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"CROSSING OVER" (2009) (Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Heavy Extreme Moderate Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None Minor Heavy Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme Minor Heavy Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Drama: Various immigration officials must contend with illegal immigrants and their quest and/or desire to stay in the U.S. PLOT: Max Brogan (HARISON FORD) and Hamid Baraheri (CLIFF CURTIS) are U.S. Immigrations agents and partners who raid various locales in the greater Los Angeles area rounding up illegal immigrants. Max is world-weary and has a reputation for going soft on some he apprehends, such as Mireya Sanchez (ALICE BRAGA) who begs for him to retrieve her young son, Juan (ARAMIS KNIGHT), at daycare, before she's deported. After his initial reluctance to get involved, he finds and returns the boy to his Mexican grandparents, and then sets out to find and reunite Mireya with her boy. Hamid, on the other hand, is a bit more hard-nosed, despite being a naturalized immigrant himself, especially toward his sister, Zahra (MELODY KHAZAE), who he and his brother, Farid (MERIK TADROS), consider an embarrassment to their family. He must also eventually contend with Yong Kim (JUSTIN CHON), whose pending naturalization ceremony might just be derailed by his somewhat hesitant involvement with a gang of thugs who are trying to indoctrinate him into their criminal ways. Gavin Kossef (JIM STURGESS) and Claire Shepard (ALICE EVE) are also facing deportation, and have some sort of romantic past together. He's a musician and atheistic Jew from Britain who's trying to fake being a religious music teacher so that he can stay in the U.S., while she's an Australia actress whose papers have expired, leaving her in dire straights. Things look up for her -- in an unsavory way -- when she runs into Cole Frankel (RAY LIOTTA), a green card adjudicator. Noting her beauty, he proposes that he'll expedite her paperwork, complete with her exaggerated, front of the line status, in exchange for two months of sexual rendezvous. That's despite him being married to Denise (ASHLEY JUDD), a defense attorney for such immigrants who's trying to help find a mother for a young Nigerian orphan, and then gets involved in the case of Taslima Jahangir (SUMMER BISHIL). She's a 15-year-old high school student whose recent report and viewpoint on the 9/11 terrorists have not only outraged her classmates and teacher, but also drawn the attention of the FBI and specifically Special Agent Phadkar (JACQUELINE OBRADORS) who wants to deport her and her parents, Rokeya (NAILA AZAD) and Munshi (SHELLEY MALIL). As the various stories play out, the plight of the illegal immigrants as well as those who both hunt them down and try to help them comes to a head. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Unless they're fans of someone in the cast or are interested in the illegal immigration issue, it doesn't seem too likely. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For pervasive language, some strong violence and sexuality/nudity. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: HARISON FORD plays a world-weary Immigrations agent who has more of a compassionate view of those rounded up then his younger and more hardened coworkers. He makes it his personal mission to return young Juan to his mother who's been deported, but then tries to find her when it's reported she's on her way back. He uses strong profanity, drinks some, briefly smokes, and must deal with unsettling news concerning his partner. RAY LIOTTA plays a green card adjudicator who decides to use his position to get some free sex out of Claire in exchange for bending the rules to expedite her case and desired card. Accordingly, he cheats on his wife, and uses strong profanity. ASHLEY JUDD plays his wife who's unaware of any of that, and works on the behalf of defending immigrants. She's particularly taken with helping a young Nigerian orphan and then Taslima. She uses strong profanity. JIM STURGESS plays a young musician who, despite being an atheist, tries to land a job teaching music at a Jewish school. He briefly fools around a little bit with Claire, possibly his girlfriend of sorts, and uses strong profanity. He also shares a joint with her. CLIFF CURTIS plays Max's partner, a former immigrant himself whose father is about to become naturalized. However, he's not happy with his wild sister, the black sheep of their family. He uses strong profanity, drinks, and bends/breaks the law. ALICE BRAGA plays a Mexican woman who's illegally in the country, is deported, and then tries to make her way back to her young son. ALICE EVE plays an aspiring actress from Australia whose pass has expired and is worried about being deported. When she literally runs into Cole, she reluctantly agrees to his offer of exchanging sex for her green card. She uses strong profanity and briefly shares a joint with Gavin with whom she briefly/partially fools around. SUMMER BISHIL plays a 15-year-old Muslim girl who lives in the U.S. with her illegal immigrant parents and younger siblings who are citizens since they were born