User reviews

It was sad to me when people on this site asked if Gandhi was a fictional character, when they thought Judi Dench in "Ladies in Lavender" came off as a "dirty old lady," when they thought Kenny O'Donnell in "Thirteen Days" was a fictional character to give Kevin Costner a part when the film used White House transcripts (I guess they just stuck Kenny's dialogue into transcripts?) - it was sad.

But to laugh and give a negative review to a movie that tells an important story, whether or not it stars Jennifer Lopez, is awful and shows that there are people who are regulars on this board who are not just stupid. They're complete morons.

This is based on a true story about murders of young women that have been taking place in Juarez, Mexico for years, with a large number of women have been raped and murdered or simply disappeared. The women work in the maquiladoras, 24/7 companies that employ cheap labor, usually women, and create disposable products. Apparently the women are disposable too. The women are normally attacked as they are going home.

Jennifer Lopez plays a reporter who is assigned this story against her will but becomes involved in it, protecting a young woman who dug herself out of her own grave, and going undercover in a maquiladora herself to uncover one of the murderers.

This horrible situation is not dealt with efficiently by the government or the police. In part, this is due to political pressure and the fact that mob and drug money is often involved in the ownership of the factories.

The North American Free Trade agreement, NAFTA, was expanded in 1994 and provided new opportunities for the maquiladoras.

This was an issue director Gregory Nava wanted to explore, and Jennifer Lopez, Martin Sheen, and Antonio Banderas signed on. Because of the R rating and the opinion of several focus groups, it was not released in theaters.

It's not a great movie. As a TV movie, it would have been much better. It also doesn't look very expensive. I don't happen to think Jennifer Lopez is a horrible actress. Unlike some here, I thought her back story, shown in flashback, was very clear.

This is an important story, made by sincere people. One can at least appreciate that they wanted to raise awareness of this issue. It's easy to sit and criticize a film; it's another to go out and make one.

And maybe a few people will think about a rich country like Mexico - rich in minerals, tourism, manufacturing -- that pays people $3 to $5 a day and has a population that lives in poverty while the people that control the money send it out of the country. Is it any wonder they try to sneak into the U.S.? Anything is better than how they are forced to live. And nothing is done to help them. Nothing.

Its hard to comment on some "true story" movies! This story...true story...it's so shocking and scary and really makes you ask yourself "in what kind of world we are living?".... and that's a good part! It will scares you but it will show you some real life tragedy that happened and that will happen... and it could happen to anyone! You should be aware! So this is really shocking tragedy about brutal life of females on Mexican/USA boarder! And its true!!!

So after getting me shocked its really hard to comment on acting, scenes, etc. But I must do that because this is no documentary! And from movie aspect... well... it's not that much! I must admit that Jeniffer Lopez is much better actress than on her first movies but everyone else.... Antonio Banderas has just a short role, nothing special and other actors are not some famous... at least not to me! They are good but....

This movie is not for an award but I recommend you to watch it, because it's a true story and it shows hard living, bad politics, corruption, trying to stay alive and you are on your own.......

(sorry on my bad English)

Other than Antonio Banderas (who mails it in as usual, though at least he took all that crap out of his hair), the cast does a more than adequate job or portraying an important story. Eva, in particular, evokes a genuine sense of despair and hope strung together simultaneously. While the script and dialog are unquestionably formulaic, the pathos of the story and evocation of place save this story and the acting is workman like if not fantastic. Not much has been said about the effects of NAFTA and the bordertowns like Juarez that have sprung up and swallowed communities whole and this movie is at least a step in the right direction for rectifying this and telling at least a fragment of an important tale. This movie could only possibly be funny to someone who thought Schindler's List was a real hoot as well.

The story talks about Lauren(Jennifer López), an obstinate reporter working in Chicago Sentinel. She's assigned by her chief(Marin Sheen) going to a Mexican Bordertown, where in location of Juarez occur a series of killings when the workers are forced displacement. Eva(Zapata)is cruelly raped and with the help of Lauren and a Mexican journalist(Antonio Banderas) investigate the events. Eva is being protected by Mexican owner (Sonia Braga) but she flees and is caught by the border policemen when has to testify against the rapist. Meanwhile in order to discover the deeds Lauren is working in a Juarez factory where the workers are tired of being nothing more than manual laborers . Lauren gains trust of local factory proprietary(Juan Diego Botto).

