Border Run

Sofie (Sharon Stone) is a hard nosed right wing Phoenix reporter. Her brother Aaron (Billy Zane) is on the other side of the fence (literally). He goes missing while helping illegals cross the border. Sofie goes looking for him, utilizing dubious untrustworthy help along the way. She gets caught up in the underground world (again literally) of smuggling. At some point she comes to sympathize with the illegals, but the film really didn't drive that home until she gives a speech to a policeman. As far as a crime/drama/thriller I didn't feel too thrilled, perhaps because they wanted to take a realistic approach as the film was inspired by true events. Sharon Stone's Botox appearance was distracting throughout. The Mexican police are stereotypical. It is a movie which appears to be designed to create sympathy for the poor immigrants, but falls short. Worthy of a Redbox rental, but don't keep it home for more than a day. Parental Guide: F-bomb (2 languages with subtitles) rape, nudity (Sharon Stone)

I came into this film not expecting much, and i honestly was blown away by the movie. I'm not claiming that this movie is 100% factual or even close to it but I think the filmmaker did a brilliant job of chronicling the immigration reality. If this movie had been entirely fictional, I would have given it 2 stars. The importance of the story and the care taken in some parts gave it 5. Before I excoriate, here are the good points. It tells a very important story for everyone to know. The reality of the border was depicted realistically, though I am no expert. The end has a fantastic, unexpected twist. It's a clear criticism of the system. I won't spoil it. But it's a must see. This movie earned my attention and i was on the edge of my seat until the end credits. I've watched all the major movies this year and this is, in my opinion, one of the best film of the year.

The Mule is definitely a very good movie which shouldn't be missed. I am certainly glad it came my way. The director's sensitive and thought provoking handling of a difficult subject elicits strong and mixed emotions. It is impossible, after seeing it, to "look the other way", or remain unaffected. Though set in the Us-Mexican border, it goes way beyond that: it represents a worldwide reality. It certainly describes the reality of illegal immigration and abuse of power in my country (argentina), and many others. Tagliavini is to be congratulated on the choice of story, and the courage to uncompromisingly tackle such an uncomfortable topic, as well as for the movie in itself. I loved the acting, loved Stone in such a different from other roles, liked the secondary actors, the music, the relentless tension. I recommend it to everyone who see movies as more than mere entertainment.

I really liked this movie. Sharon looks different, but I like that. Good actors change to fit the role. The director had a clear vision and look for it. The smooth camera moves are so cool and the music is chilling and melancholic. I also like all the actors. I look them up and some are famous in their own countries. Many American probably don't want to see this sad reality, because they are very comfortable with their American Way of Life, and they don't want to be bothered. But I think cinema was created to show reality in a different light. This movie is a piece of art. I highly recommended!

Sharon Stone plays an American reporter crossing the US/Mexico border in order to search for her missing brother. "Border Run" pretends to be a hard hitting expose about human trafficking, but it's really just a dumb, boring, revenge thriller. I'm fine with ripped-from-the-headlines topics being dropped into exploitations films (i.e. everything from racial topics in blaxploitation, to serial killer biopics, to biker pictures), and they can even become brilliant in some cases ("M," "Targets," or "Rope"), but this film's main offense is that it wasn't all that interesting either on a story or character level. Stone is too good of an actress to be slumming in garbage like this. Billy Zane on the other hand, with few exceptions, seems to have made a career out of slumming in garbage like this. Overall, there's really no reason to watch this film. If you want a revenge/thriller, there are much better ones out there. If you want a topical film about US/Mexico immigration or about human trafficking, there are much better ones out there as well.

It's a shame they didn't use "Border Run" from the start. A much better title, that would also leave you with a little surprise (probably) towards the end of the movie. As it is, this is supposed to be the vehicle for Sharon Stone and a lot of actors have achieved great things with low budget movies. Something I guess she was expecting too. But the theme of the movie was the big seller. Controversial and not easy to chew, this movie tries to show how ridiculous the border situation is. But do we need a 90 minute to show us something we already know? You decide if that is necessary. You also have to judge the late in the game "twist" and if it really was necessary too. Whatever the case, the movie tries hard but kind of fails delivering (no pun intended).