in the U.S. After her presentation of her views of understanding why the 9/11 terrorists acted the way they did, she finds herself the subject of being investigated as a potential terrorist, and must contend with the aftermath of that on her and her family. JACQUELINE OBRADORS plays the special agent who's after Taslima and wants to deport her over the alleged terrorist beliefs and sympathies. JUSTIN CHON plays an older teen who's about to become a citizen, isn't particularly happy about that, and thus falls in with a violent gang. That leaves him in precarious spot in one situation where he's forced to break the law. He uses strong profanity. MELODY KHAZAE plays Hamid's sister who doesn't fit in with the rest of her family, briefly smokes, and is having an affair with her married boss. MERIK TADROS plays her brother, an ambulance chaser lawyer who similarly looks down on her and her lifestyle, leading him to some drastic action. NAILA AZAD and SHELLEY MALIL play Taslima's parents who are in the country illegally and must make some tough decisions regarding their family once the Feds come after their daughter and they're all outed. ARAMIS KNIGHT plays Mireya's young son who Max returns to Mexico to the boy's grandparents. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 70 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue is present, as are several sexual encounters (with movement, nudity and sounds). Violence consists of several lethal shootings, while others are grabbed and manhandled. Some of that has bloody results, while some bodies are seen in a morgue after being murdered. Those scenes might be unsettling and/or suspenseful to viewers, while various bad attitudes are present, as is tense family material. Characters drink in several scenes, and there's brief drug use (pot), while a few characters briefly smoke. Other behavior might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's a little bit of bouncy camerawork from time to time in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Max has a drink. People have drinks in a bar, including Gavin who has beer, as does Claire and her friend. The friend goes off to get another round, but Gavin leaves before he has any of that. People have drinks at a party, including Hamid and Max who has a Scotch on the rocks. Claire and Gavin share a joint. Hamid has a drink in a bar as do others, asks for a second (gets it) and then a third (but is denied that). He then pays, leaves, and appears to drunk drive to a convenience store where liquor is sold. BLOOD/GORE Max talks of Juan having the stomach flu and throwing up all morning (not seen). In a morgue, we see a young woman with a bullet hole in her forehead, and then a young man with the same (slightly bloody holes, now dry). A convenience store owner is shot, with bloody results on him and the stuff behind him. Hamid then jumps into action, shooting the gunmen and the others, some of which has bloody results (including a head shot with blood squirting out upon impact). The owner's wife also has her husband's blood on her face. We see a flashback to a man grabbing another man, and then shooting him in the head (with bloody results) and then shooting through a pillow held down on a woman's head on the bed. A border patrol agent finds a dead woman's body out in the hills (we see her from a distance, and then just partial views, mostly of her feet, one shoe-covered, the other bare). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Various immigrants are in the U.S. illegally and try various means to stay below the radar, bend or break the rules, and such. Some of Max's associates make fun of him being compassionate toward specific immigrants, mainly those who are women. Some viewers might not like Gavin being an atheist yet faking being versed in Judaism to try to get a job at a Jewish school. In class, Taslima delivers a speech/paper stating she understands why the 9/11 terrorists acted the way they did, and that they got their point across (and should be viewed as humans regardless of what they did). Some viewers won't like that stance, while her classmates harass her for her presentation and views. Later, Agent Phadkar somewhat twists her words/writings to make her appear to be a full-fledged terrorist and/or sympathizer. One of Taslima's classmates refers to her and her kind as "camel humpers." Claire pays Zahra's boss (and married lover) to create a fake green card for her. A criminal gang picks up Yong and wants to initiate him via a crime (talking of popping his "cherry"). A woman won't give up Juan until Max pays the money Mireya owes her for watching the boy. Cole not only cheats on his wife by having sex with Claire, but also blackmails the actress into having sex for two months in exchange for him fast-tracking her green card through the system. When Taslima's dad picks her up at school, a black classmate refers to that as the "sand nigger express" (Taslima and her dad are Muslim). Hamid suggests that Zahra is the black sheep of the family and neither he nor his brother seem pleased about her. Yong isn't respectful of his father and their upcoming citizenship ceremony, prompting his father to grab him by his clothes and yell at him. Not only does