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The Crossing Guard logo
1995·Drama·1h 51m
7.0
Unable to move on from the loss of his daughter, Freddy, now a shell of the person he was before, swears to kill the man responsible for her death.
Directed by Sean Penn
loss of loved one
hit-and-run
revenge
tragedy

Cast

Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson
Freddy Gale
David Morse
David Morse
John Booth
Anjelica Huston
Anjelica Huston
Mary
Robin Wright
Robin Wright
Jojo
Piper Laurie
Piper Laurie
Helen Booth
Richard Bradford
Richard Bradford
Stuart Booth
Priscilla Barnes
Priscilla Barnes
Verna
Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson
Roger
John Savage
John Savage
Bobby
Kari Wührer
Kari Wührer
Mia
Kellita Smith
Kellita Smith
Tanya
Richard C. Sarafian
Richard C. Sarafian
Sunny Ventura

Crew

Sean Penn
Sean Penn
Director
Sean Penn
Sean Penn
Writer
Jack Nitzsche
Jack Nitzsche
Original Music Composer
Vilmos Zsigmond
Vilmos Zsigmond
Director of Photography
Sean Penn
Sean Penn
Producer
Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein
Executive Producer
Bob Weinstein
Bob Weinstein
Executive Producer
Richard N. Gladstein
Richard N. Gladstein
Executive Producer
Lisa McCullough
Lisa McCullough
Stunts
Patricia M. Peters
Patricia M. Peters
Stunts
Erik Cord
Erik Cord
Stunts

Popular Reviews

13 reviews
Mayank S
Mayank S
The Crossing Guard
Past me to future me:

There is a House M.D. brainrot moment when Robin Wright starts dancing.
Past me to future me:

There is a House M.D. brainrot moment when Robin Wright starts dancing.
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Eden
Eden
The Crossing Guard
“‘Whatever you are doing Freddy, stop it.’ I hope you die. I hope you FUCKING die.”

Now this wasn’t as good as I thought it would be but I will definitely have to give it a rewatch to understand it better.

The main plot with the deep hidden emotion of the death of Freddy’s daughter was great I loved it, however I feel that they wrote too much into the killer that Freddy himself like no one cares about his private life we want victory for Freddy so that annoyed me.

All the stripers weren’t needed it’s like every 5 minutes like we get it buddy you are a divorced lonely man.

Oh btw absolutely crap writing and it was film awfully. There was no hook and no emotion that this film should of full filled.

2 and 1/2 stars is low-key generous.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend to anyone I know but oh well.
“‘Whatever you are doing Freddy, stop it.’ I hope you die. I hope you FUCKING die.”

Now this wasn’t as good as I thought it would be but I will definitely have to give it a rewatch to understand it better.

The main plot with the deep hidden emotion of the death of Freddy’s daughter was great I loved it, however I feel that they wrote too much into the killer that Freddy himself like no one cares about his private life we want victory for Freddy so that annoyed me.

All the stripers weren’t needed it’s like every 5 minutes like we get it buddy you are a divorced lonely man.

Oh btw absolutely crap writing and it was film awfully. There was no hook and no emotion that this film should of full filled.

2 and 1/2 stars is low-key generous.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend to anyone I know but oh well.
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Tommy
Tommy
The Crossing Guard
“Song? Gimme me that bottle.”
Hands down the best piece of dialogue in this entire movie

It’s time for me to officially put my hater cap on because I really did not like Sean Penn’s The Crossing Guard. Maybe this has something to do with him still being a relatively “wet behind the ears” director at the time but I can’t find anything even somewhat redeemable, besides the rare funny moment, or piece of dialogue so bad I laugh at its existence. Everything just feels off and I can’t get behind any of it. 

