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Beyond Borders

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Beyond Borders (2003)

14%
17%
57%
N/A
N/A
N/A
14 %
Reviews Counted: 98 Fresh: 14  Rotten:84 Average Rating: 4.3/10
 
Consensus: Beyond Borders is good-intentioned, but the use of human suffering as a backdrop for a romance comes across as sanctimonious and exploitative.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 2 hrs 6 mins

Synopsis: Director Martin Campbell (GOLDENEYE) balances a romantic tale, serious political commentary, and beautifully shot scenery from exotic locations in BEYOND BORDERS. Oscar winner Angelina Jolie gives a moving performance inspired by her real-life U.N. work, and has the perfect romantic... Director Martin Campbell (GOLDENEYE) balances a romantic tale, serious political commentary, and beautifully shot scenery from exotic locations in BEYOND BORDERS. Oscar winner Angelina Jolie gives a moving performance inspired by her real-life U.N. work, and has the perfect romantic foil in Clive Owen. Ostensibly a tale of romance triumphing against the odds, this is in fact a multifaceted story that deals with its various topics in a visually arresting style. BEYOND BORDERS follows the problematic blossoming romance between busy American socialite Sarah Jordan (Jolie), and rogue doctor Nick Callahan (Owen). The two initially meet in 1984 at a charity event in London. Sarah is still flushed with excitement from her recent marriage, but is nevertheless enchanted by Nick's impassioned speech on behalf of starving children in Ethiopia. Sarah decides to help the cause in Africa, meeting Nick there and sparking a romantic connection which is cut short because of family and work commitments. Four years later, Sarah finds herself alone after a torrid divorce. Her work for the United Nations now consumes her thoughts, and when the chance to travel to war-torn Cambodia--and reunite with Nick--arises, it proves too good to turn down. The two immediately hit it off, but Nick's commitment to his work once again causes them to separate. Five more years pass, and when Sarah receives a call that Nick has been captured and made a prisoner of war in Chechnya, she realizes she has one more chance to rescue her man, and to rekindle the passion. [More]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Clive Owen, Teri Polo, Linus Roache, Noah Emmerich

Director: Martin Campbell
Screenwriter: Caspian Tredwell-Owen
Producer: Dan Halsted, Lloyd Phillips
Composer: James Horner

DVD Info

Release:

Nov 3, 2005

[DVD Details]

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Ratings Image
2/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
1.5/4

...brutally haunting images ... in a setting where sappy dialogue evaporates like water.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/20/04
Mark Collette
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)
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2/5

Se abordar os esforços humanitários ao redor do planeta é admirável, colocá-los em segundo plano para priorizar uma história de amor é mais do que frustrante; é imperdoável.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/17/04
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena
Ratings Image
2/5

Beyond Borders trivializes the pain and suffering of actual people by reducing them to a backdrop for Hollywood twaddle.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/01/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Ratings Image
N/A

Affecting moments appear sporadically in Beyond Borders, but they can’t amend for the movie’s lack of shame.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/22/03
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
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2/4

"Beyond Borders" is a soap opera with its heart in the right place.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/17/03
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
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5/10

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
11/07/03
Brian Orndorf
Modamag.com
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C-

While most movies insist on having 'plots,' this one boldly proceeds without one, flying in the face of convention.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/04/03
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com
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3/4

Those expecting Jolie's character to end up feeding and clothing every indigent person on the planet might be surprised at the movie's toughness and refusal to compromise.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/04/03
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing
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2/4

Beyond Borders should have been to relief efforts what Schindler’s List was to the Holocaust. Or what Saving Private Ryan was to WWII.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/02/03
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat
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C

The idea of people from the West, previously indifferent, who immerse themselves in sickness and war in an effort to make a difference has been explored less melodramatically in an ongoing story arc on TV's E.R.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/30/03
Marshall Fine
Journal News (Westchester, NY)
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1.5/5

A silly movie made all the more silly by how much it wants not to be a silly movie.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/30/03
Tim Cogshell
Boxoffice Magazine
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2/4

It wavers like a child wanting to dive in to the deep end of a pool.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/30/03
Tony Toscano
Talking Pictures (U.S.)
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2/4

Beyond Borders can be wrenching and vigorously committed, but it’s also occasionally tasteless and calculating. Think Doctor Zhivago with landmines.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/30/03
Paul Povse
State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)
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1.5/4

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Full Review | comment Comment
10/29/03
Steven Snyder
Zertinet Movies
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N/A

It is a rather callous, travelogue look at misery around the world.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/29/03
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com
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N/A

Beyond Borders is one of those rare big-budget films that has something of vital importance to say about the real world, and pulls no punches saying it.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/28/03
Bruce Feld
Film Journal International
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2/4

This pop nugget of McHistory, for all of its aspirations to sermonize, never elevates beyond a simplistic morality tale of, well, black and white.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/28/03
Scott Warren
Premiere Magazine
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N/A

It would all be perfectly ridiculous if it werenÕt so gosh-darn moving, in that Hollywood way that makes you hate yourself for crying, hand me another Kleenex, dammit.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/28/03
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher
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N/A

It all becomes little more than feel-good-about- feeling-bad window dressing, like an issue of Utne Reader in Dolby Surround Sound.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/28/03
Mark Holcomb
Village Voice
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