Although this movie is fictional, at times it feels like a documentary. The story blends suspense, intrigue, violence and political denounce. Also deals the hardships work told in graphic detail, recounting a relentless criticism to NAFTA(North American free trade) organization . This is a dramatic and serious movie where the starring- well performed by Jennifer Lopez and Antonio Banderas- encounter in the midst of deep struggle oppressive forces outside their control, as they confront against nasty killers and corrupt people. Evocative musical score by Graeme Revell and colorful cinematography by Reynaldo Villalobos. The film was nominated for Golden Berlin Award. The motion picture is expertly directed by Gregory Nava. He's a specialist on Mexican thematic, such as 'Selena, A time of destiny, My Family', and his best movie: 'The North. This film will make you think twice about the product buy or make you food for the reason of long hours in jobs and low wages.

Straight up review: 6/10 (just finished watching... initial impressions)

A deep fascinating film that I assumes is based on real life. Unfortunately it cannot hold a candle to similar films like "City of God", "Hotel Rwanada" or "Blood Diamond". Honestly makes me question whether i want to visit Mexico or not (is it safe?).

Why 6/10?

• believable and seems to follow possible real life.

• poor acting

-strange flow

• I had difficulty relating to the story and the characters, but i was curious and did continue to watch. Most successful stories draw you in to the drama and life of the main characters. Unfortunately the all-star cast Antonia Bandaras and JLO just couldn't do it.

• most people outside of that area probably won't relate

• The theme of Corporate Industrialist pseudo 1800s robber barons seemed contrive and poorly tacked on or just didn't fly as well. (albeit it might be true)

=> Cool idea but not compellingly done nor could I relate or be drawn into the story. Good try. Better luck tomorrow! => Movie or Video: if your from the community in question I guess theater but for everyone else save your money and rent.

Lauren Adrian (Jennifer Lopez) is a reporter for the Chicago Sentinel. She is forced by her boss (Martin Sheen) to go to Juarez to do a story about a series of mysterious murders of young factory women who are attracted to the new jobs at the maquiladoras. She doesn't speak much Spanish and reconnects with independent reporter Alfonso Diaz (Antonio Banderas). The police is corrupt and trying to cover up the murders. Eva Jimenez (Maya Zapata) is a young woman who was taken by a bus driver to the dump where him and another man raped her and left her for dead. The only person she trust is Diaz. She goes to his newspaper but the police is close behind. Diaz is taken in by the police leaving Eva and Lauren alone together.

Writer/director Gregory Nava got a couple of A-list stars to do small roles in this but it's Lopez that's asked to carry this thing on her shoulders. She needs help as an actress to keep this movie moving. Banderas is good but he's not in this enough. The movie keeps separating them which is a mistake in my opinion. The story is ripped from the headlines with some action added in. Nava isn't good at the action scenes. This is generally a weak construction. There isn't much of a mystery since everything is laid out right in front of us. It struggles to be a thriller or a mystery. Nava doesn't have the skills and the tension is very low. Then Lopez goes undercover and all the logic goes out the window. I don't know why she has to work in the factory since they know it's the bus driver. Also I don't know why she doesn't have somebody follow the bus. It's a bus and isn't that hard to follow. But the movie isn't done and it keeps going down the rabbit hole.

Jennifer Lopez performance is commendable as well as other supportive roles (Antonio Banderas, Martin Sheen); it's about a story that needs to be told, a disturbing tale - due to the subject handled - that could have been more compelling if it were less clichéd. Nevertheless it's not that easy to judge negatively a film not badly acted and trying to bring attention to such a problem, something different from usual human rights matter - this one is of public ignorance. To sum up I wouldn't define it a mediocre motion picture but "Borders" is not even that far from being a b-movie. Reviewers slammed it and they probably exaggerated but I expected something better.

Reading the negative reviews of this movie was kind of shocking, really. This heartbreaking story was one that needed to be told, and with all the meaningless crap that is peddled out of Hollywood, this was like a breath of fresh air. Perhaps "Bordertown" won't get 10 Oscar nominations or whatever, but I enjoyed watching Jennifer Lopez unravel the mystery of what happened to Eva, the young girl attacked, left for dead, and miraculously survived. I thought the performances were courageous and not overdone, and the direction and cinematography was great. The price we pay in our humanity to get lower prices on electronics and other goods, and to line the pockets of corruption wherever it is found, is much too high. I wish more movies like "Bordertown" were being made...it is quite sad to me that movies like this (also Erin Brokovich, North Country, Silkwood, as well as others) go straight to DVD and so many other movies with no message, just a grandiose budget and special effects, are more important than those with something to say.

I love Jennifer Lopez and Antonio Banderas, having the two together in the same movie looked like it had to be good. As I watched, I didn't really get into the film like some of the other movies with Jennifer Lopez or Antonio Banderas but the story was interesting. As it went on it seemed more plausible and disgusting to think politicians or big corporations sacrifice safety for profit. After watching the movie I found myself reading about the murdered women of Juarez.

