Beyond Borders

Review by Clint Morris

In the works for about ten years (everyone from Kevin Costner to Meg Ryan passed on it -- you'll later understand why), Beyond Borders tells the story of a privileged glamour girl who suddenly realises her place in the world might be helping the wounded and starving in nations like Cambodia, and not servicing her husband's every need and desire.

Five years later, the lass's marriage is near dead, but she has a young son and a good job at the United Nations.

She leaves her upper lifestyle for the slums of Chechnya and the open arms of fellow co-worker [Owen]. In between saving lives, they manage to pucker up.

Up until the moment Angelina Jolie decides to take a rest from scurrying from dangerous rebels and pull over for a quick shag with the said doc, Beyond Borders seemed to be going somewhere. But instead of simply sticking to the film's much-more interesting plot about helping the people of Cambodia and countries like it, director Martin Campbell [The Mask of Zorro] decides most people in the audience are probably only there to see Jolie get her gear off and consequently ride the male lead.

Whoever spiked the usually dependable Campbell's drink that day should be shot, as without such a scene and a couple of other trite follow-up moments that proceed it, Beyond Borders could've been a half decent movie.

Starting out as a film that looks set to raise awareness about the plight of refugees in war-ravaged nations and then consequently dumping that half-way through for a ridiculous romantic adventure plot - it's a largely discomforting misfire.

Next time how about focusing on the people of these nations rather than the shade of lippy on Jolie's phizog?

2 out of 5

Beyond Borders
Australian release: Thursday March 18th
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Clive Owen, Noah Emmerich, Linus Roache.
Director: Martin Campbell.
Website: Click here.

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