This movie isn't for everyone. It isn't for people who are vehemently anti-violence. It isn't for people who need a feel-good story with a happy ending. That being said, this film had me literally on the edge of my seat for 2 1/2 hours and is a fantastic movie. People will want to compare this movie to other immigration films. This has dramatizations and has a coherent direction, while still being an incredibly suspenseful movie. I think the director did a great job. I wish they developed the secondary characters more, because I liked them so much. But it's not your typical Hollywood movie that introduces a protagonist and develops him/her until the conflict is resolved. This movie used the main character as a metaphor for America as a whole and that was really impressive. Much more than your average action movie, "Border Run" has a combination of bad ass scenes, phenomenal editing, and music, and a fantastic (mostly) true story with epic scope. I can't wait to see it again!

"Border Run" is a serious character study and a taut, suspenseful action thriller at once. The subject matter itself - immigration - yields most of the suspense but director Gabriela Tagliavini manages to squeeze out every bit of tension of the premise. The story is deeply emotional, depicting a thoroughly disturbed individual's life in hell. Sharon Stone gives an incredibly powerful performance All aspects of film-making are top-notch, from the brilliantly subversive screenplay through vivid cinematography, masterful directing and perfectly paced editing. I spent the entire film grabbing the arms of my seat. The tension, the suspense is at times breathtaking, literally. This movie is amazing and the definitive consecration of a great filmmaker. Kudos for everyone involved for making this film without compromising.

So far, it has been the "Duty" of Independent Films to Tackle the "Hot Button" Issue of Illegal Immigration, so here it is. With a Miniscule Budget and some Good Intentions this Spotty Story of the Horrors that Await these Border Crossers is Assuredly Quite Bleak and Gut-Wrenching. The Backstory of Sharon Stone's Career as a TV News Reporter is Handled so Sloppily that it is Basically Forgotten for most of the Movie. It Invades Quickly on the most Slimy of Non-Human Entities, that are the Worst Scum and Dirt Bags Imaginable, Border Brutes from Hell. The Point of the Suffering and Dehumanization of these Folks Trying to make it to a Better Life is Brought Home with some Ugly Violence but Nevertheless the Case is Clearly Made that Things "are not that simple" and the Whole Matter is a Mess and People, including Women and Children are Paying a Heavy Price while most Americans haven't a Clue or Even Worse are Apathetic. Not a Bad Movie but it is a bit Amateurish and Angles all over the Place, but it does have a Message and it isn't Lost in the Desert Dust, but the Inattention that this Movie has Received is just Another Example of the Story No One Wants to Hear or Tell.

A female American reporter (Sharon Stone) searches for her missing brother (Billy Zane) against the backdrop of violence and human smuggling across the United States / Mexico border. The key to remember in this film is that, as is said twice, the issue of the border is "not that simple". Any political stand on the issue has to be very nuanced or probably uninformed. I am not going to even try to explain where the arguments on many sides of the issue go wrong, as that is a book in itself. And that is how I have to frame this film. I feel like it generally has a sympathetic view towards illegal immigration. And, indeed, there is reason to feel that way -- if my life could be substantially improved by crossing an imaginary line, I would probably consider doing it, too. But that ignores the importance of a strong border: keeping threats out and formalizing the citizenship process. Yet, if the point of the film was to spark debate, I suppose it may succeed there. Immigration and border control is not an all or nothing issue, and there is much worthy of debate in these topics. Are we morally obligated to help improve people's lives? Or perhaps we are more obligated to ensure a strong homeland defense? Sadly, Billy Zane (6-foot-2-inches of pure bad-butt) has far too little screen time and Sharon Stone is well past her acting prime. She was not a strong lead, and whoever decided to give her that terrible hair just made her more distracting than necessary.