I will probably watch it again on DVD and recommend others as well, not because it is the most entertaining film, but because the story of the murdered women of Juarez.

This is not the kind of movie I usually see, and I must admit that while watching it on TV, I gradually realized that it was not the documentary film I expected. The story is based on a horrifying and tragic reality of raping and killing of women on the Mexican border, of which I did not know anything, as underreported throughout the world. The movie has so the laudable merit of bringing to light and denouncing the terrifying drama of thousands of women being raped and disappeared in those waste lands, working in those appalling "maquilladoras", where even the most basic human rights are completely disregarded, and where deep economic interests prevail over respect for human dignity. However, as the story progressed, I realized it was more an action-thriller than a documentary picture, standing out for gripping though improbable, twists, a tense and quick pace, intertwined with some more relaxed and relaxing moments, which appear as really improbable and above all of bad taste and out of place if we consider the grave topic of the movie. It is as if that worthy aim gives way to more entertaining and market needs. So my doubt was: how can such a highly committed movie be bent to the logic of the box-office? How can you shift your attention from scenes of rape of terrifying violence to the underlining of J. Lo's perfect silhouette? It is evident that the production aimed at attracting audience through an attractive cast and some shrewd devices, such as pacing action, a thriller-plot, sentimental flash-backs, some entertaining music, thus losing its seriousness and credibility. I watched it till the end, because it was gripping and, like all thriller movies, you want to know how it ends up, but I realize this is not the reason why I should have wanted to see it till the end, and in this sense I think it is, in the end, a failed movie.

Presenting like a made for TV movie, this film had some memorable moments as a suspense thriller. However, it does a lousy job of telling the stories of the murdered women in Juarez. As pure entertainment, the story was good. Its always fun to see and hear Juanes and at least the performances were convincing enough to allow me to care about the characters and the plot. However, the oftentimes formulaic and stereotyped presentation of the characters pulled this film down and insulted my intelligence. The tryst between Jennifer Lopez' character and the factory owner was completely gratuitous. It is a shame that the made for TV production quality cheapened the story. There were times when I expected the most interesting man in the world to pop out from the shadows saying "I don't often drink beer but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis." Its worth a dollar as a grocery store DVD but not much more.

First of all, the intentions of the filmmakers were seem to be worthwhile and good--to expose the sordid work conditions under which American corporations operate at the Mexican Border and which often spawn the mistreatment of the women workers following a day's or night's work. I suspect that both Jennifer Lopez and Antonio signed onto the project because of the credentials of established Latin filmmaker Gregory Nava, who has a keen eye for capturing the look and feel of a place, in this case, Ciudad Juarez. The problems, however, arise in the mixing of a documentary-style expose with the casting of a glamorous star who, not unlike Joan Crawford in her heyday, looks a little too smart and elegant for her scripted surroundings, local folks unlikely to look upon this icon (which is exactly what she appears to be) as just another local. And about half the way into this detailed examination of a mistreated worker, the film shifts into Hollywood melodrama, some unlikely over-the-top drama. I did not find it dull, but was disappointed it didn't fulfill it's best promise

"Lauren Adrian" (Jennifer Lopez) is a newspaper reporter who goes to Juarez, Mexico to investigate the murders of hundreds of female factory employees. Upon her arrival she discovers that a young woman by the name of "Eva Jimenez" (Maya Zapata) has survived after being raped and left for dead on the outskirts of the city. Eva wants her story told and Lauren needs more details in order to report it. But she soon finds that she is over her head. So she contacts an old friend named "Alfonzo Diaz" (Antonio Banderas) who works for one of the Juaraz newspapers to help her make sense of it all. But there are people who don't want this story to go to press and they will do anything to keep the truth hidden. Anyway, rather than disclose any more of the film and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a grim movie but it had a story that needs to be told. I really liked the performances of Jennifer Lopez and Maya Zapata. I also thought the director (Gregory Nava) did an excellent job depicting the scenery and flavor of Juarez as well. On the other hand, some of the action was a bit too much and seemed totally unnecessary. But that's Hollywood for you. Be that as it may I liked the movie and I rate it as slightly above average.

Lauren Adrian - Jennifer Lopez - wants v much to be a foreign correspondent for her employer, the newspaper Chicago Sentinel. Her boss George - Martin Sheen- dangles a carrot in her face. If she will go to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and discover why women are being murdered, Lauren will get her prized job. Reluctantly, she agrees. Although her parents were migrant workers, Lauren was orphaned early and raised in an Anglo family. Her Spanish is poor. Nevertheless, she goes to the Border town right across from El Paso. Once there, she reconnects with Alfonso - Antonio Banderas - a former writing partner. He runs a paper in CJ. As he explains, there are many theories about who is raping and murdering the young factory women. The death count is also speculative; there may be hundreds of murders, mor than the official total. Then, Lauren meets Eva, a beautiful lady who says she was left for dead by the murderer and clawed her way out of a shallow grave. Is she the key to Laurens ambitions ? This film may not be award winning but it has an important story to tell. NAFTA has a dark side for low wage earners and Mexico has a checkered history in law enforcement and justice. Lopez is good as the ambitious reporter who is aghast by those who care nothing for the victims. It also has some scary moments which thriller fans will embrace. Sometimes movies have an agenda that matters. This is one such film.

