SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: BEYOND BORDERS

"BEYOND BORDERS"
(2003) (Angelina Jolie, Clive Owen) (R)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Moderate	Heavy	Extreme	Heavy	Extreme

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Mild	None	Moderate	None	Extreme

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Heavy	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Extreme

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: A pampered and naīve American living abroad becomes increasingly involved in humanitarian efforts and the renegade doctor who runs relief camps around the world.

PLOT:

It's London 1984 and Sarah Jordan (ANGELINA JOLIE) is an American living a pampered life with her British husband, Elliott Hauser (NOAH EMMERICH). At a swanky reception hosted by Elliot's father, renegade doctor Nick Callahan (CLIVE OWEN) crashes the event, protesting the cut in funds for the relief camps where he works in Africa.

Sarah is so taken with his dramatic plea that she decides to visit his latest camp in Ethiopia. There, she meets Nick's cohorts, including his calmer and more reasonable associate, Henry Bauford (LINUS ROACHE), but has an eye-opening experience regarding the conditions of those in their camp.

Although her stint there is short, she becomes more involved in humanitarian aid via the U.N., but can't forget Nick and his work. That eventually leads to her traveling to other hot spots around the world where Nick and his team are working.

Yet, when his involvement with covert CIA operative Jan Steiger (YORICK VAN WAGENINGEN) seems to have gotten Nick into trouble, Sarah - who's now fallen for him - sets out - with the help of her TV anchor sister, Charlotte (TERI POLO) -- to find him.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Unless they're fans of someone in the cast or international relief work, it doesn't seem likely that any but the oldest of teens might be interested in it.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For language and war-related violence.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: ANGELINA JOLIE plays an American woman living in London who's so moved by Nick's protest at a reception that she decides to volunteer for the relief services. She then sets out to do what she can to help those in need, but ends up falling in love (and having sex) with Nick. Later, she attempts to rescue him. She uses some strong profanity.
CLIVE OWEN plays a passionate relief worker who serves as a doctor and administrator in foreign lands. He uses strong profanity, ends up having sex with Sarah and does some under the table work for the CIA.
NOAH EMMERICH plays his right-hand man, the more sensible and calmer of the two.
LINUS ROACHE plays Sarah's stuffy husband who isn't happy that she's globe-trotting, and appears to have an affair. He briefly uses strong profanity.
YORICK VAN WAGENINGEN plays a CIA operative who uses Nick and others to get his dirty work done. He uses some profanity, smokes and drinks.
TERI POLO plays Sarah's sister who works in the TV business as a reporter and then anchor.; CLIVE OWEN plays a passionate relief worker who serves as a doctor and administrator in foreign lands. He uses strong profanity, ends up having sex with Sarah and does some under the table work for the CIA.
NOAH EMMERICH plays his right-hand man, the more sensible and calmer of the two.
LINUS ROACHE plays Sarah's stuffy husband who isn't happy that she's globe-trotting, and appears to have an affair. He briefly uses strong profanity.
YORICK VAN WAGENINGEN plays a CIA operative who uses Nick and others to get his dirty work done. He uses some profanity, smokes and drinks.
TERI POLO plays Sarah's sister who works in the TV business as a reporter and then anchor.; NOAH EMMERICH plays his right-hand man, the more sensible and calmer of the two.
LINUS ROACHE plays Sarah's stuffy husband who isn't happy that she's globe-trotting, and appears to have an affair. He briefly uses strong profanity.
YORICK VAN WAGENINGEN plays a CIA operative who uses Nick and others to get his dirty work done. He uses some profanity, smokes and drinks.
TERI POLO plays Sarah's sister who works in the TV business as a reporter and then anchor.; LINUS ROACHE plays Sarah's stuffy husband who isn't happy that she's globe-trotting, and appears to have an affair. He briefly uses strong profanity.
YORICK VAN WAGENINGEN plays a CIA operative who uses Nick and others to get his dirty work done. He uses some profanity, smokes and drinks.
TERI POLO plays Sarah's sister who works in the TV business as a reporter and then anchor.; YORICK VAN WAGENINGEN plays a CIA operative who uses Nick and others to get his dirty work done. He uses some profanity, smokes and drinks.
TERI POLO plays Sarah's sister who works in the TV business as a reporter and then anchor.; TERI POLO plays Sarah's sister who works in the TV business as a reporter and then anchor.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 30 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are used. Some brief, sexually related dialogue is present, while an unmarried couple is briefly seen having sex.

Violence consists of various people being shot and wounded or killed, one dying from a landmine explosion, some fighting and other threatening. Some of those scenes and others have bloody results. Those scenes and others (including one with a baby playing with a live grenade) may be unsettling or suspenseful to viewers.

Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while some smoke and/or drink. Meanwhile, a married couple's relationship progressively sours (including the discovery of the husband apparently having an affair).

If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: People have drinks at a reception.
Nick makes a sarcastic comment about people attending a reception getting drunk. He then pours a bottle of champagne onto the floor as part of his protest.
Sarah brings Henry some wine.
Nick brings cigarettes and bottles of booze for military men as a bribe to make them leave their supply shipments alone.
Nick has beer with other relief workers.
Nick carries a beer.
We see a bottle of whiskey on a desk.
When asked what one takes for a cold, Sarah mentions chicken soup, aspirin and scotch.
Steiger has a drink in a bar where others also drink.
Miscellaneous people have wine.
People have wine at a reception.

BLOOD/GORE: A sick mother has a bloody belly wound. We later see her undergoing surgery without anesthesia or pain killers. During this, we briefly see her large open chest incision (graphic and with blood coming out).
We briefly see a dead body with flies on it.
Nick has a slightly bloody slice on his face.
We see recent amputees with some blood on their stumps and clothing.
A woman's face is sliced (with bloody results). Relief workers and others then attack and apparently kill some guerillas (we see blood on them as well as the floor around them). After that, Nick has blood on his face.
Nick has some dried blood on his head.
A soldier shoots and wounds a person (with some brief blood squirting out). That person is then shot and wounded once more (with more brief blood).

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Nick interrupts a reception to make his point about funds being cut for his Ethiopian relief camp. In turn, someone throws a banana out onto the floor (an Africa joke) and everyone applauds and laughs at that move until Nick has a young refugee make monkey sounds to appease the crowd.
Various military men intercept humanitarian relief supplies for themselves and/or threaten others for them.
Steiger uses Nick to smuggle weapons and other CIA-related elements into other countries, while Nick agrees to do so (for the needed exchange of money) but endangers his mission and his and others' lives in the process
Henry complains to Sarah that her desire to travel to Ethiopia and help is not a grown-up way to deal with the issue.
A camp driver appears to have a bad attitude about Sarah rescuing a dying mother and her sick child (but she's hardened by the reality of the place). Nick also falls into the same category.
A camp worker sabotages a government vehicle for needed spare parts.
Sarah comes home early to discover Henry there with another woman (implying an affair). She then later has sex with Nick while still officially married to Henry.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: Scenes listed under "Violence" might also be unsettling or suspenseful to viewers, as might scenes of the sick, wounded and dying in the relief camps.
We hear news that a young runaway refugee (seen earlier in the film) died on the streets of London (this could be upsetting to some viewers but isn't specifically a frightening or tense scene).
Sarah spots a vulture on the ground that's approaching a sick and emaciated young boy (she chases it away).
A sick mother has a bloody belly wound. We later see her undergoing surgery without anesthesia or pain killers. During this, we briefly see her large open chest incision (graphic and with blood coming out).
Machine gun fire is heard and refugees panic as military men approach a relief convoy that they intend to raid.
We see a field of many shallow graves and see several people being buried in them.
A driver recounts what it's like to step on a land mine and realize that one has no options.
Guards aim machine guns at Nick and Sarah at a checkpoint. A military officer then has his men go through their supplies and eventually finds military equipment and guns, thus potentially endangering the relief workers' lives. The officer repeatedly whips Nick with a riding crop and repeatedly kicks him on the ground. Sarah then takes over and repeatedly kicks Nick (for endangering their lives and mission). The officer then holds a gun on Nick as if he's going to shoot him, but only spits in his face.
A guerilla is upset that his supplies were confiscated and tells those in Nick's camp that one of them must die (while his men hold guns on them). He then grabs a baby (whose mother is shot dead when she comes after him -- with slightly bloody results) and places a live grenade in the baby's hands, prompting it to play with it. As the guerilla holds a gun on Nick, a woman's face is sliced (with bloody results). Nick then tackles the guerilla and holds a knife to his throat, demanding the other guerillas lower their guns. The baby then pulls the pin and one man races to get to it, but a guerilla shoots him dead. Pandemonium then breaks out as the relief workers and others attack and apparently kill the guerillas (we see blood on them as well as the floor around them). After that, Nick has blood on his face and everyone races out of the camp to avoid other approaching guerillas.
Soldiers shoot at two people as they try to escape through the snow. The two briefly get away, but the soldiers' truck closes in. One then shoots and wounds one of the people (with some brief blood squirting out). He's then shot and wounded once more (with more brief blood).
A person discovers that they've stepped on a land mine as enemy soldiers approach.

