Beyond Borders, Martin Campbell's attempt at a more serious movie, is on most counts a failure. It's a romantic drama about a sheltered American, Sarah Jordan (Angelina Jolie) who is married to a Brit and becomes involved in world relief efforts in places like Ethiopia, Cambodia and Chechnya. Over time she falls in love with a rogue doctor (played by Clive Owen). Jolie does her best but is hampered with an appalling script. Owen is better, at his most ridiculously rugged and smouldering. His performance does something to make the film interesting, but overall Campbell's direction and Caspian Tredwell-Owen's writing means the film never rises above pure formula. Oliver Stone was once attached to direct--with him, the movie could have been something worthwhile. Under Campbell it's just a few nice shots of various countries, a London covered with snow and populated with stereotypes, and two talented performers trying vainly to rise above the poor material. Martin Campbell's next film is Zorro 2: perhaps it's for the best.
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