It almost feels like Penn just wrote a script to see a little acting workshop from some of his buddies. That clearly didn’t work out though because the performances aren’t good either, aside from Jack Nicholson who’s pretty much always going to give you a solid performance, though I believe his performances in both The Shining, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest are far better. The rest of the cast is just straight up bad in my opinion. David Moorse gives a straight up bizarre performance playing the most guilty guy who also looks like he doesn’t give a fuck about anything. It never really feels like he understands the level he needs to be at for a scene, as he’s either consistently doing too much or barely doing anything at all and none of it is convincing. Him and Piper Laurie also have no chemistry together and their onscreen relationship feels forced. Their intimate scenes standout as some of the worst moments of the entire film, the way that sex scene was shot and the “you have such a beautiful face” line had me wanting to turn away entirely.

There are no saving graces when it comes to the technical side either just more complaints. The score is frustrating as I think I would have liked it under different circumstances. It has kind of a similar vibe to the weird score of Punch-Drunk Love, but that movie has the weird music and sounds playing throughout most of the film. Where this movie actually has no music for a lot of its scenes but then bombards you with loud over the top music in dramatic moments. Seems like the score is almost telling you how to feel in moments of drama or despair but it comes off a lot more obnoxious than it is effective. Last but not least is the editing, whether it’s the transitions straight out of google slides, or the extreme over usage of slow-motion the editing room certainly isn’t doing this film any favors. 

I don’t take any pleasure in just shitting on a film for the hell of it. In fact I think I’m normally pretty good a picking out at least something enjoyable even out of a movie I don’t like. Though for the life of me I just can’t find anything here and the whole creation of this film comes off perfunctory. 3/10
“Song? Gimme me that bottle.”
Hands down the best piece of dialogue in this entire movie

It’s time for me to officially put my hater cap on because I really did not like Sean Penn’s The Crossing Guard. Maybe this has something to do with him still being a relatively “wet behind the ears” director at the time but I can’t find anything even somewhat redeemable, besides the rare funny moment, or piece of dialogue so bad I laugh at its existence. Everything just feels off and I can’t get behind any of it. 

It almost feels like Penn just wrote a script to see a little acting workshop from some of his buddies. That clearly didn’t work out though because the performances aren’t good either, aside from Jack Nicholson who’s pretty much always going to give you a solid performance, though I believe his performances in both The Shining, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest are far better. The rest of the cast is just straight up bad in my opinion. David Moorse gives a straight up bizarre performance playing the most guilty guy who also looks like he doesn’t give a fuck about anything. It never really feels like he understands the level he needs to be at for a scene, as he’s either consistently doing too much or barely doing anything at all and none of it is convincing. Him and Piper Laurie also have no chemistry together and their onscreen relationship feels forced. Their intimate scenes standout as some of the worst moments of the entire film, the way that sex scene was shot and the “you have such a beautiful face” line had me wanting to turn away entirely.

There are no saving graces when it comes to the technical side either just more complaints. The score is frustrating as I think I would have liked it under different circumstances. It has kind of a similar vibe to the weird score of Punch-Drunk Love, but that movie has the weird music and sounds playing throughout most of the film. Where this movie actually has no music for a lot of its scenes but then bombards you with loud over the top music in dramatic moments. Seems like the score is almost telling you how to feel in moments of drama or despair but it comes off a lot more obnoxious than it is effective. Last but not least is the editing, whether it’s the transitions straight out of google slides, or the extreme over usage of slow-motion the editing room certainly isn’t doing this film any favors. 

I don’t take any pleasure in just shitting on a film for the hell of it. In fact I think I’m normally pretty good a picking out at least something enjoyable even out of a movie I don’t like. Though for the life of me I just can’t find anything here and the whole creation of this film comes off perfunctory. 3/10
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Pretentious
Pretentious
The Crossing Guard
"I'm gonna get the gun out of my pants here . . ."

Okay, pues. Not once, but twice, people in this movie had the option to shoot Jack Nicholson. Why wouldn't you take it? I don't understand.
"I'm gonna get the gun out of my pants here . . ."

Okay, pues. Not once, but twice, people in this movie had the option to shoot Jack Nicholson. Why wouldn't you take it? I don't understand.
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Skyla Elgin
Skyla Elgin
The Crossing Guard
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