Iffy for 16+
Intense immigration drama doesn't live up to its intentions.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this mature drama isn't likely to be on most teens' must-see lists. In the same vein as Traffic and Crash, it attempts to capture the complex nature of immigration to America (both legal and illegal), with desperate characters doing desperate things. While the film presents a nuanced, complex look at the issue, it also contains scenes of blunt sexuality (including partial nudity) and brutal violence (intense shootouts and more). There's also lots of strong language ("f--k," racial epithets, and more), drinking, and smoking.
- Families can talk about the movie's central issue of immigration. Why do you think this issue is a hot button in the media?
- How do TV shows and movies typically address the issue of immigration? And why do you thinkso many people break the law to live in America, risking their freedomand/or their lives?
- Do you think the immigration process is easier forCaucasian, English-speaking immigrants than it is for people of color?Why or why not? How hard -- and how necessary -- is it for immigrantsto adapt their cultural values to fit within the American mainstream?
The good stuff
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Messages: The movie is full of illegal and unethical acts (bribery, extorion, and much more), all of which have ramifications and consequences that weigh heavily on the minds of those committing them -- or result in their comeuppance.
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Role models: Characters discuss terrorism, racism, and religious prejudice, andfamilies are forced to make difficult decisions. Small lies are told inthe service of the greater good. On the up side, law enforcementofficers choose to go above and beyond the call of duty in the name ofdecency.
What to watch for
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Violence: Extreme violence, including several graphic shooting deaths (two of the characters killed are a couple in bed after making love). There's also scuffling, some blood and gore, and intense shootouts. Dead bodies are seen.
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Sex: Multiple sex scenes. Female nudity (chest and buttocks) and male nudity (buttocks). Discussions of adultery. An immigration official has an arrangement with an illegal immigrant: She's available to him sexually, and he gets her a Green Card. Some cleavage.
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Language: Repeated strong language, including "f--k" and its variations, "Jesus," "Goddammit," "ass," "s--t," "bitch," "c--t," "piss," and more. Also racial epithets like "gook," "sand n----r," "wetback," and "raghead."
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Consumerism: Brands that are visible or discussed include Budweiser, Froot Loops, Glock handguns, Photoshop, Crunch gyms, and more.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters smoke cigarettes and drink champagne, hard liquor, and wine. Two characters enjoy what is clearly a joint.
Fan Reviews provided by
4
Crossing Over is Chock Full of Reality by citizenshipattorney
This is a very good movie. Immigration attorneys and immigrants deal with the reality of our nation's system on a daily basis. We have a very strong immigration system in the US because of the fact that we are a nation of immigrants and our economy relies on it to succeed.
Check out [BLOCKED WEBSITE] to learn a thing or two about the reality of the film.
5
Crossing Over by SirThomas47
I saw Crossing Over months ago with four intellectual and articulate adults and to a person thought it to be exceptional in all areas including Sean Penn's performance, which unfortunately he seems to have chosen to be an after the payday fact thorn.
Immigration that we face hourly in Los Angeles is what Crossing Over depicts... MANY stories within EVERY moment. This is an actuality and I appreciated in Kramer's writing and direction that exposed the problems and at times the pain of choice. Because the LAW READS specifically does not imply that following its dictate is at times anything less than wrong.
It exposes another part of life... Cliff Curtis' honest approach to honor of family tradition and contemporary change was touching BUT a BITTER choice to agree with... Yet his pain was splitting hairs and the flipside was his giving or not taking the life of the teenage gangster... I will see the newly edited sans Penn..
3
Crossed out by moviecritic1111
Kind of a blah movie even with all the star power-Liotta looks and acts really badly. Ford wasn't much better. But if you are a bleeding heart liberal you probably won't care about that and will love this movie-it will give you one more reason to hate America and the "mean" people who try to keep us from total chaos-and feel sympathy for poor, poor immigrants who are here illegally.
Personally it reenforced for me many more reasons that people who want to live in USA need to go through the process legally these are only some of the terrible things that can happen
1
Crossing Over, Crossed Out! by alf10022
The cast and the multiple sub-plots had the making of a pretty good movie, but it never connected. Ultimately, it was long, drawn out, poorly played and quite frnakly a complete bore. I would not recommend this movie to anyone...there was virtually no entertainment value, and trust me, I am an avaid movie goer and will see almost anything regardless of whether the critics like it or not. This was the case in this movie, however the critics were completely correct. Sorry, I adore Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta and this movie did not do these seasoned actors well at all.