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Sean Penn directs Jack Nicholson in this story of a man who swears to avenge his daughter's death by killing the drunk driver who struck her.

The movie opens up with Nicholson's character being a sleazy guy in a strip club and instantly we don't care very much about him, because he treats everyone like crap and doesn't really seem to have much depth. I'm all for unlikeable characters, but not when they're totally unredeemable and of no interest to the audience.

The rest of the plot seems very back-and-forth..."I'm going to kill him!" "Wait, I can't kill him." "I'm going to kill him!" "But I shouldn't kill him." When he finally makes up his mind the movie has already lost a lot of its momentum and derails way too early.

This film should have been good. It has a potentially great plot, and the first few scenes are very good. Then, it simply falls apart, and the main plot is basically ignored for much of the remainder of the movie. I also found the ending to be somewhat disappointing, although it was nice to see the focus back on the central storyline. The acting was certainly good, as you would expect in a Jack Nicholson movie, but the real tragedy is that David Morse was absolutely wasted. He was outstanding, but he rarely had anything to work with. What a disappointment.

I puzzle at those reviewers criticizing this film, which to my mind is a tour de force. Of course, I do volunteer work with dying folks and help train aspiring grief counselors to deal with the traumas that life all too often brings us. I can only assume that those who so quickly dismiss this powerful meditation on grief and remorse have yet to experience these real life emotions. Something by Schwarzenegger may be more to their taste, or one of the ubiquitous comic book recreations we encounter most summers with cardboard characters and pseudo emotions.

Sean Penn is plumbing much deeper regions of the human psyche, and doing so with actors of rare talent, fully capable of sharing with us their heart rending vulnerabilities. Few actors have the courage to go to the places these actors visit as they face suffering almost too great to bear. I'm reminded of the more recent Mystic River for which Sean Penn received an Academy award for best actor, a movie that explores equally traumatizing events. It was heartening to watch the joy with which this award was greeted by his fellow professionals who have long acknowledged this man's genius both in front of and behind the camera. This movie deserves a much wider audience of discriminating movie viewers.

David Morse was excellent in the movie. Whenever he's on screen, the movie is worth watching. Jack Nicholson is his usual competent crazy guy. The subject makes the movie a Serious Topic movie, but it often has trouble staying on topic.

The movie itself is mostly very slow going, aside from Morse's scenes and the scene where Nicholson talks to his ex-wife about a dream. How many times do we need to see Nicholson's character hanging out at the strip club? Yes, we get the idea, he's turned into a sleazebag with no direction in his life.

The ending is what really saves the movie. Beyond that, no spoilers from me. Once you get the idea of how Nicholson acts in the strip club, you might as well fast-forward through the strip club scenes (unless you want to see the strippers do their thing), because they're all pretty much the same. Still, that ending is just so good the movie ends up feeling pretty decent.

This movie about a man revenge story. For six agonizing years, Freddy Gale(Jack) has waited for John Booth (David Morse), The man jailed for a crime that smashed Freddy's life. Now, Booth is out of prison and Freddy's giving him three days before he returns to even the score !

It was a good film. Sean Penn did a great movie since dead man walking ! I cannot take my eyes off Jack Nicholson !David Morse (The Rock , The good son & The Green mile) is a very underrated actor. I shall recommend this for everyone who is a fan of Jack Nicholson. At least watch it once :-)

Wonderfully talented actors, and a director I imagine talented as well. But both the actor's indulgence and the director indulging them is stultifying. Seemingly left to their own devices they create scenes with few sparks and much tedium. Nicholson, Morse, Huston and the other have ability to burn, yet they fizzle with false restraint.The actors are obviously improvising in many scenes yet their behavior often seems contrived and illogical. The director, attempts to create a reality of life with ancillary actors surrounding the leading characters,yet those scenes within scenes seem forced and intrusive. One should care about the three major characters caught up in a truly tragic event, yet it's generally "ho-hum" because they are caught "acting" in most every scene. With such great talents, this film was truly disappointing.

