Beyond Borders

2.5/4

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

Rated R for Language and War-Related Violence

“Beyond Borders” is a UNICEF commercial masquerading as an epic romance.  It is preachy, unsubtle, and repetitive, but strong performances from its two stars make it watchable.

Sarah Jordan (Jolie) is a pampered American living in Britain who has her heart in the right place when she and friends hold benefits for refugees.  But on her wedding night, in storms in Nick Callahan (Owen), a doctor who is so fed up with the bullshit that seems to happen with charities; they give a little to make themselves look good, not because they actually care.  Sarah is inspired by Nick’s passion, and follows him to Ethiopia with a large charitable gift.  Thus begins said epic romance over the next 15 years when they meet in Ethiopia, Cambodia and Chechnya.

The problem with the film is that it’s preachy.  Like an infomercial that comes on suddenly during your favorite TV show, it’s irritating and boring rather than moving.  The film barely attempts to hide the fact that its goals are more to bring light to the plight of war refugees then telling a story about characters we care about.  Could the film have told an involving story and sent the same message simultaneously?  Absolutely.  But unfortunately the script is thin and the content is dull.

It’s not the actors’ fault.  Angelina Jolie does what she can with such a thin character, but then again, we sort of expect her to be in something like this (apparently, this film is what inspired her to be such a charity buff).  The film’s real savior is Clive Owen.  Owen is such a good actor that he manages to create a living, breathing person out of what is really a cliché.  There’s nothing remotely original about Nick (or Sarah, for that matter), but Owen takes the effort to create as much of a person as he can out of what he is given.  The normally reliable Linus Roache is boring, but Teri Polo is delightful as Sarah’s chatty sister, Charlotte (unfortunately, she’s only on screen for a few scenes).

Martin Campbell is primarily known as an action director.  He helmed the freshman Bond excursions of both Pierce Brosnan (“Goldeneye”—perhaps my favorite Bond movie, by the way) and Daniel Craig.  Action movies are not generally known for their deep characterizations, and while there is some action in this film, it’s in little pieces, and not exactly central to the story.  It relies more on character development and interaction, something that is obviously not Campbell’s forte.  The film is also repetitive; the scenes in Ethiopia and Cambodia are so similar it’s impossible for even the most obtuse filmgoer not to take notice.  There is one scene that really works, however.  The sequence where Nick, Sarah and the rest of their crew have a run-in with the Khmer Rouge is actually a little powerful and there’s a definite level of tension.

In all honesty, the film does pick up towards the end, once it concentrates on Sarah and Nick rather than pushing an agenda.  I’ll admit I got a little caught up in what happens, although it’s nowhere near enough to save the movie.  Jolie and especially Owen are first-class actors and on the A-list in terms of popularity, so there are plenty of other, better films to watch them give superior performances.  Don’t be afraid to ask me for some suggestions.