Release Date: 3/12/09
Many characters of different ethnic backgrounds are interwoven in this movie called Crash. Oops, I mean Crossing Over. Okay, it wasn’t exactly like Crash but it was definitely very reminiscent of the 2005 Best Picture of the Year. Where Crash focuses on prejudices and stereotypes, Crossing Over is about immigration and achieving legal status in America; or to be more specific, Los Angeles, which is also where Crash was shot.
Harrison Ford stars as Max Rogan. He’s cute and fatherly and likable, but kind of boring: a bit of a disappointment after loving his return as Indiana Jones in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Also starring is husband and wife Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd (Cole and Denise Frankel). Liotta is a sleazy pig cheating on his wife with the pretty Australian, Claire Shepard (Alice Eve). Eve is basically naked the whole movie and Liotta is, well, he’s really good at playing am immoral, deceitful, gross jerk. Judd, on the other hand, is a very sympathetic, caring character who tries to help immigrants stay in the States. Basically she and Liotta are complete opposites and I don’t understand why they got married in the first place.
Blah, blah, blah.
The big names were not the stars of this movie. The most captivating performances came from Summer Bishil as Taslima Jahangir and the adorable Jim Sturgess as Gavin Kossef. Bishil doesn’t have a huge resume – yet, but she was named one of the “Ten Actors to Watch” by Variety in 2007, and it’s no wonder why. Her portrayal of an Islamic teenager in post 9/11 is nothing short of powerful. She really evokes sympathy from the viewer in explaining her side of the story. In one especially emotional scene I couldn’t take my eyes off her; and of course this is the scene where I cried.
Sturgess (Across the Universe, 21) has real star power. He has a way of taking over every scene he’s in. His character, Gavin, tries to attain his green card using his slim-to-none Jewish heritage. He’s quite funny and charming, and man can he sing. The scene where he sings a Jewish prayer is great, and probably the only scene where I laughed out loud. I haven’t seen 21 but I want to, just to see him in a lead role. Sturgess is currently in post-production for Heartless with no other big names, so that might be something to look forward to.
Written and directed by Wayne Kramer, Crossing Over is in theatres everywhere March 12. Go see something more upbeat like Sunshine Cleaning or I Love You, Man.
IMDB 6.6/10
Rotten tomatoes 20%
Moviewiseguys 5.5
