Movies:
The Crossing Guard
DVD Release
- Release Date: 1999
- Widescreen [1.85:1]
- Cast and crew commentary
- Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
- Rating:
- Genre: Drama
- Movie Type: Addiction Drama, Urban Drama
- Themes: Crisis of Conscience, Haunted By the Past
- Director: Sean Penn
- Main Cast: Jack Nicholson, David Morse, Anjelica Huston, Robin Wright Penn, Piper Laurie
- Release Year: 1995
- Country: US
- Run Time: 120 minutes
- MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Sean Penn wrote and directed this tale of loss, guilt, and revenge. The daughter of Freddy and Mary Gale (Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston) was killed by a drunk driver, John Booth (David Morse). The death of their child took a heavy toll on the Gales; their marriage broke up, and, while Mary has remarried and attempted to put her life back together, Freddy has become an embittered alcoholic, seething with directionless rage and searching for a purpose in life. Freddy intends to kill Booth as soon as he's released from prison, as he believes that jail was not a severe enough punishment for his daughter's death. But Freddy discovers that Booth is still wracked with guilt for his crime and can barely live with himself. He tells Booth that he has three days left to live; Booth tries to find solace in the arms of artist Jojo (Robin Wright), while Freddy continues to wallow in alcohol and self-pity at a strip club. The Crossing Guard also features an original song by Bruce Springsteen; Penn's previous directorial outing, The Indian Runner, was loosely based on a Springsteen song from his album Nebraska. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie GuideReview
Sean Penn's occasionally preachy, but ultimately complicated and challenging, take on the repercussions of drunk driving, both for the victims and the offenders, is a dark study in anguish and redemption. Talented actors were clearly eager to work with the mercurial second-time director, and Penn gets harrowing performances out of Jack Nicholson and Angelica Huston, as well as a touchingly chastened one from David Morse as the paroled drunk driver. A simpler film would have demonized Morse as an unrepentant sinner, but Penn is more interested in shades of gray in this brooding look at characters who have randomly developed a regrettable relationship with each other. In fact, Nicholson, as the grieving father, is the film's most unbalanced and least sympathetic element, while the halo above Morse's head is almost visible. The lingering impact on all of their lives is achingly rendered, and Penn deserves credit for dramatizing the festering anger and resentment rather than the predictable hopeless sadness that would have dominated had the narrative started right after the accident. Some critics chided Penn for choosing an issue more commonly befitting an after-school special, but the deep performances excuse the topical subject matter, and the execution hints at Penn's promise beyond the field of acting, which he apparently dislikes. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie GuideCast
- Jack Nicholson - Freddy Gale
- David Morse - John Booth
- Anjelica Huston - Mary
- Robin Wright Penn - Jojo
- Piper Laurie - Helen Booth
Richard Bradford - John Booth's father; Priscilla Barnes - Verna; Nicky Blair - Himself; Joseph Bottoms; Hadda Brooks - Piano Player; Angie Dickinson; Elizabeth Gilliam - Little Asian Girl; Jason Kristofer - Bus Passenger; Karen Medak; Jeff Morris - Silas; Eileen Ryan - Woman in Shop; John Savage - Bobby; Grant Show - Jake Hanson; Joe Viterelli - Joe at Bar; Lindsay Wagner; Kari Wuhrer - Mia; Erin Dignam - Peter's Guest 1; Dennis "Chicago" Fanning - Cop; Gene Kirkwood - Swinger; Leo Penn; Robbie Robertson - Roger; Richard Sarafian - Sunny Ventura; Matthew Ryan - Twin Boy; Jennifer Leigh Warren - Jennifer; Penny Allen - Woman on Bus; Jeremiah Birkett - Jefferey's Boyfriend; Michael Ryan - Twin Boy; David Baerwald - Peter; Kellita Smith - Tanya; Michael Abelar - Bum; Buddy Anderson - Buddy; Bobby Cooper - Coop; Lisa Crawford - Cop; Dr. William Dignam - Crossing Guard; Christel Ehde - Dancer; Ryo Ishabashi - Jefferey; Dr. Edward L. Katz - Eddie; Jay Koiwai - Asian Man; Ruby McKoy - Deputy Sheriff; Randy Meadoff - Bus Passenger; Daysi Moreno - Freddy's Chicana; Hanna Newmaster - Little Girl; Kamala Petty - Dancer; Millicent Sheridan - Dancer; Joi Travers - Dancer
