Somewhat interesting, although largely unmemorable romantic drama set against war, disease, and hunger. Clive Owen plays a maverick doctor and relief worker, who manages to be both engaged in the world around him and oblivious to other people's feelings. He is the typical Hollywood revolutionary type, whose dedication to a greater cause means he does not have to say "please" and "thank you." He crashes a charity party with a poor African boy in tow to point out the hypocrisy of rich benefactors who deceive themselves into thinking that they have fulfilled their duty to those less fortunate than themselves while not really concerning themselves with them. Angelina Jolie's character, a rich American whose father-in-law founded the charity being benefited, is moved by the doctor's display, and resolves to go to Africa herself, along with a generous shipment of supplies. Although Jolie's character is not initially well received by the doctor, a romance entails.
Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen deliver very good performances, although the schizephrentic nature of the film somewhat diminishes its power as a social commentary, which it clearly strives to be. As a romance, it succeeds a lot better, which is remarkable considering that the main characters do not have that much on-screen time together. The audience gets to know them enough to care about them both, and it is not difficult to see the attraction each holds for the other. As far as its value for bringing attention to the plights of refugees around the world, it serves as an introduction, and hopefully will peak the interest of at least some of those who see this film. However, by jumping from locale to locale, the audience does not get the opportunity to appreciate the social and political backdrops in which the relief camps are situated. Sure, there are powerful scenes scattered throughout the film, but these serve to punctuate large stretches of time in which nothing much is going on. Much of the movie takes place in London, and examines Jolie's character's strained relationship with her husband. During those times, the audience does not even get to "look in" on the doctor until she rejoins him, which is a pity because I found the doctor more interesting than his girlfriend, although she definitely gets higher points for her bedside manners.
Rent this movie at least once if you are an Angelina Jolie or Clive Owen fan.
Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen deliver very good performances, although the schizephrentic nature of the film somewhat diminishes its power as a social commentary, which it clearly strives to be. As a romance, it succeeds a lot better, which is remarkable considering that the main characters do not have that much on-screen time together. The audience gets to know them enough to care about them both, and it is not difficult to see the attraction each holds for the other. As far as its value for bringing attention to the plights of refugees around the world, it serves as an introduction, and hopefully will peak the interest of at least some of those who see this film. However, by jumping from locale to locale, the audience does not get the opportunity to appreciate the social and political backdrops in which the relief camps are situated. Sure, there are powerful scenes scattered throughout the film, but these serve to punctuate large stretches of time in which nothing much is going on. Much of the movie takes place in London, and examines Jolie's character's strained relationship with her husband. During those times, the audience does not even get to "look in" on the doctor until she rejoins him, which is a pity because I found the doctor more interesting than his girlfriend, although she definitely gets higher points for her bedside manners.
Rent this movie at least once if you are an Angelina Jolie or Clive Owen fan.