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The Border

Play trailer Poster for The Border R Released Jan 29, 1982 1h 47m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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65% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 52% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Charlie Smith (Jack Nicholson) barely scrapes by on his low salary, but his hectoring wife, Marcy (Valerie Perrine), is anxious to move up in the world, so he takes a new position as a border patrol agent alongside the hair-trigger Cat (Harvey Keitel). Soon, Charlie is a reluctant party to Cat's smuggling and other petty criminal actions, but when the corrupt agent sets his avaricious sights on a poor illegal immigrant (Elpidia Carrillo) and her newborn baby, Charlie's moral code returns.
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The Border

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Critics Consensus

It makes frustratingly facile work of its thorny premise, but Jack Nicholson's gritty lead performance keeps The Border worth watching.

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Critics Reviews

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Michael Maza Arizona Republic The Border splashes around in the shallows on both sides of the Rio Grande, never more than ankle-deep in the problems or drama of illegal immigration. Aug 6, 2021 Full Review Jack Mathews Detroit Free Press Jack Nicholson gives his best starring performance since "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" as a soul-searching U.S. border patrolman... Rated: 3/4 Aug 6, 2021 Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune Nicholson's best leading role since he won the Oscar for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" six years ago. Rated: 3/4 Aug 6, 2021 Full Review George Williams Sacramento Bee Jack Nicholson gives his most satisfying performance in years, perhaps since "Five Easy Pieces," in "The Border," directed by Tony Richardson. Aug 6, 2021 Full Review Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant The three disparate styles that play against one another in "The Border" give this film much of its interest and density, but not without an occasional sense that gears are grinding a bit. Aug 6, 2021 Full Review Patrick Taggart Austin American-Statesman Nicholson is there with his cigarette and wild hair and his clenched-teeth sincerity to make it all okay. Aug 6, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Christopher S (warning: plot spoiler) Life at the border is painted as a bleak, dangerous, nasty world, where the value of human life is negligible. Nicholson is married to a narcissist, and to make her happy transfers to El Paso's border patrol. He quickly finds it is rife with corrupt leadership, and there's no way for him to do his job without getting people killed. His is an ethical struggle where he is forced to make one compromise after another. Eventually he finds his salvation in trying to help a young mother. By today's standards, this movie is spare, and leaves room for their audience to decipher for themselves the emotional weight the characters are carrying, seen in small glances, pauses and the like. And it is heavy. Halfway through I began to get the feeling of hopelessness, despair, everything was just so awful, but it ends with a beautiful moment. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/29/23 Full Review Steve D Nicholson's character is so detestable (and he is the GOOD guy) it is hard to watch Rated 2 out of 5 stars 08/21/23 Full Review william k Adequate thriller is tough and suspenseful exposing police corruption and the downfalls of lower middle-class American life; once again, Jack Nicholson delivers a strong performance. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review delysid d its not the most exciting Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/25/21 Full Review Audience Member This dark and gritty moral drama loses it's nerve come the third act, however, an excellent performance from Jack Nicholson holds it all together and The Border remains never less than watchable. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Saw with Mrs Blobbo at the show when came out. Enjoyed, remember Blobbo. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Charlie Smith (Jack Nicholson) barely scrapes by on his low salary, but his hectoring wife, Marcy (Valerie Perrine), is anxious to move up in the world, so he takes a new position as a border patrol agent alongside the hair-trigger Cat (Harvey Keitel). Soon, Charlie is a reluctant party to Cat's smuggling and other petty criminal actions, but when the corrupt agent sets his avaricious sights on a poor illegal immigrant (Elpidia Carrillo) and her newborn baby, Charlie's moral code returns.
Director
Tony Richardson
Producer
Edgar Bronfman
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal/Universal Int
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 29, 1982, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 47m
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