I don`t think much of Sean Penn as an actor , his OTT performance in CASUALTIES OF WAR almost ruined the entire film for me and it wasn`t only that film that Penn yanked my chain , but despite this I can`t help noticing that he does have some talent behind the camera . He`s not flawless of course and his flaws are plain to see in his later film THE PLEDGE but I found THE CROSSING GUARD to be both very moody and very moving with some truly great acting on display . It does suffer from one deep flaw - Penn`s script

The problem is how the two protagonists are written . Freddy Gales daughter is killed by drunk driver John Booth so guess which character THE CROSSING GUARD portrays in a sympathetic light ? That`s right , the one who killed the girl ! I won`t go as far to say that Penn has painted Booth as the real victim , but why on earth does he paint Freddy as being such a harsh character ? He`s vulgar , always in a drunken state and when it comes to women his attitude is disgusting , in fact he`s a dirty old man and there`s nothing to prove it`s caused by the reaction to the death of his daughter . He is the opposite of Booth who is shown as a different character whose spell in prison has changed him into a profound man able to contribute to society . I see so the man bereaved by the criminal is actually the bad guy ? I`m not sure if this is what Penn is saying because the message is somewhat confused .

But despite this serious flaw I`d like to see more films directed by Sean Penn , just as long as the producer keeps him away from a word processor

When "The Crossing Guard" came out, it seemed like we'd heard for years that Sean Penn was worthless and just got in a bunch of fights. We turned out to be wrong. He's as great a director as an actor. The movie casts Jack Nicholson as Freddy Gale, out to get drunk driver John Booth (David Morse), who accidentally killed his daughter. Over the course of the movie, we see how Freddy's life is damaged not only by his daughter's death, but how he has never talked to anyone about this. Moreover, Freddy has never gone to his daughter's grave, but John has. Everything comes to a head at the end. Maybe I wouldn't call this the ultimate masterpiece, but it is worth seeing. Also starring Anjelica Huston, Robin Wright Penn and Piper Laurie.

I am a huge Jack Nicholson fan, as a lot of people are. I saw this movie on the shelf with some older movies and decided to rent it. My expectations for anything that Jack Nicholson is in are pretty high. About 45 minutes into the movie, all expectations were dashed with no hope of getting any better. First, Sean Penn tries to pack as many bare chested ladies into the story as possible with little bearing on the story line. Robin Wright's performance is possibly the most over-dramatized role I have ever seen. Who believed that she fell so hard for an ex-convict in one night? The story was so melodramatic that I rolled my eyes more than once. Not even the great Jack Nicholson could save this movie as his role was overplayed and far, far below his standards. But you have to give Sean Penn credit for the ending. Of the dozens of choices he had for closing this film, he did pick the very worst one.

Jack Nicholson being great and demanding your attention? Who knew?

Sean Penn delivers a more than impressive first outcome as a director. Providing a film that offers some interesting questions for the audience to ponder, forgiveness, guilt, healing and so on.

The cast is super impressive. Emotional, legitimate and passionate in their expression of their characters nuances.

The Crossing Guard is full of memorable moments that a drama of this level should feature.

Penn leaves more than enough room for the actors to tell the story and to allow the characters to grow and develop in front of your eyes.

Its an acting and directing masterclass :)

Not every care in choice an auspicious project means a hit, Jack Nicholson in mid-nineties didn't have much offer for good projects, then came out The Crossing Guard as option, in fact a good storyline at least, a stringent treatment on the screenplay should be a good starting inasmuch as had a awesome casting available, the producers convinced bringing the former wife of Nicholson, Angelica Huston to act its own ex-wife, the promising actor David Morse for the role of the killer, Robin Wright director's wife and the old lady Pipier Laurie as mother of the convict killer, finally Sean Penn as director in a nutshell good things will come.

Jack Nicholson played Freddy Gale a successful dealer jewelry, a solid marriage with Mary (Angelica Huston) three children, when his older daughter was run over after school by an alcoholic driver John Booth (David Morse), due that he was sentenced a six years on prison, afterwards Freddy collapsed himself of mind and soul, his marriage falls apart, Freddy's life comprises in low engagement at work, when night falls he spending time with drunkards friend at night clubs in search for a night sex with the countless strippers, Freddy swears when Booth carry out the sentence he will kills him.

Soon the time comes and Booth is finally released, goes back with their parents Stuart Booth (Richard Bradford) and lovely lady Helen Booth (the priceless Pipier Laurie how I can forget her) he stayed at his own trailer at backyard, the edgy Freddy comes there, but somehow forget the bullets, promising going back in three days, a deadline for a revenge, seemingly that both didn't care too much for their life, Stuart is gloomy due he was fully boomed for accidently killed a young child, meanwhile Freddy undermines his free nights with lousy girls, often wake up drunk and hangover, on the third day Stuart already makes your mind and decides fight over his life, waiting for the defined Freddy.