GUNS/WEAPONS: Handguns/Machine guns/Grenade/Explosives: Used to threaten, wound or kill people or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Liquid f*cking evil," "Cluster f*ck," "F*ck off," "For f*ck's sakes," "F*ck them," "(This is so) F*cked up," "F*ck that," "(He doesn't) Give a sh*t," "(That's) Bullsh*t," "Sh*tload," "Sh*t-heads," "Sh*t happens," "You piece of sh*t," "We're in deep sh*t," "Sh*t hole," "Shut up," "Piss," "What the hell /is that/happened?" "Bollocks," "You son of a bitch," "Freaked him out," "Bloody," "Jeez," "Nuts" (crazy) and "Pissed off."
The film could inspire some teens to want to get in involved in humanitarian/international relief efforts.

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): A moderate amount of suspenseful and ominous music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): None.

PROFANITY: At least 30 "f" words, 19 "s" words, 1 slang term for sex ("screw"), 2 for breasts ("t*t"), 5 asses (2 used with "hole"), 3 hells, 2 damns, 1 bollocks, 1 crap, 1 S.O.B, 3 uses of "God," 2 each of "For God's sakes," "Oh my God" and "Swear to God" and 1 use of "For Christ's sakes," "God forsaken" and "Oh Jesus."

SEX/NUDITY: Nick makes a sarcastic comment about a "dry hump" on the dance floor and a "new pair of t*ts" for the wife.
A male relief worker jokingly requests two hookers and a single (plane ticket) to Melbourne.
Steiger sarcastically tells Nick (in a bar about the women there), "You wanna screw? Take your pick."
Nick and Sarah passionately kiss and we then see them on a bed in a head and shoulders shot (that shows the top of her bare breasts). There are brief sexual sounds and we then see them in bed after they're done, with a shot of her bare back.

SMOKING: Nick smokes a number of times, Sarah and Steiger smoke a few, and some miscellaneous characters smoke in several scenes.
Nick brings cigarettes and bottles of booze for military men as a bribe to make them leave their supply shipments alone.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: Sarah and her husband have some increasingly tense marital moments, including when she apparently discovers him having an affair.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Humanitarian and international relief efforts.
Refugee camps and relief workers.
The role of the United Nations in such matters.
Covert CIA operations.
Affairs.

VIOLENCE: As Nick and others storm into a reception to protest, Sarah is knocked to the floor and cuts her hand.
Several men grab Nick and physically escort him from a reception he's crashed and disrupted.
A female camp driver goes at a military man for raiding their supplies. She pushes at him and he pushes her down. Many people then struggle with, kick and hit others.
Guards aim machine guns at Nick and Sarah at a checkpoint. A military officer then has his men go through their supplies and eventually finds military equipment and guns, thus potentially endangering the relief workers' lives. The officer repeatedly whips Nick with a riding crop and repeatedly kicks him on the ground. Sarah then takes over and repeatedly kicks Nick (for endangering their lives and mission). The officer then holds a gun on Nick as if he's going to shoot him, but only spits in his face.
A guerilla is upset that his supplies were confiscated and tells those in Nick's camp that one of them must die (while his men hold guns on them). He then grabs a baby (whose mother is shot dead when she comes after him -- with slightly bloody results) and places a live grenade in the baby's hands, prompting it to play with it. As the guerilla holds a gun on Nick, a woman's face is sliced (with bloody results). Nick then tackles the guerilla and holds a knife to his throat, demanding the other guerillas lower their guns. The baby then pulls the pin and one man races to get to it, but a guerilla shoots him dead. Pandemonium then breaks out as the relief workers and others attack and apparently kill the guerillas (we see blood on them as well as the floor around them).
We hear gunfire in Chechnya, see people panic and witness one woman be shot and fall to the street (no blood and from a distance).
We see some shaky video footage of gunfire and violence, but can't tell what happens (although we hear that Nick is missing, one person is dead and another is in a coma as a result).
We hear sounds of bombings off in the snowy woods. Explosions then hit nearby and machine gun fire hits various people (no blood). More explosions hit nearby, with one causing a large tree to crash down onto a cabin.
Soldiers shoot at two people as they try to escape through the snow. The two briefly get away, but the soldiers' truck closes in. One then shoots and wounds one of the people (with some brief blood squirting out). He's then shot and wounded once more (with more brief blood).
A person discovers that they've stepped on a land mine as enemy soldiers approach.
A landmine kills a person and blows another through the air.

Reviewed October 16, 2003 / Posted October 24, 2003

Other new and recent reviews include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.