Boring and ridiculous premise in every way. Moronic and overhyped. Avoid.

The reason for the zero is that I went to the theater expecting to see somthing spectacular. Instead, I was treated to a very slow developing poltical statement against the big drug corporations who test medicines in the third world nations in Africa. Excuse me but are we suggesting that these pharmaceutical companies actually knowingly kill innocent people purposely? Of course not. It is no different that the world's soldiers who actually get killed fighting are poor people from around the world. In order to perfect a drug it must be tried somewhere before obtaining FDA approval is it not? So what we are doing is providing our drugs for FREE to third world nations and monitoring its effects. Yes, some drugs I'm certain have side effects. But most, actually help sick people, a fact that was lost on the producers of this one sided propaganda film. As for the acting it was okay but the story had more plot holes than Carter had little liver pills. Very slow moving and boring to tell the truth. The rave reviews are not warranted considering the subject matter.… Expand

Grossly overrated with a self serving implausible storyline. Do we really believe the pharmaceutical giant corporations are out to kill humanity? Like everything else before we obtain FDA approval a drug must be tested. Have you ever heard the expression "Being a pawn?" This is true for every facet of life. The poor are always our soliders and guinea pigs. These medicines must be tested somewhere? Where do you think we should start at the top of the food chain or the bottom? These drugs are given for free to the impoverished nations of the world. These medicines by and large help cure and prevent disease. To make the drug companies out to be cold blooded killers is not fair. Just another propaganda film to make us think otherwise. And before you think I have a agenda, NO I don't work for or any drug company or have a relative/friend that does. It just appalls me to see something sensationalized to make a movie and a boring one at that.… Expand

Very over-rated. Very slow. Very over-the-top. Just when you thought it was about sex it switched to a thriller--WITH RALPH FIENNES?? come on...that man does a lot of boring shows.

A horrible movie, so predictable, that i found myself thinking there must be some other twist. movie was not the worst ever, but since it got the best reviews of the year, i believe the movie critics and the makers are in bed together. movie sales have steadily been going down for couple years, worst slump ever for movies, running out of good ideas, they need sales, which is why they give a totally mediocre movie like this good reviews. you heard it here first.… Expand

Jack open your eyes. It was a horrible film, slow, tedious and very boring. And that was its good points. What truth were you referring to? The Hollywood spin zone? Do you really think pharmaceutical companies are hell bent on murdering underpriviledged third world nations? If you do I have a bridge to sell you! Awful movie in every sense of the word.

Rachel weisz is stunning, but the tale is poorly crafted and suffers from no plausibly explained threat, other than a vague machinery of TB proliferation. making this an amazing film takes much effort on the part of the viewer. so, suspend your disbelief and enjoy this film!!

Dreadfully slow and preachy, I thought that even the Nicholas Cage film "Lord of War" had a more mature (and entertaining) perspective on Western exploitation of Africa.

Everything is relative. In a season of below par film making comes a message movie that the fans of Michael Moore will embrace and cheer. But is this a great, even good movie? Not a chance. They makers want to beat you over the head for 80 or so miniutes or so until the actual thriller portion begins which is hardly edge of your seat thriller material. Look I like thrillers, and I like message movies. I believe in the ability of a quality film to relay the director's vision and touch people. This was niether. Save your money and pray for those who make and distribute films, to wake up and give us all the quality that we deserve. Right now that is not happening.… Expand

I felt that the problem with the movie is that it just doesn't make sense that Tessa wouldn't have contacted newspapers with her suspicions rather than going through "diplomatic" channels. So for me, it just wasn't very realistic.

A blunt instrument.

Drawn out, but well acted. So predictable and takes a year to get to the conclusion. Plot holes galore. Ho hum is the best way to describe this very forgettable movie.

Bad acting, bad script, switched it off after half an hour before it ruined my night. It was so full of it's own self importance yet so bad it was unbelievable. A complete insult to anyone with a brain. The opening 'interaction' between the two leads set the level for the whole film.

