Beyond Borders (NR: 2003)

at the Paseo Pasadena

Around 5:50 pm - headed off to Pasadena and found my way to the Paseo Pasadena, a humongous shopping center and theater. A line of well over a hundred wrapped from the front doors, down the stairs, and around the building. It was the premiere showing of Beyond Borders, Angelina Jolie’s newest film. Pre-release non-rated and unfinished version - I was lucky enough to be of the first screening audience to give input on what I felt about the film. Of course for free. One privelege about being in Los Angeles, these things happen alot I hear. With Angelina Jolie as one of my favorite actresses, you can tell I was psyched.

Couldn’t get anyone to go with me as everyone had to work late. That sucked. So, me and my lonesome, went and stood in line, but by the time I got in line, they registered me and took my invitation, and the lines whisked upwards, our demographics grabbed, and in the theater we went to wait patiently for an hour for the filming/ screening to begin.

Beyond Borders Beyond Borders is an epic tale of the turbulent romance between two star-crossed lovers set against the backdrop of the world’s most dangerous hot spots. Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie stars as Sarah Jordan, an American living in London in 1984. She is married to Henry Bauford (Linus Roache) son of a wealthy British industrialist, when she encounters Nick Callahan (Clive Owen) a renegade doctor, whose impassioned plea for help to support his relief efforts in war-torn Africa moves her deeply. As a result, Sarah embarks upon a journey of discovery that leads to danger, heartbreak and romance in the far corners of the world.

Angelina Jolie …. Sarah Jordan

Clive Owen …. Nick Callahan

Linus Roache …. Henry Bauford

Teri Polo …. Charlotte

Norman Mikeal Berketa …. British Officer #2

Noah Emmerich

Mark Antony Krupa …. Soldier

Emma Stevens (I) …. Journalist

Elizabeth Whitmere …. Beatrice

Review by Leaf McGowan: Beyond Borders apparently had its own turbulence in getting started as it saw its attraction and loss of several big names in production - Kevin Costner was fired For his difficulty and being too demanding; Oliver Stone was supposed to direct it but dropped out, British Actor Clive Owen took over the character that Kevin Costner was canned from, and Catherine Zeta Jones was originally supposed to play Angelina’s role, but due to her current pregnancy, dropped out. However in viewing the film, I felt the cast was accurately and well played and placed. Of course with my bias, having a love of Angelina’s acting, I would have preferred her regardless over Catherine’s.

Angelina Jolie plays Sarah, who attends a charity ball / benefit with her fiance, Henry Bauford (played by Linus Roache) and is knocked to the ground, when Nick Callahan (played by Clive Owen), a relief doctor working in Ethiopia, bursts the party with a starving ethiopian child to show as an example of how bad things are. As funding is about to be pulled by the British government (Henry’s father) because the country is communist, all hell breaks loose. The death of the child the next day combined with the passion of need shown by Nick, causes Sarah to sell everything she can, to buy truckloads of food, medicine, and supplies to take herself guiding, to Ethiopia which only helps for a couple of days. Rubbing cross shoulders with Doctor Nick, she does what her heart tells her, and tries to help. Her life forever changed. Still on bad sides with Nick, she leaves the camp to start a life married to Henry Bauford and raising a son. Working for the United Nations, she is once again called with an impassionate plea to help the team provide aid this time in Cambodia where she is crossed by Nick and gets herself into serious war-torn troubles that only lead her and Nick to fall passionately in love. After which she returns home pregnant with Nick’s child to attempt divorce with her husband. Years later, raising her new daughter (Nick’s), she leaves her husband with the kids to head off to save Nick in war-torn Russia that leads to a very tragic demise and a heartfelt meeting of father and daughter. Incredible cinematography and world scenes or tragic areas in the world - it stirred my heart of thoughts of jumping on the peace corps train to become a relief worker. The movie moved me directly. Highly recommended when it’s released.

Afterwards filled out a questionnaire of what I felt about the movie and screening. Highly rated by me.