“Crossing Over” Starring Harrison Ford: A Comprehensive Report
Plot and Themes
Multi-Character Canvas
- The film interweaves multiple storylines featuring immigrants from diverse backgrounds, including Mexicans, Iranians, Koreans, Australians, and Jews.
- These characters face various challenges in their quest for legal status, such as document fraud, asylum, and green card processes, work-site enforcement, naturalization, counter-terrorism, and cultural clashes.
Key Storylines
- Examples include a Mexican woman detained by ICE agent Max Brogan, an Australian immigrant engaging in a compromising arrangement with a corrupt immigration officer, and an Iranian-American ICE agent struggling with cultural values and family conflicts.
Thematic Depth
- The film avoids simplistic characterizations, focusing on the nuanced and often treacherous experiences of its characters, highlighting themes such as the American Dream, cultural clashes, and the human cost of immigration policies.
Learn more about the movie’s plot and themes here.
Cast and Characters
Main Characters
- Harrison Ford as Max Brogan: Max Brogan is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. He is tired and worn out but very compassionate. He helps a Mexican woman whose son is left alone after she’s detained. This shows the human side of immigration enforcement.
Supporting Characters
- Ray Liotta as Cole Frankel: Cole Frankel is an immigration officer who is not honest. He demands wrongful favors from an Australian actress in return for a green card. This highlights the misuse of power.
- Ashley Judd as Denise Frankel: Denise is Cole’s wife. She is a lawyer who fights for immigrants trying to attain legal status. She is also trying to adopt a child from Nigeria, reflecting her deep compassion for others.
Character Dynamics
- Cliff Curtis as Hamid Baraheri: Hamid Baraheri is an Iranian-American ICE agent. He struggles to balance his job and his family’s cultural expectations. This shows the internal conflict many face in their professional and personal lives.
- Alice Eve as Claire Shepard: Claire is an aspiring actress from Australia who finds herself in a difficult and compromising situation. She makes a deal with Cole Frankel to stay in the U.S., showing the desperate lengths people will go to for legal status.
Each character in “Crossing Over” brings a unique perspective on the struggles and hopes of immigrants. Harrison Ford’s role as Max Brogan is especially powerful in showing empathy and resilience. For additional information on the cast, you can visit IMDB.
Direction and Production
Director’s Background
- Wayne Kramer: Wayne Kramer is the director of “Crossing Over.” He is known for making films with complex themes and realistic portrayals. He moved to the United States in 1986, which gives him a personal connection to immigration stories. Some of his other famous movies include “The Cooler” and “Running Scared.”
Production Details
- The production of “Crossing Over” involved multiple key people. Wayne Kramer was one of the producers. Frank Marshall, who has worked on many famous movies, also co-produced the film. Harvey Weinstein was an executive producer.
- Originally, the film was 135 minutes long. However, Harvey Weinstein insisted on reducing the length. The final cut of the movie is about two hours.
Creative Team
- Cinematography: The movie uses complex storytelling techniques. It includes steadicam and crane shots, which help to link the multiple storylines smoothly. This style of filming creates an emotional and vivid portrayal of the immigration experience.
- Musical Score: The film’s music was composed by Mark Isham. His score adds an atmospheric layer to the movie, making the scenes more impactful and emotional. The music helps to highlight the challenges and emotions faced by the characters.
Wayne Kramer’s direction and the efforts of the creative team resulted in a powerful portrayal of the lives of immigrants. You can read more about Wayne Kramer’s work here.
Aesthetic, Technical, and Reception Details
Aesthetic and Technical Details
- Musical Score: The film’s music was composed by Mark Isham. His score adds an atmospheric layer to the movie, making scenes more impactful and emotional. The music helps to highlight the challenges and emotions faced by the characters.
Critical Response
- The film received mixed reviews. Some critics praised its thoughtful and thought-provoking approach to immigration issues. It was noted for its realistic and emotionally gripping narrative, avoiding the pitfalls of simplistic portrayals.
- Reviewers highlighted Harrison Ford and Cliff Curtis for their nuanced roles, citing their performances as standout elements of the film.
To read more about the film’s reviews, you can visit Rotten Tomatoes.
Audience and Cultural Impact
- The film sparked debates on the balance between empathy and strict policy enforcement. It engaged audiences in conversations about the human cost of immigration policies.
- The realistic portrayal of the struggles faced by immigrants added to its impact, allowing viewers to understand the complexities of the immigration process.
Overall, “Crossing Over” presented a poignant and multifaceted look at immigration, contributing to ongoing discussions and raising awareness about the intricacies and human aspects of the issue.