... it rips right into the soul

Let's face it - we go to the cinemas to forget our problems and not be reminded of them which is precisely the reason why movies like these don't make any money but others do. Most movies about injustice and persecution always have the good guys win in the end but this movie doesn't. In fact, we're introduced to the startling reality of the lives of volunteer workers and what they have to go through with all their good intentions in place. We are also introduced and/or reminded of the ugly side of humanity as to why certain countries will never be able to have peace because people are just too selfish fighting out their own agendas to spare any thought for another person.

Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen did a brilliant job in their roles as Sarah and Nick, they make you believe that they are those characters for real! I think what makes it more moving is the fact that Angelina Jolie really is a ambassador and actually makes the attempt to help out the many people in need. The plot of this film is simply about two people bonded by their common passion but whilst one chooses to act it out wholeheartedly, the other keeps a silent but burning fire for it. Now, that's love!

One commentator here said that this movie doesn't do any justice for the refugees and the victims but I must say that no movie can. Even if you do visit these places to see for yourself what really goes on, you have a choice - you can leave whilst these people don't so unless you are in that exact same position, I think nobody should ever try to comment about it because it's something I don't think none of us in developed countries can ever truly understand. Besides, this movie is about the volunteer workers and what they have to go through and the love story between the two leads as the backdrop to distract us from the painful realities depicted in the movie. I don't really agree with some inaccurate plots in certain movies but I don't know the 110% truth about this movie so I just accept it and then find out more about it if I want to. It's something you can't expect from movies anyway because movies are not supposed to educate but just to entertain and maybe enlighten us a little. You want a 100% accurate show, then go watch National Geographic.

All in all, the filmmakers of Beyond Borders deserve some credit for trying to tell a story different from the rest of the junk playing in the cinemas nowadays. Some of you might have felt they didn't really succeed but I still think they gave it their best shot. Now, you have to give them at least that!

This is a quality film, something that is harder and harder to find these days! "Beyond Borders" tells the story of a privileged American, Sarah, who's married to a wealthy Brit. At a benefit dinner one night, Sarah was so moved by an outspoken relief- worker doctor that she decided to travel to his aid camp in Ethiopia. From there, we see the story of several years of her life unfold. She travels between her comfortable life in London and the gritty world of aid camps in Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Chechnya. The visuals in this film were amazing, and the story of life in the aid camps were gritty and certainly not sugarcoated. It was interesting and enlightening to see this world and I'd say the filmmakers did a nice job of educating the audience without being didactic. The entire film was tied together with a love story, which was ordinary, although it provided some action, adventure, and suspense in the film. Angelina Jolie did quite well in this film (aside from her sometimes irritating blank stares and her oversized lips). I wasn't sure I could really take her seriously in such a serious role, but actually she really did quite well and fit the part nicely. Overall, this is a quality film. But be warned... it's not for those who like sugarcoated, feel-good, airheaded pieces of work (in other words, the majority of Americans who will be going to see Texas Chainsaw Massacre instead). I was glad I went and certainly took something out of it. It's one of those few movies that is actually worth seeing in the theatre.

Angelina Jolie in this movie reminded me of Barbra Streisand's role in "The Way We Were." She's desperately fighting for a cause she believes in and falls in love at the same time. The images in this movie are frightening and really calls attention to the help these poor people need. Roger Ebert said in his review that the reason Angelina Jolie's character is even involved is because of her crush on the handsome doctor. I disagree. He opens her eyes to the problem but the whole reason why she goes to Africa is to help. Not to get a date. Angelina's performance is wonderful. You really believe she is a woman who wants to live her life to help others. Perhaps that is because she actually is that way in real life. She is a woman to truly be admired. However, the one thing I didn't like about this movie is the story leaps forward too much. At one point it goes forward four whole years and you have no idea what happened during that time. It keeps doing this. The scene where a baby is given a grenade is incredible. If only the scenes were tied together and the story played out more smoothly it would have made for the perfect movie.

I have always loved Angelina as an actress and go to the movies to be entertained, escape into the movie world whether drama, comedy, action, etc. and I thought this movie was great. We always hear about how the money we send to these "Save the World" type of organizations is misused and the horrors of the people in need. I felt the actors had amazing chemistry and felt the emotion of the picture down to the last frame. I really got an understanding of just how bad it can be in these places overseas and the story of a socialite coming full circle,learning the truth about herself, even dying for her convictions made an excellent,emotional,and heart grabbing movie.
I just think if more people would go to the movies to let go and enjoy the movie, instead of looking for everything wrong with it, life would be so much better. We are so critical of everything around us to the point we can't even be entertained anymore. Movies are the industry's imagination and allow us to escape into their world for a short time. Enjoy the vision!!
I loved this movie, it made me feel.

