Search - Beyond Borders [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Language Movie Release: 2003 DVD Release: 03/23/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 6 mins Studio: Paramount Total Copies: 15 Genres: Drama, War, Romance, Romantic Drama, War Romance See Also: Beyond Borders [Fullscreen], Beyond Borders [Widescreen]

Martin Campbell directs the romantic adventure Beyond Borders. Angelina Jolie stars as Sarah Jordan, a American living with her wealthy British husband, Henry Bauford (Linus Roache), in London during the early '80s. At a charity benefit, she meets passionate relief worker Nick Callahan (Clive Owen), who chastises the rich people for not helping out the needy in war-torn countries. Sarah is quickly compelled to join his humanitarian cause to fight the famine in Ethopia. She then follows him to Cambodia, where they start up a love affair and Nick gets involved in an arms-smuggling operation before they finally end up in Chechnya. Teri Polo appears as Sarah's international journalist sister, Charlotte. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Angelina Jolie - Sarah Jordan
Clive Owen - Nick Callahan
Teri Polo - Charlotte Jordan
Linus Roache - Henry Bauford
Yorick Van Wageningen - Jan Steiger

Beyond Borders is the type of vanity piece that is quickly forgotten by an audience. Regardless, if you can get past the obvious message and melodrama, this is a decent film that is worth watching. Better than the movie though, is this DVD. To start things off are a fine assortment of extra features. To begin with, there is a scene-specific commentary track from director Martin Campbell and producer Lloyd Phillips. Both, especially Campbell, furnish plenty of observations and are often quite candid about the production. Split into two segments, for seemingly unknown reasons, are featurettes entitled "Behind the Lines." Each of them is about 18 minutes long and discusses the making of the film, with numerous cast and crew interviews. Fairly standard material, but insightful to a degree. Briefer is a featurette called "The Writing of Beyond Borders: A Conversation with Screenwriter Caspian Tredwell-Owen," in which the author discusses his creation and involvement. To cap off the supplements, there is a segment called "Angelina: Goodwill Ambassador," in which Jolie expresses her sincere feelings about the association and the work she does with the UN, and trailers for The Perfect Score, Tupac: Resurrection, Paycheck, and Timeline. While that is all good, the picture and sound only add to this DVD. The 2.35:1 image, enhanced for widescreen televisions, is top-notch and not likely to disappoint. Not surprisingly, there is a severely cropped pan-and-scan version available separately. The varying visual style of Campbell (based on the ever-changing location) is captured well on the digital medium. Colors are suitably represented, though at times the blacks tend to fade and aren't as solid as would be expected. Also nice is the 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack. Forceful when it needs to be, the dialogue isn't distorted or drowned out, but comes across naturally. Surrounds, especially in the front speakers, are used limitedly, but with just the right effect. Beyond Borders seems tailor-made for its star, and while that may annoy some viewers, others may simply go along with the ride. This disc is a fine vehicle for those that want to give it a try. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide