Crossing Over (2009)
Starring: Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd, Ray Liotta, Jim
Sturgess, Cliff Curtis, Alice Braga, Alice Eve, Summer Bishil, Jacqueline
Obradors, Justin Chon.
Plot: This is a story about the struggle to become a part of
America and its dream of a new life. It’s about the immigrants from a vast
array of nationalities trying to achieve legal status.
My Review and Thoughts:
I went into this movie not really knowing anything about it.
I was blown away at its stark reality-based feel. This is a mixture of drama
and also a story that weaves itself through many characters that instantly you
are drawn to. I think this is one of those films that should be seen in that
this day and age where immigration is the main subject and the reality of 9/11
and the whole concept of terrorist seem to run rampant in the news. This film
explores the challenges, the struggles and most of all the drama of family and
wanting to belong. Seeking a better life for yourself and your loved ones.
The acting in this film is extraordinary. I enjoyed the
reality that just when you thought you knew what the twist and turns were, more
drama is added creating a complete weaved storyline of every single character
crossing paths in one way or another.
Written and directed by a wonderful visionary of film. I
became a huge fan after seeing his stunning and brilliant 2006’s Running Scared
starring the wonderful and late great Paul Walker. Before that he co-wrote and
directed the wonderful The Cooler in 2003 starring the amazing William H. Macy.
After Running Scared he created this one I am reviewing here. I think this is
an overlooked film and a story and character driven film of absolute brilliance.
His most recent film is the 2013 Pawn Shop Chronicles which is a truly vast
array of characters woven around a Pawn Shop. You can read my review here for
it.
What I love most about his style of film is he writes and
directs and creates all his stunning work. He is a self-completed artist that
shines. He is able to touch on very dark subjects and is able to always make a
point no matter how dark or stylized it is. I feel he is a modern genius of
film and his vast array of work specifically Running Scared, Crossing Over and
Pawn Shop Chronicles are must see entertainment.
It surprises me that this film did not get more buzz than it
did. I think it’s a movie that is clearly overlooked. I think it’s a movie that
might’ve caused some great controversy because the politics of immigration and
the idea of Muslims and the jihadists and 9/11 is very blunt in this film. And
I think that’s probably why it got a lot of negative reviews. The negative
reviews probably tend to be because the film explores the real reality and the
real struggles of individuals and also the idea of being able to believe in
what you believe in and being honored by creating free speech through your
ideas and beliefs. But sadly this day and age ever since 9/11 there seems to be
a crusade against people that speak their mind that express their free speech.
It seems that if a person doesn’t go along with what is the norm or what your
belief system is then its okay that they are attacked, ridiculed and belittled
and as in this film they are considered terrorist and a threat to America. I think
this movie touches on many subjects that is relative, that is important and
most of all that should be learned and taught about; that we all are equal.
Just because you were born in America doesn’t mean you’re a pure American
because there is no such idea, because we all came here, all our ancestors were
immigrants. Our ancestors came to this land just like modern people come to
this land. They fight to be legal. They fight for a better life for themselves
and their children and loved ones.
I really enjoyed this movie and I fully understand it and comprehend
the reality that it was trying to capture. I think that the direction and the
story come off as something of a brilliant understanding. Harrison Ford I
thought was amazing and created his character in a fashion that the inner heart
and soul of a person can understand just what he was going through and he had a
soul and a heart to care for an individual that the government deemed illegal.
The idea and the subject of immigration is all a money
racket. I am not here defending that it’s right to be in America illegally
because I do feel that individuals should have to go through a process to be
legalized in America. I think there are correct ways to go about this. But the
problem with the system is that it fails because it clearly is a money racking
scheme and also an organization that does what it wants and feels like it can
do whatever it wants. It’s an organization that fails humanity. No individual
in America whether they are legal or illegal should ever have to be forced to
go back to a situation that might result or end up hurting them or killing them.
I feel that we as a society should respect all life and instead of simply
rounding them up and separating them from their families and creating a worse
scenario for that individual we should first make sure that those families are
stuck in a safe environment. No family should have to be separated.
What I also like about this film is it showcases that
certain individuals that come here bring their own belief systems. I’m not
saying you can’t have your own belief systems and faith but if you come to
America there is no shunning a woman who decides to free herself of religious
rhetoric bondage and explore her body and decide to date who she wishes to
date. If you come to America you abide by America’s laws. You don’t simply shun
and kill people because that’s what you’re rhetoric believes. This storyline I
enjoyed greatly on the idea of a sister being shunned and then ends up dead it
brings a great dramatic reality and the mystery to the film.
All the actors were believable. I really enjoyed Ashley Judd
as a caring welfare worker of immigrant children, that are orphaned or
abandoned or in the process of being deported. I think she captures an
emotional reality to her character and creates the heart of the true American.
I think the award for best acting goes to Summer Bishil as one
of the most important characters in the film. She’s plays the character Taslima
Jahangir who gives a report in her high school about trying to understand the
9/11 hijackers. This of course backfires on her and this is one of the main
subjects of the film. Bishil’s emotional acting is so believable that the
viewer or at least I was stunned at her performance. Her speech at the high
school was very blunt and that goes back to me talking about how
writer-director Kramer knows how to create touchy subjects and to enforce them
into a believable setting for the viewer watching.
This is a movie that showcases the border, document fraud
and extortion, the green card progress, worksite enforcement, naturalization to
be an American and most of all the continuing crisis and clashes of cultural
differences. Interesting to note is this is actually a remake of Kramer’s 1995
short film by the same name. Now Wayne Kramer is actually an immigrant himself,
he comes from South Africa and so this gave him I believe a personal
understanding of the process that individuals have to go through.
Sadly as I have stated before this film never got the push
it deserved and it’s all because of politics, all because of belief systems,
all because we are so scared that we are going to offend somebody. The film was
originally 140 minutes but it was chopped by 27 minutes it cut out a pivotal
moment about an Iranian being murdered in what is known as an
honor killing. Some of the subject is still in the film but it has changed from
what it originally was about because of pressure from the studios and also the
editing and also the whole uproar of the idea of talking about an honor killing
here in America. This scene involved actor Sean Penn but this reality was cut
out where he played an immigration cop and the controversy over the honor
killing plot was forever changed to please the bigwigs or so it says.
Because of all of the changes in cuts and controversy the
film sadly was given only a minor theater release in 2009. Shockingly the movie
was created in 2007 but was not released until 2009 showing you that the film
pushed too many buttons. I think what is so shocking is if you review most of
the critics remarks they are unfavorable to the film. There’s not many
mainstream critics that will boost this film. I for one personally think it’s because
the controversial subject and touchy reality of the film. I for one think it’s
brilliant. I for one praise it in all of its controversy and political
viewpoints and ultimate reality of immigration and the subject of culture
clashes. I think this day and age too many people are so scared of offending
someone. We as a culture have become something that America never intended to
be. We are slowly becoming a silent tongue nation.
This is a wonderful film of acting, amazing direction and equally
amazing characters. A wonderful written script that I highly recommend and love
for its interchanging and interweaving of characters into one story.