I watched this movie when it came out and remember I liked it but forgotten so much. Then it pops up on tv this evening and seeing this after so many years was a real treat to the eyes and mind, This is a strong movie with some breathtaking acting done my Nicholson and Morse. Movies these days are mostly crap so it was nice to watch something of substance.

Yeah I ended up liking it. I gave it a 7.

This movie pulverized me. It's one of the most emotionally powerful moves ever made, period. Yes, it's clunky and predictable. Some scenes, like when Freddie goes to see his ex-wife, storms outthen storms back inseemed very real but almost jarringly non-cinematic. But Jack and, especially, the always-underrated David Morse really pull it off.
Two flawed and very believable people. The scene where Freddie gets pulled over for drunk drivingjust amazing.
This is a rare 10/10 for me.

Agree totally. One of my favorite films.

It's been months since I've seen this, but that ending is really sticking with me. Excellent film overall. Wish Jack would make more like this instead of the paycheck films.

I just saw the movie and i have to say it was really good! great performance from nicholson! very good ending too!

Superb performances all around, a very compelling script, and a tremendously bleak atmosphere that fit the mood of the character perfectly. David Morse is outstanding here, and Jack Nicholson is very good, but his delivery here was a bit too familiar. Excellent supporting performances by Anjelica Huston and Robin Wright plus musicians Robbie Robertson and David Baerwald. 8/10 stars.

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It was an amazing film. I loved it. Sean Penn is a great director.

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I just saw the movie and I thought it started out very good and had alot going for it, but I have to say that the last 1\3 of the movie is a drawback for me.
I wished that the movie explored the relationship between Morse and Wright (Penn) more then it did.
Another thing is the score, the "forcing emotions down your throat" scenes in a musical sence is something that I have never liked, and I especially refer to the last scene.
I`d give this movie a solid 6\10 though which by no means makes it a bad movie but it is not "The indian runner" which I by Penn would hold as a FAR better movie.

The best performance of NIcholson's career. The movie is an emotional powerhouse.

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I think the guy who wrote the featured review on the main IMDB page that reads "amateur night on a big budget" or whatever is a bit of an arse, what do you think?

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I concur. Great film, great performances, for once nickelson doesn't it ham it up and shares the screen comfortably with his co-stars. Morse is tremendous, his best performance along with dancer in the dark.

I love this movie, all the performances are outstanding. Angelica is brilliant and sublte in her acting style here. Priscilla Barnes (Three's Company) is excellent in a small role. One or two scenes are unbelievable but overall a great movie.

yes, outstanding film, very, very rich and dense, Nicholson and Morse are linked, but the link are reversed, very touching and powerfull.
penn is a great director
J.M.O

I am another big fan of this film, its director and its stars.

http://www.opinionsoup.com/movies.html

At that point, Booth didn't care if he died, he was wracked with guilt and felt that was what he deserved. He was probably expecting Jack to try and kill him. He's spent all those years expecting his judgement to arrive, so that's why he was reletively nonchalent about it. After three days, he'd found some reasons to keep on living.

Morse is amazing. When I watched this film, I begun to think, who else could have played this role in such a way that you can sympathise for this drunk driver, who has killed a child. He creates layers and brings a depth to a character that most actors can't. I hope he is recognised for his body of work at some point

I thought it was a powerful film that was wonderfully acted and like some of the above comments, i cant believe its is so underrated.
Special word for David Morse as well who was superb. Nicholson has a tendency to dominate films he is in (simply because of his persona and wonderful acting ability) but Morse shone in this film and played the part convincingly.

I totally agree. David and Jack were superb! I still don't know why though, in the camper, even though Freddy had a gun, why Booth was able to be a tad cocky and boss Freddy around? Maybe it was after he had attempted to shoot him, and Booth saw that he had no weapon but Freddy went there to kill him and he sat down when told? But oh I think this movie is awesome! Although I am a HUGE fan of David Morse, Jack Nicholson just seems like a "tougher" kind of guy (in movies) so I guess that is why this particular scene bothered me a little.
My Green Mile Man Brutal,
(David Morse), I love 'that thing you do'!!

I think it's a tragedy that this film did not get the recognition that it deserved. Nicholson, Huston and Morse were absolutely superb in their roles. No trio of actors could have done a better job in my opinion. It may not have been Oscar potential but it should have won at least one or two awards at the globes, Venice or screen actors awards The rating of 6.3 on this site just doesn't do this film justice. I don't think people really see what these characters are going through and sometimes you have to put yourself in their shoes to actually realize how you would react in their situations. Consider if your 4 yr old daughter was killed by a drunk driver and he was just released from jail, your life and marriage now torn apart by your anger, torment and needless loss of a loving child. Just what would you do!? One of Nicholsons most memorable characters and a reason why he's a multi Oscar winner. He proves time after time that he can change his characters between comical and serious roles with such effortlessness.
Additionally I have to mention what I believe to be one of the most fantastic film scores ever produced. Jack Nitzsche was a master composer and this very moving score has me whistling the end scene music time after time. I find it such a shame that it has never been released on CD. However if anyone does know how to get hold of the music for the Crossing Guard I will be more than happy to part with cash for a copy.
This film is powerful and very very sad. It shows character emotions like no other film i've seen.
Thank-you Sean.