The Crossing Guard (1995)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Fresh and Exciting

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The problem with this movie is not the performances Jack Nicholson is great in whatever you put him in and David Morse is good too but it seems to me that Sean Penn doesn't know what Drama is he has some very good scenes with dramatic values and some others that destroy the whole movie like having Nicholson going to a Strip Club every 30 minutes or even Robin Wright that should help Morse's character instead of dancing like crazy the actors are great but the script and direction haven't been written really that well although it is good to say that the ending was pretty good since both men have done mistakes and they accept them. The Crossing Guard is a beautiful movie that tries a lot to find the drama that it needs threw out it's story but the confusing direction and some pretty bad scenes and dialogue tear apart the movie i give it a 7/10.

Wonderfully talented actors, and a director I imagine talented as well. But both the actor's indulgence and the director indulging them is stultifying. Seemingly left to their own devices they create scenes with few sparks and much tedium. Nicholson, Morse, Huston and the other have ability to burn, yet they fizzle with false restraint.The actors are obviously improvising in many scenes yet their behavior often seems contrived and illogical. The director, attempts to create a reality of life with ancillary actors surrounding the leading characters,yet those scenes within scenes seem forced and intrusive. One should care about the three major characters caught up in a truly tragic event, yet it's generally "ho-hum" because they are caught "acting" in most every scene. With such great talents, this film was truly disappointing.

What a well-directed film. Anyone who says Sean Penn is a hack is full of it. This guy knows how to direct, there is no question about it. But what he is directing? That's another matter."The Crossing Guard" has way too many 'hollywood' elements for it's own good. Kind of reminded me of "21 Grams" in that way. Where "21 Grams" was a Hollywood-version of addiction, "The Crossing Guard" is a Hollywood-version of crime and punishment. There is no clear villain and there is no clear victim. I guess we are all victims, aren't we Sean? Okay, first of all why did Booth get out of prison for killing a girl while drunk driving and his friends throw him a welcome home party with alcohol being served? Only in Hollywood. We are given a small glimpse of Booth's character but not enough to really feel bad for him. Nicholson's character, Gale, is a real creep. He makes it pretty tough to feel sorry for him at all. So the viewer is torn, right up until the end of the movie. The ending throws you for an emotional roller coaster that will make some people laugh and no doubt make others cry, but it is definitely strange. A frantic Gale shooting Booth, then handing his gun over to him.Fine acting, fine directing, just not a great story here. Then there was Robin Wright. We loved you in "The Princess Bride" but please Sean, cool it with the nepotism: the part was useless and your lovely wife did not fit into it.5 out of 10, kids.

Freddy Gale (Three Time Oscar-Winner:Jack Nicholson) is a sad, lonely man. Who spin his time at the strip bar with this so-called friends and strippers. He owns an small jewelry business, divorced from his wife (Angelica Huston) and he's not an father to his two twin sons after the death of his daughter. She was killed by a drunk driver by the name of John Booth (David Morse). Which John recently got out of prison after five long years. Freddy is giving John... three says to live before Freddy kills him. While these two men are searching for some kind of redemption before the day comes.Written and Directed by Sean Penn (The Indian Runner, Into the Wild, The Pledge) made an intriguing moody drama. Nicholson and Morse are both good in their roles. This film only came out in limited release in theaters back in 1995. Still, there's not many people heard of this film yet.DVD has an fine non-anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and an good Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD's only special feature is a running commentary track by writer/director:Penn, playwright:David Rabe, Cinematographer:Vilmos Zsigmond and actors:Huston & Morse. "The Crossing Guard" is heavy handed at times, although the ending is predictable... it manages to be quite touching. Still, Penn's second film is good but it's no breakthrough like his recent new movie "Into the Wild". (*** ½/*****).