SNMR 7.28: "Crossing Over"

GREEN'S ILLEGAL ID'S FOR EVERYONE!! REVIEW:

Crossing Over is a multi-character canvas about immigrants of different nationalities struggling to achieve legal status in Los Angeles. The film deals with the border, document fraud, the asylum and green card process, work-site enforcement, naturalization, the office of counter terrorism and the clash of cultures.

This film takes a hard look at the US Immigration and Naturalization Service and the various law enforcement officers who have these interesting but trying jobs. At the same time, the film takes a look at immigrants of various nationalities and the problems they face struggling to achieve legal status in Los Angeles and what they face if caught and the consequences.

Like so many films these days there are many characters and many different story arcs, all of which are connected in some way, even if loosely. This is a film that does not have an even ending. Some of the arcs end negatively, others positively.


I would like to think that the US Government isn't as harsh as portrayed in the movie, splitting up families and all, as we are supposed to be a compassionate country, but after 9/11 I suppose you do what need requires you to do. The most moving scene to me was toward the end when many immigrants are sworn in as brand spanking new American citizens - with the promise that this country doesn't guarantee you success but will provide every opportunity to be successful, as long as laws are obeyed, etc.

Crossing Over is an expansion of a short film writer director Wayne Kramer did in 1996. In that short film, Jaqueline Obradors played Mireya. In this movie she plays Special Agent Phadkar. Kramer, as is usually the case when the writer and director are the same person, knows his material and what he wants to accomplish with it.

The ensemble cast is headlined by Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd. It's a diverse group but all of the performances are excellent.

I believe that this is a brief but realistic portrayal of the way the system works and I can tell that this is a job I'd have a hard time doing. This is the kind of film that I'd have trouble watching multiple times but will eventually own it because I have most of Harrison Ford's other movies on DVD.

For some reason I found this review hard to write, but you do what you must. So I did. The library DVD I watched didn't skip but did freeze in a few places due to scratches on the disc which is always annoying. The DVD also was without any extras, which I was disappointed not to see. Despite those minor issues, this is a very thought provoking film and well worth a rental.

***½ out of *****

Crossing Over (2009, R, 113 minutes), starring Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta, Ashley Judd, Jim Sturgess, Cliff Curtis, Alice Braga, Alice Eve and Jacqueline Obradors. Written and Directed by Wayne Kramer.