Zahra's boss create fake green cards for illegal immigrants, but he's also cheating on his wife by having an affair with Zahra. Hamid lies to Max about circumstances related to Zahra. Gavin lies to an interviewer about getting a religion-based job. A rabbi called in to confirm if he's accurate in a prayer lies that he was (but does so to guilt Gavin into coming to synagogue). Gang members take Yong into a convenience store to initiate him, and end up shooting the owner. After shooting the others, Hamid then allows Yong, who's holding a handgun to a woman's head, the chance to leave, take the surveillance tapes, and have a second chance at life. After the owner's wife (that woman) has told the authorities Hamid let one go, another witness lies and says that the woman was wrong about the number of gunmen. Two brothers are involved in their sister and her lover's murders (one thought the two were just going to be beaten up, the other was directly involved in the lethal acts). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" and/or "Blood/Gore" may be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. Criminal gang members take Yong into a convenience store to initiate him. They hold guns and at least one shotgun on those inside, including the owner who one pistol-whips before shooting him in the head, killing him (with bloody results). Hamid, who just so happens to be inside, pulls his handgun and takes cover as one gang member holds a gun on the owner's wife who also works there. Hamid then jumps into action, shooting three dead (some with brief, but bloody results), gets shot himself, but then shoots that fourth one dead. Yong holds his gun to the woman's head, with Hamid aiming his gun at him until he talks him into fleeing rather than dying. We see a flashback to a man grabbing another man, and then shooting him in the head (with bloody results) and then shooting through a pillow held down on a woman's head on the bed. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Shotguns: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others. See "Violence" for details. A criminal gang picks up Yong and wants to initiate him via a crime (talking of popping his "cherry"), showing that they have handguns and comment on them. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Knock it the f*ck off," "F*cking traitor," "Get the f*ck out of our country," "M*therf*cker," "F*ck it," "Don't f*ck with me" (in subtitles), "I must have f*cked someone over," "Perfect little f*ck machine," "F*cked up," "You're f*cking kidding me," "I'm such a f*cking idiot," "F*cked up," "You might as well be making it with a rubber f*ck doll," "Come on, you f*cking p*ssy," "You f*cking c*nt," "You f*cking d*ck me," "Get the f*ck back up," "What the f*ck?" "Shut the f*ck up," "You're f*cking with me," "Where the f*ck are you?" "A real cluster-f*ck," "Don't give me that sh*t," "Don't want to hear this sh*t," "We gotta listen to this sh*t?" "Bullsh*t," "You gotta keep that sh*t under control," "Really sh*tty day," "Doesn't count for sh*t," "Sh*t-hole," "They're sh*t out of luck," "I don't give a sh*t," "Camel-humper," "Flashed a little t*t," "You didn't completely suck," "Bitch" (man and woman), "Pop a cherry, fool," "Sure as hell," "You're G*ddman amazing," "I'm bloody well not," "Are you jerking me around?" "Sand nigger express," "Shut up," "Pissed off," "Might piss her off," "Balls," "Don't piss it away," "What the hell is this?" and "Watch your ass." One of Taslima's classmates gives her "the finger" over her speech on the 9/11 terrorists. Claire pays Zahra's boss (and married lover) to create a fake green card for her. We see miscellaneous graffiti. Zahra has a pierced nostril. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A little bit of suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) A briefly heard song on the radio has at least 1 use of "m*therf*ck" in it. PROFANITY At least 70 "f" words (5 used with "mother," 2 used sexually as are the terms "do it" and "get it on"), 25 "s" words, 3 slang terms using female genitals ("p*ssy" and "c*nt"), 1 using male ones ("d*ck"), 1 for breast ("t*t"), 2 asses, 2 hells, 1 damn, 1 S.O.B., 8 uses of "G-damn" and 1 use of "Jesus Christ." SEX/NUDITY Zahra shows cleavage and Hamid tells her to cover that up. Claire shows cleavage. Cole tells Claire that if she doesn't want his help, some "Momma Latina" will make Claire her "bitch" for a few nights in jail. Realizing what's occurring, Claire asks, "Where would you like to do it?" We then see them having sex (an aerial view over his shoulder, showing his movement -- we also hear his sounds climaxing -- while she looks bored/disgusted). He then rolls off her and states, "You're G*ddman amazing" and a "perfect little f*ck machine." We then see her bare breasts and then a full side nude view of her lying on the bed where they negotiate how often they'll have sex (finally agreeing on two months) in exchange for him fast-tracking her green card through the system. He then says that before she leaves, he wants her on all fours at the edge of the bed. We don't see what happens next, but then see her crying in the shower with the curtain around part of her (no nudity). Zahra shows some