Beyond Borders

Paramount Pictures and Mandalay pictures presents

Starring: Angelina Jolie and Clive Owens

Directed by: Martin Campbell

Rating:***1/2

Plot: A young woman from London feels like she owe's the world something a decide's to leave her family to join a relief group in Africa. She meets a very sarcastic man who cares a lot about what he does and suddenly they are in love. Sadly as their love evolves over several years, the hate and violence in the world does not.

Acting: Okay, forget Tomb Raider The Cradle of Life that was a mistake Jolie should not have done. She makes up for that in this film. This movie is not what a lot of people think it is. Its not some sappy romance movie, and its not a war movie. Its the concept of real love during a time of real violence and hate in the world. I think Jolie is an amazing woman for doing this movie. Playing a silly British woman who as if it were just a vacation joins a relief group. There are moments in the film in which she wants to save everyone, when this is not possible and her character reminds me of some people I know. People who think everywhere is the same and people Africa are just being treated unfairly and what not. This is not true things are much more complicated in the world and Jolie's character finds this out the hard way. Clive Ownes who I loved from the BMW online commercials and The Bourne Identity. His character does not really change through this film. His character has seen so much pain I guess it makes sense the guy is a hard ass. My only question is could Owens be the next James Bond? Oops got off track back to the review.

Directing/Writing: This is one of the most daring films I have seen in a while. The film deals with real life problems. Also all the action scenes are real and the encounters are realistic and not over the top and filled with pointless action scenes. The film shows history that most people don't even know happened, things in Africa in Cambodia and Chechnya. The exotic settings were nice and it kept the movie interesting. Now the film does have a pacing problem. Half way through I kind of got the point of what was going on and they kept going anyway. I hate to say it but the film starts to slow down and get boring until the film gets to Chechnya where things pick up and one of the most amazing and daring endings I have ever seen in a film. I wish the movie was not so messy in places. Too many fake scene shots of Africa, Cambodia looked great and the scenes Chechnya were stunning. I had complaint's during Runaway Jury because I thought they were just spreading propaganda around. This movie has a weird vibe at the beginning with a "you should feel guilty for not helping Africa" feeling but that soon faded. The ending of this film is daring and surprised me. Sadly the entire movie itself was not as punctual and amazing as I wish it was.

Overall: A great story which was stretched a little too long. One hell of an ending that I will never forget and if that does not sell you then do it for Jolie's huge ass lips. I sadly haft to say in some scenes they actually distracted me.