I agree with Heather & Joe below. I am so tired of movies righteously asserting they advance the rights of a class of victims, then use such a claim of concern as an excuse for not doing their jobs. If I'm going to believe the people who run drug companies are evil, I want to know how they're evil, how their minds work, how they got that way. The mindset of this movie is exactly why the liberals are getting their butts kicked in more and more elections. Stop insisting you're so smart and do your homework. Having been to Nairobi and being aware all hell is breaking loose in the Sudan, I appreciated the underlying feelings this film sometimes captured, and the film means well, but it's way too obtuse.… Expand

Pretty boring really. Although Ralph Fiennes does his best, there is little chemistry between him and Miss Weisz and subsequently you don't really feel any of Ralph Fiennes pain. There really is too small a plot to sustain interest for 2 and a half hours. After about 45 mins when most of the story had been revealed, I just wanted it to end quickly, instead it just went on and on, showing unecessary flash backs of Rachel Weisz. Ralph Fiennes gives his usual solid performance but the rest of the cast give standard by the numbers performances of their very sterotypical characters. In the end the film potrays merely little more than a political message which is repeated many times in the film and is something your average TV documentory would probably have done better. I did nearly fall asleep but the few actions scenes in the film seemed out of place and were put in as a safeguard to prevent people nodding off. Avoid!… Expand

The most boring overrated overhyped movie of the year. Awful and preposterous.

This movie left a bad taste in my mouth. I have been browsing the internet for over an hour now, hoping to find a review that reflects my opinion. EdwardT M. comes close. The characters were unlikeable, ecspecially Tessa. She literally married the main character, Justin, in order to get to Africa. Then she continually belittles him while running around with other guys. Is this a woman worth dying for? Well, our hero seems to think so. It is preposterous!… Expand

Awful, slow and boring.

I thought it was incredibly boring. Kept waiting for something to happen and nothing ever did. Great cinematography though. They should call this movie "beautiful footage of Ralph Fiennes riding in cars".

Absolutely awful. Boring to the point that I wanted to puke. No chemistry at all between the stars. Overacted and sensationilized against the drug companies. Give me a beak as I could hardly keep my eyes open. Avoid.

[***SPOILERS***] Fiennes is great, direction & camerwork likewise. I'm normally a big fan of Le Carre, but this movie has problems. Of course there are issues with drug companies overseas (and at home), but the basic plot of the movie is silly because drug companies don't get blockbuster sales for long if their drugs kill people. It's also quite implausible that his wife would fail to tell him that the 'other guy', her constrant male companion, is gay. And to me the ending was the biggest improbability of all.… Expand

The most incredibly boring movie I have ever seen in life. A significant number of people gave up and walked out during the movie.

Way overrated to suit my taste. Quite frankly put me to sleep.

Slow? I walked out on this, and it was playing on my TV. After 45 minutes in, just a low-grade soap opera. If you have the patience to stick with it, maybe you'll like it more. My time is much too valuable. This is what I get for listening to other reviews.

I'm not sure which would be more exciting watching this movie again or being in a coma or 2 hours. I do believe it would be the coma.

Odd that this is so well rated by the professionals. I made it through the first hour and then gave up. Disjointed, badly photographed, oddly paced, bloody slow (at least through the hour I survived), and as nuanced as being hit with a hammer. Unfortunately, I suspect this movie rates so high because most reviewers like its political stance (especially the early anti-war monologue), rather than its actual merits as a movie. Odd that Lord of War, which is theoretically just a big dumb action movie, is slightly more nuanced.… Expand

This was the SLOWEST MOST BORING movie I have ever seen. If you didn't see the movie I'll save you two hours. Drug companies are bad. There that's it, that's all the movie had to say. Terrible movie.

International pharmaceutical companies have been exploiting poor Africans in need of medicine for decades in order to test their drugs, regardless of their potentially crippling or lethal side effects. If the preceding sentence interested you, read a book about it. Don't see this movie. It's neither informative, nor an actually good film. The first half hour is a nearly incomprehensible exercise in flashbacks and flash forwards, setting up a disconnected chronology to excuse all the later scenes in the film from having to occur along a realistic timeline. It works with the naivety of an action movie, but reaches insultingly for the depths of a conspiracy movie, and comes away with the satisfaction of neither. It decomposes into sentimental trash by the end, with its great cast… Expand