Jennifer Lopez stars as a fictional Chicago newspaper reporter turned on to story regarding the women of Juarez, Mexico, and the deplorable conditions they're forced to live under in order to care for their families. But a story based on adverse conditions quickly turns to a story of murder and big business cover-ups when a girl left for dead out in the desert after being attacked turns up with a story too juicy for Lopez to pass up.

This is a film that stirs any human being. I'm sorry, but if this movie does not touch your heart, than you are either one of those big businesses taking advantage of NAFTA or you're inhuman. I turned this movie on because Lopez was in it, but I stuck around for the story line, one that could make your heart sink, just thinking that someone who lives right around the corner in middle America could have a hand in covering something like this up. Normally, I comment on the movie and whether it was done right, good, and believable, but I can't get past the message in this film! Watch it!

7 out of 10 stars!

The film does attempt to depict actual events; however, I have to wonder how much is enhanced for dramatic effect. First of all, the anti-NAFTA angle is at best disingenuous. Maquiladoras did not start with NAFTA, they had been in existence previously contrary to what the movie suggests. Secondly, the implication that there is some utopian protectionist alternative isn't born about by any evidence. Many people have come to the border area to work in the factories but their wages are generally higher than the areas they came from and lest anyone think Mexico was crime free prior to NAFTA should watch "Los Olvidados" a film about violent youths in Mexico City in 1950. Also, the notion newspapers were somehow unconcerned with the "bottom line" in the past is also a reach.

I will say the film tries to depict the gritty life that exists on the US Mexican border and certainly the murders are gruesome and the police have been ineffective at best in solving the crimes. However, the notion of some evil capitalist conspiracy seems to originate from the story writer's emotions.

"It isn't free trade; it's slave trade; it's a ... scam", yells investigative reporter Lauren Adrian (Jennifer Lopez), to her newspaper boss George Morgan (Martin Sheen). They're arguing about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the villain in this film about the injustices of NAFTA border factories toward their women workers, and in particular about the border town of Juarez, on the Rio Grande, across from El Paso, Texas.

The script's characters and plot are fictional. But they are set against a backdrop of a real-life situation that has been going on for years. Poorly paid young Mexican women are raped and killed in these NAFTA border towns. Nobody really cares, least of all the cold corporations that employ the women.

In "Bordertown", George Morgan sends Lauren to Juarez to get a story. She does. But what she finds is that the real killers are more powerful and shadowy than she imagined. It's a situation not unlike what Karen Silkwood faced when she tried to investigate a nuclear plant.

The film is thus highly political. Its message overpowers the story. Most viewers will sympathize with the message. But what about the story? The characters are not entirely believable. For example, the young Mexican woman whom Lauren befriends can't seem to speak English when they first meet. And Lauren says she can't speak Spanish. Yet later, the young woman and Lauren chat up a storm both in English and Spanish, a dialogue necessity, no doubt, to placate viewers. The plot's climax is Hollywood sensationalized, which detracts from the authenticity of the message.

Color cinematography is very high contrast, which works well, given the good vs. evil theme. Prod design and costumes are quite realistic. The filming in Mexico gives credibility to the story, though filming entirely in Juarez was not possible owing to the physical danger. Acting is acceptable. Lopez does a fine job.

My impression is that "Bordertown" was not given a proper theatrical release here in the U.S. because of its tough political message, which speaks volumes, if true. But despite some imperfections in its script, the film deserves to be seen by viewers, and specifically because of that potent underlying message.

The film, while not the best cinema I have seen based on real events, lays a solid effort all the way across. I thought it would be just a step above "China Cry", but it turns out that it is watchable. That is a good start.

Of all the acting in the movie, Maya Zapata, who played Eva, had the best acting of the whole crew. And that is including Sheen and Banderas. She played the girl factory worker suffering from her encounter very well. So lets just say I was impressed.

The film does show what is wrong with some of the agreements in NAFTA. The film goes to far in saying NAFTA is about slavery and money, which isn't exactly true. It gets a little too politically sided in one area. An agreement between nations on protecting workers rights would be the best conclusion to draw from this. That and the companies helping in protecting its workers more.

Overall, its a good effort. Give it a try. "B"