The Crossing Guard

pretty dull, good actors badly used. lost the will to watch about quarter the way through, persivered to the end but not worth the time.

An absoutely absorbing film, slow to build but great perfomances from the cast. Final chase a bit naff, but end plausible

This is another Jack Nicholson film thats excellent, but probably isnt one of his more commercially successful films. Directed by Sean Penn, whose films are always well directed and worth a look.

given its correct title for viewers in the UK.

not quite the same gravitas has it? Good performance by jack but depressingly sad if you have kids,,the constant nightmare vision one of em being killed in such a way (or anyway) is all to real here,,not for the suicidal.

This isn't a terrible film. But it's very weak indeed. People will rent it for the big names on the poster - Nicholson, Sean Penn, Huston, Robbie Robertson even. But it's a bit of a clunker. Jack Nicholson makes a quite an unbelievable gem store proprietor. His success with the lap dancers is all middle aged author's wish fulfillment. His relationship with his wife and kids is never properly explored. And his motivation for the planned revenge is never sufficiently teased out, despite the over-lengthy scenes ploddingly crossing out and circling dates on the calendar. The released killer is far too pleasingly educated, compliant, articulate and remorseful. GIving nothing away, I would still say that the contrived ending is of course completely unbelievable. As are the characters and most of the dialogue. It's underwritten and acted by a cast as if on autopilot. File under 'Hollywood Trash'.