Beyond Borders (2003)

14% of critics liked it
(102 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(31,336 ratings)

Martin Campbell directs the romantic adventure Beyond Borders. Angelina Jolie stars as Sarah Jordan, a American living with her wealthy British husband, Henry Bauford (Linus Roache), in London during the early '80s. At a charity benefit, she meets passionate relief worker Nick Callahan (Clive Owen),… More Martin Campbell directs the romantic adventure Beyond Borders. Angelina Jolie stars as Sarah Jordan, a American living with her wealthy British husband, Henry Bauford (Linus Roache), in London during the early '80s. At a charity benefit, she meets passionate relief worker Nick Callahan (Clive Owen), who chastises the rich people for not helping out the needy in war-torn countries. Sarah is quickly compelled to join his humanitarian cause to fight the famine in Ethopia. She then follows him to Cambodia, where they start up a love affair and Nick gets involved in an arms-smuggling operation before they finally end up in Chechnya. Teri Polo appears as Sarah's international journalist sister, Charlotte. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 7 min.
Directed By: Martin Campbell
Written By: Caspian Tredwell-Owen
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Oct 24, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Mar 23, 2004
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Mark Holcomb, Village Voice
It all becomes little more than feel-good-about- feeling-bad window dressing, like an issue of Utne Reader in Dolby Surround Sound.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
... an old-fashioned romance.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
An unconvincing melodrama that seems more interested in pushing an agenda and preaching than in developing legitimate, compelling characters.
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
A melodrama with pretensions to humanitarian generosity.
Jen Chaney, Washington Post
Well-intentioned but astonishingly flat.
Libby Copeland, Washington Post
The premise of the movie deserves better.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Important issues buried in soap opera silliness.
Mark Collette, Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)
...brutally haunting images ... in a setting where sappy dialogue evaporates like water.
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters
The truth is shifty throughout Beyond Borders, primarily because its fiction is filtered through Sarah's eyes.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
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.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
There's a decent handful of extras here, starting with a full-length audio commentary by director Martin Campbell and producer Lloyd Philips.
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Beyond Borders trivializes the pain and suffering of actual people by reducing them to a backdrop for Hollywood twaddle.
Mark Palermo, Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Affecting moments appear sporadically in Beyond Borders, but they can't amend for the movie's lack of shame.
Linda Cook, Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
"Beyond Borders" is a soap opera with its heart in the right place.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
While most movies insist on having 'plots,' this one boldly proceeds without one, flying in the face of convention.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
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.
Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat
Beyond Borders should have been to relief efforts what Schindler's List was to the Holocaust. Or what Saving Private Ryan was to WWII.
Tim Cogshell, Boxoffice Magazine
A silly movie made all the more silly by how much it wants not to be a silly movie.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

This movie goes where others are afraid to go Show the lives of children in Africa. Clive Owen plays a take no Bull Shi^ from anybody and in the process falls in love with Miss Rich Girl who is married but still Sleeps with the Doctor anyway. Oh thats right its 2010, have so morals.… More
This movie goes where others are afraid to go Show the lives of children in Africa. Clive Owen plays a take no Bull Shi^ from anybody and in the process falls in love with Miss Rich Girl who is married but still Sleeps with the Doctor anyway. Oh thats right its 2010, have so morals. Still all in all a 5 star movie
Carlos M

It is so incredibly shameful how the well-intentioned and promising first half about the misery in Africa gives place to a ridiculous and exploitative romance in the final act.
Aliyanto L

This will take you beyond your view about poverty and social worker matters but surely don't take you beyond your movie expectation!
Joseph E

A great romance, that has a beliveable connection between the leading roles.
Leo L

I'm not a fan of Jolie's but for some reason, this film was a little okay.
Ina S

Too much pressed into one film. Yet I was moved, the actors are pretty good... A reluctant 3 stars, the film is very faulty. But the good moments are good enough to balance the clichéd and over-burdened script.