Crossing Over

2009 "Every day thousands of people illegally cross our borders... only one thing stands in their way. America."
6.7| 1h53m| R| en| More Info
Released: 27 February 2009 Released
Producted By: The Weinstein Company
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

Immigrants from around the world enter Los Angeles every day, with hopeful visions of a better life, but little notion of what that life may cost. Their desperate scenarios test the humanity of immigration enforcement officers. In Crossing Over, writer-director Wayne Kramer explores the allure of the American dream, and the reality that immigrants find – and create -- in 21st century L.A.

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Asif Khan (asifahsankhan) Not even close!"Crossing Over" borrows the structure of "Crash" sticks it with "Babel" and then send it through the time machine to come back later as a more typical "American" apparel: "Patriots Day" - which even had the more appealing term in it for everyday. This underrated film was meant to never cross over the barriers of actual controversies to tell interlocking stories about several immigrants, their problems and their families. But it did seemed like it wanted to try. All of their lives connect in some way, if only through U.S. immigration officials. "Crash" wove its pattern fairly naturally. "Crossing Over" seems to strain, with too many characters, too many story strands and too much of an effort to cover the bases. We meet immigrants new and established, legal and illegal, from Mexico, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Iran, England, Korea and Australia. It feels like a list.The interfacing connections are linked with two Immigration officers, played by Harrison Ford and Cliff Curtis; an adjudicator (Ray Liotta), and an immigration defence attorney (Ashley Judd). The stories include a Mexican lady isolated from her kid in an attack; an Iranian family, entrenched, which is going to be naturalised; a Muslim youngster who draws in a FBI examination by perusing a blunt (yet honest to goodness) paper around 9/11 in class; a Korean adolescent (Justin Chon) who is being compelled to join a Korean posse; an Australian would-be performer; a sceptic Jew from Great Britain who acts like an educator whose nearness is required in a Hebrew school, and somewhat Nigerian vagrant who has been stranded in a holding focus and will be sent back to Africa and threat. Some of these stories are interesting and some are terrible, yet together they appear to be excessively created. It's excessively flawless the way they blend, similar to the movement on road exchanges found in overhead shots that different the entries. I was particularly moved by Ford's inclusion with the Mexican lady (Alice Braga), who is pulled away, begging him to recover her youngster from the sitter. He plays a tolerable man whose inner voice won't let him overlook, and he winds up joining the tyke with grandparents in Mexico. Also, there's a whole other world to it than that. It's hard for him to leave his occupation at work. But that kid with the 9/11 embargo was the most heartbreaking one and surpasses every other. (It's actually pretty believable, you can't deny it, it happens a lot in this country). AND The standout scene: Korean store robbery.Harrison Ford supplies the solid focal strand in the story, yet in some cases it develops so unrealistically sensational, we're occupied. Ashley Judd's character gives bits of knowledge in the way our legitimate framework handles movement, and the Australian performer (Alice Eve) demonstrates what she will accomplish for the corrupt authority (Liotta), who happens to be Judd's better half. There is a difference between an Iranian father who considers himself a decent Muslim and a girl (Summer Bishil) who considers herself a decent Muslim and a decent American. We invest a considerable measure of energy discussing the American Dream and have excessively doubt about the individuals who need to live it. Emotions against foreigners are so openly communicated even in obliging society that you'd think they all came here for the free lunch. "Crossing Over" makes a mosaic, too oversimplified to be in any way beyond any doubt, of late landings who came here for outstanding reasons and will be significant residents in the event that they find the opportunity. Why bother lecturing right? You know and I know very well that it is too damn difficult to move to this nation lawfully and possibly lethal to do it wrongfully. But do you give a damn? You just want to enjoy the easy pickings for your own pleasure or to take your anger out am I right? Of course I am. I do the same thing.That is the reason I guess we get a portion of the best and the brightest; it takes assurance, aspiration and aptitude to get into the United States in any case. A large number of the individuals who arrive need to enhance themselves, and all the while, they will enhance you, me and us.Now, the film is very enjoyable for any thriller drama fan. The rest might just have to leave their moronic pointless views out the door for a bit. In any case, yes, the film is "imperfect" - that can be my inner snobby film faultfinder's grievance. And in case you're searching for credibility and oppose control, you'll question it. Yet, some of the time Motion Pictures are so fascinating, in spite of their shortcomings, you need to just continue viewing because it's so damn worth it.This one works that way.
alaiaparhizi This movie was pure bull, really unrealistic and artificially twisted. why would you make a movie about stupid uninteresting idiots just walking around with sad music trying to be sad for no reason Harrison ford go to heaven you are horrible not only your acting i know you like Lil girls with brown hair didn't give a damn about fat or midget immigrants selfish and horny old man, go take some Viagra and jerk off shout out to the Australian girl, good job props to your boobs and body in general hail to the fake Jews shout out to all the peoples that finished this movie i know it was real hard don't go smoke crack now and don't hang yourself either its just a movie in 10 - 15 years you will have forgotten it and everything will be okay
tieman64 Wayne Kramer's "Crossing Over" consists of several interlocking short stories, all dealing with immigration, culture clashes, power abuse and extortion. Derivative of "Crash" and "Grand Canyon", each story is also a collection of clichés.Kramer's attempting to knit a grand tapestry. One of his tales observes as immigrant Mireyna Sanchez is deported from America to Mexico. Another tale focuses on a teenage Bangladeshi who is bullied for sympathising with the 9/11 hijackers, leading again to deportation, this time due to FBI investigations. More deportations occur when immigration officer Cole Frankel blackmails a beautiful actress – desperate for a green card – into sleeping with him. Things go bad, he loses his job and she's booted from the United Unites. The film's packed with similar stories, the silliest of which involves a group of South Korean teenagers who are pushed into gang violence. It's all very heavy-handed.Each of the film's subplots involves a figure of authority abusing power to the benefit or detriment of immigrants. One such incident, for example, sees Gavin Kossey, an atheist Jew, being allowed to stay in the United States because a rabbi lies on his behalf. These actions lend the film's title a double meaning: to "cross over" to the "other side" (ie, to help the Other, to see through the Other's eyes).While Kramer is clearly attempting to portray immigrants and minorities in a sympathetic light, the film also does the opposite: all immigrants here are resorting to prostitution, are fundamentalists, America bashers, murderers, ritual killers, follow barbaric rituals etc. It's an unintentional byproduct of an overly sensationalistic script.6/10 - Trades in the condescending insights of generic race-relations movies ("Babel", "Higher Learning", "Crash" etc). Worth one viewing.
Desertman84 Crossing Over is an independent film about illegal immigrants of different nationalities struggling to achieve legal status in Los Angeles.It 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. The ensemble cast includes Harrison Ford and Ashley Judd together with Ray Liotta,Jim Sturgess,Cliff Curtis,Alice Braga and Alice Eve.It was written and directed by Wayne Kramer.Every day, a new batch of immigrants comes flooding into Los Angeles in search of the American dream and every day the price of that dream rises exponentially. As the desperation of these newcomers continually tests the humanity of Los Angeles immigration enforcement officers, the face of a 21st century L.A. gradually begins to take form.The story takes harrowing look at life among illegal immigrants and the immigration enforcement agents whose job it is to ensure that the U.S. borders remain secure. Anyone who has seen the movie,Crash will likely appreciate this film that is a multi-stranded and a heavy handed film that explores the issues surrounding immigration and US citizenship with the involvement of many characters.Unfortunately unlike the said film,Crossing Over lacks subtlety since many of the events seemed contrived and superficial.But nevertheless,we are treated with great performances particularly that of Harrison Ford.Also,it remains a thought-provoking film.