Beyond Rangoon (1995)
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35% of critics liked it
(31 reviews) -
63% of users liked it
(7,940 ratings)
In a role originally intended for Meg Ryan, Patricia Arquette plays Dr. Laura Bowman in director John Boorman's film of an American abroad in a strange country. It's 1988 and Laura is desperate to flee the United States and the memory of her husband and son's murders. Accompanied by her… More In a role originally intended for Meg Ryan, Patricia Arquette plays Dr. Laura Bowman in director John Boorman's film of an American abroad in a strange country. It's 1988 and Laura is desperate to flee the United States and the memory of her husband and son's murders. Accompanied by her sister, Andy (Frances McDormand), she heads for Burma just as the peaceful protests against the country's military government take a more violent turn. Andy and the rest of their party flee in a hurry, but Laura is forced to stay behind when she loses her passport. A former professor (Aung Ko) offers her guidance to the border of Thailand, where they both hope to make their escape. Boorman's scenes of action and violence are well-staged, but Arquette is not big enough to carry the film and her plight seems inconsequential next to that of the Burmese as the military begins its ruthless crackdown. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Boorman
- Written By
- Alex Lasker, Bill Rubenstein
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure
R,
- In Theaters
- Aug 25, 1995 Wide
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
In attempting to make its politics palatable as entertainment, the film has grafted them onto a boatload of Hollywood implausibilities whose excesses cripple believability.
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Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
As an exercise in art, or even polemics, Beyond Rangoon is beyond redemption, but still works its occasional magic with extraordinary flair.
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Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Yet one more film -- that defines Third World political unrest through its effect on a white liberal.
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Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
It's fascinating and rewarding to watch [Arquette] evolve, with much credibility, from her own personal state of immaturity to a state of full growth.
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Caryn James, New York Times
A rare film, one that is intelligent, emotional and exciting.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Patricia Arquette
as Laura Bowman
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Frances McDormand
as Andy Bowman
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Spalding Gray
as Jeremy Watt
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Victor Slezak
as Mr. Scott
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Adelle Lutz
as Aung San Suu Kyi
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Charley Boorman
as Photographer
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Enzo Rossi
as Laura's Son