cleavage. Denise shows some cleavage. We see Claire's bare butt post-sex with Cole (we see his bare hip) and he comments on feeling like a teenager with her. He then says it used to be that way with his wife, but now it's easier to "jerk off" in the shower rather than rub her back for half an hour to lead up to sex. During this, we then see Claire's bare breasts. Gavin is on top of Claire, kissing her and doing some groping (both clothed), but asks how Cole is helping her get her green card. When she tries to change the subject after he asks how she's paying him, he realizes she's sleeping with him. He then asks how often and "Was he inside of you today?" We see Claire lying nude on a motel bed (bare breasts, but nothing full below the waist). Cole states he's going to leave his wife and that he and Claire should start over with their relationship. She replies that she turns off her mind when she's there and that he "might as well be making it with a rubber f*ck doll." He then leaves, and the affair ends there. We see video surveillance footage of Zahra hanging onto and kissing her boss/lover in a motel lobby. Max comments to Hamid about Zahra and that so what if she "flashed a little t*t" on occasion and "got it on" with a married man. We see a flashback to Zahra being nude with her lover (we see bare breasts) and then another view of them having rear entry sex (bare butts, movement) when someone storms into the room and interrupts them. SMOKING Max and Zahra each smoke once. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Mireya worries about her unseen young son when she's taken away by immigration officials. She pleads for Max to help, but he says he can't (although he later goes back and does just that). Hamid suggests that Zahra is the black sheep of the family and neither he nor his brother seem pleased with her. Max states he has a 26-year-old daughter (and is no longer with her mother), and then amends that to 27-years-old. Zahra says he better get that right or he might "piss her off," but he says he's already done that. Denise informs Cole that she'd like to adopt a Nigerian orphan, but he's not happy about that, turns out the bedroom light, and rolls over away from her. Denise talks of that orphan's mom dying of AIDS. Yong isn't respectful of his father and their upcoming citizenship ceremony, prompting his father to grab him by his clothes and yell at him. SPOILER ALERT: Hamid learns that his sister and her boss/lover have been murdered, and are shown their bodies in the morgue. Hamid's father cries about a family murder, and we then see the funeral with more grieving family members. Taslima's family faces a tough choice where they have to be separated, possibly forever, in order for the youngest kids to stay in the country. Taslima has a tearful goodbye with her younger siblings. A woman sees her husband be murdered in the convenience store they run. Taslima and her mother tear up upon seeing their father/husband at the airport, although from a distance as they can't make contact as the two women are deported. Max tells a married couple that their adult daughter is dead. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Illegal immigrants in the U.S. and those who work on both sides of the issue. We hear that Taslima and her parents are in the country illegally, but her younger sisters are citizens since they were born in the U.S. Yong isn't respectful of his father and their upcoming citizenship ceremony, prompting his father to grab him by his clothes and yell at him. Yong states he didn't ask for this, and comments on America being a place where power is attained by the gun and that you take what you want. VIOLENCE Immigration officials raid a location and tackle and grab various people. On TV, we briefly see footage of a crocodile grabbing a wildebeest into some water. Claire pulls out into the road from the curb, directly in the path of Cole who crashes into her (neither is hurt). Yong isn't respectful of his father and their upcoming citizenship ceremony, prompting his father to grab him by his clothes and yell at him. In a morgue, we see a young woman with a bullet hole in her forehead, and then a young man with the same (slightly bloody holes, now dry, from unseen violence). Various illegal immigrants are grabbed during a raid. Gang members take Yong into a convenience store to initiate him. They hold guns and at least one shotgun on those inside, including the owner who one pistol-whips before shooting him in the head, killing him (with bloody results). Hamid, who just so happens to be inside, pulls his handgun and takes cover as one gang member holds a gun on the owner's wife who also works there. Hamid then jumps into action, shooting three dead (some with brief, but bloody results), gets shot himself, but then shoots that fourth one dead. Yong holds his gun to the woman's head, with Hamid aiming his gun at him until he talks him into fleeing rather than dying. We see a flashback to a man grabbing another man, and then shooting him in the head (with bloody results) and then shooting through a pillow held down on a woman's head on the bed. Reviewed February 26, 2009 / Posted March 13, 2009

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