For quite some time now I've been more or less hooked on Angelina Jolie and her films and can definitely say with some authority that had this film not had her in it, it probably wouldn't have garnered much attention from the movie going public. Having said that, "Beyond Borders" is a good film, not spectacular or overwhelmingly poignant, just good! Given Angelina Jolie's personal passion towards helping children from third world nations it's easy to see why she chose to do this film. That personal passion does translate to the film however, the script in and of itself just doesn't translate into an overly impressive film.

Performance wise, Angelina Jolie delivers another solid performance but she comes off as somewhat subdued for the better part of the film. She is such strong and versatile actress that her part in this film, despite a couple of strong points, just doesn't suit her talents. Clive Owen delivers a strong and memorable performance as does the majority of the cast.

I believe the only other film I've watched that was directed by Martin Campbell was "The Mask of Zorro" which was a pretty good film. His direction of "Beyond Borders" clearly shows that he can make the best of the film despite a weak script.

The Premise:

Sarah Jordan (Angelina Jolie) is an American married to a Brit. At a fundraising gala, Nick Callahan (Clive Owen) crashes in dragging behind him a young Ethiopian and turns Sarah's world upside down as he delivers a strong speech about the suffering the Ethiopians are going through and haranguing her father-in-law about pulling his funding. Sarah soon finds herself taking every last penny she has and buying relief supplies to personally take to Ethiopia...

What follows from there is a mildly poignant film in which Sarah and Nick carry on an odd relationship as she is unhappily married and he continues to follow his passion of relief work all over the globe...

Without trying to sound too harsh, I would rate this film at 3.5 stars if it were possible as it is a good story it just doesn't live up to its billing or its leading actress. I would definitely recommend it but more as a rental than an actual purchase. {ssintrepid}

Special Features:

-Commentary by Director Martin Campbell and Producer Lloyd Phillips
-Behind the Lines: The Making of Beyond Borders, Part 1
-Behind the Lines: The Making of Beyond Borders, Part 2
-The Writing of "Beyond Borders:" A Conversation with Screenwriter Caspian Tredwell-Owen
-Angelina: Goodwill Ambassador

A very compelling movie that dares to take its viewer into dangerous and impoverished areas of the world. Anjelina Joliie, who is so moved by speech given by a doctor (Clive Owen) desperately trying to get support for his medical missions, that she impulsively leaves her safe/cozy life as an English wife/mother and follows the doctor and brings the necessary food and medical supplies to help him in his refugee camps in Africa, Cambodia and other parts of the world. The movie is certainly action-packed, but it leaves viewers with the reality of important world issues that we all need to take note of and make some commitment to help in anyway we can. I highly recommend.

I was expecting the worst when it came to this movie. I am a fan of Angelina Jolie, but it didn't do very well at the box office and I didn't really hear anything about it.

Well, none of that matters because this is a very good movie. Angelina does a good job here, as does Clive Owen, her love interest. The story was interesting and eye-opening. It kept my attention even though this isn't a lightning-paced movie. I wanted to know what would happen to Angelina's character. I was also surprised by a few twists that happen unexpectedly. There's a key scene midway through the movie that doesn't mean a lot at the time, but perfectly foreshadows something that happens later on.

I highly recommend this movie. It was very entertaining and it really did make you think. I'm not a big fan of movies like this, but this is an exception. It should have been a bigger hit.

"Beyond Borders" was originally to be directed by Oliver Stone, and to star Kevin Costner and Cathrine Zeta Jones. Keep that in mind before you watch it. The completed film by Martin Campbell starring Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen retains one of the initial intentions of the film -- namely, love romance.

Angelina Jolie plays Sarah, a lady who accidentally meets her fate in Doctor Callahan (Clive Owen). To what extent she is led by the fate, you will guess in the first sequence in Africa. The globe-trotting plot is melodramatic, but thanks to the actors' good acting (and Ms. Jolie's off-screen personality we all know), we clearly know that the film is made with good intention.

But the film is shot against the backdrop of the suffering of many refugees in the world, and it opens with the scene showing that nature of the film quite blatantly. Romance, is it? But can we relate to either of them in this situation?

Please don't say the film opens your eyes. Surely, the locations that show the plights of refugees are convncingly shot. And Angelina Jolie knows these people in person, as you know. But when you see something (I won't name it) in the middle of African desert, and see it is used as a device to enhance the romantic side of the story, I start to doubt the authenticity of the film. I may be wrong here, but if I were the director, I would change that part, definitely.

I sincerely hope that it does not symbolize what happened to the career of Angelina Jolie when "Beyond Borders" never even reached #10 of box ofice chart in America. I know the film is a well-intentioned attempt to show the misery of these people, but if you really want to see the authentic accounts of refugees' lives, see Michael Winterbottom's "In This World." That is more realistic and shocking, too.