Aside it wasn't got a hit status for some specific reasons, the picture is compelling and poignant, in the last sequence the picture reach at its peak in everlasting street chase, you won't regret to watch this small offering of Sean Penn and Jack Nicholson, glad to see Pipier Laurie once more still beauty and charming lady in action again!!!

Thanks for reading.

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First watch: 2023 / Source: DVD / How many: 1 / Rating: 7.5.

Sean Penn wrote, co-produced and directed this strong drama about a conflicted Los Angeles businessman intent on nailing the drunk driver who killed his daughter. In the lead, Jack Nicholson is appropriately somber, displaying no over-the-top theatrics as he visits the parolee just sprung from jail, giving him three days of freedom before his death. Sub-plots detract from the main narrative, with Robin Wright a colorless love-interest for convict David Morse and Anjelica Huston lost in a confusingly-written role as Nicholson's ex-wife. Frequent trips to the local strip club muddy the focus of the piece, however the emotional showdown between the two men is wisely examined, heartfelt and exceptionally well-acted. **1/2 from ****

A powerful and compelling story, filmed well and with some great performances.

Sean Penn seems to have managed to level the actors here, with David Morse, Anjelica Huston and Jack Nicholson putting in great performances and none of them stealing the scenes from the other. I found this very surprising as I expected Nicholson to flood the screen, as he so often does with such little difficulty.

However, the emotion between Huston and Nicholson in the latter half of the film during the coffee shop scene is so powerful to watch. Huston is such a wonderful actress, and Nicholson shows some emotional depth that I haven't seen before, or rather, not felt with his performance before.

The story is written and planned extremely well, with tension rising slowly and almost imperceptibly, until the final day. I found myself caught from the opening scenes of the counselling session cut with the drunken, partying Nicholson, right through to the pivotal moments of the main characters lives.

It is a fantastic way to address this subject. To examine it from both sides, and keep each side with its own sympathies and understandings. Cleverly your sympathies and hatred are swapped throughout the story.

I hope there's more to come like this.

with such a good cast, I was shocked I had not heard of this movie. But after watching it, now I understand. It was a pretty good idea for a movie, but not executed very well. I just felt like Sean Penn had all these great ideas and grand schemes for an intense movie. But instead of focusing in on one solid motif, he threw too many concepts and character issues into the mix. The entire stripper / sexual sub plot with Jack could have been completely left out. There was not a lot of depth behind the acting, it was just kinda there.

Like I mentioned, the plot line kinda skated on the surface of being deep. Nothing about the movie really touched me. Especially considering I lost a family member in a similar way, I thought I would be crying my heart out. But honestly I found it barely entertaining. But if nothing is on TV and the internet isn't working, I suggest watching it.

Those posters who yearn for action, action, and yet more action should rate the movies they are most fond of and leave those with depth and feeling the hell alone. Guys you are about as deep as a puddle in the street.

Sean Penn did an incredible writing and directing job. He assembled an all-star cast and directed them with such skill that no one performance overshadows another, yet all of them are powerful and provocative. It's really great to see David Morse in yet another fine performance. This guy is totally under-rated. Jack Nicholson is, as always, at his finest. Anjelica Huston turns in another powerful performance. It was also good to see Priscilla Barnes after many long years doing a credible, no excellent, portrayal of the "bad girl" with a soul.

If you want to see a film that actually has some depth see this one.

I've just read through a few other users' comments and noticed the 6.3 average given and am a little disappointed. I've just watched this film on a wet afternoon and found it extremely poetic, touching and very human.

The film is about two men, Nicholson and Morse, and their differing reactions to Morse's release from prison after six years for the manslaughter of Nicholson's daughter (drunk-driving).

All this film is concerned about is the two men. Both actors and director combine to portray detailed characters, who we can try to understand and identify with. There is no real action or plot, only character study and development, which is done well enough to constitute the film.

Of course there are flaws, others have pointed them out, but I wanted to stick up for this film, and I would recommend it if you're looking for something about people.

Mike Allison

I have to take exception to what seems the be the majority view that this is an excellent film. The whole thing is contrived and phony. Throughout, there are innumerable points in the action where people do things and behave in ways completely contrary to what real people would do. The dialogue, too, is contrived. And one could have asked some more subtlety. As it is, it is clear from the get go that the vengeful father is the "bad" guy and the repentant killer is the "good" guy. Things are rarely so black and white. There is one scene further on in the film where Nicholson's character, in a conversation with his ex-wife, portrays some genuine grief and pain, but his portrayal up to that point completely belies that. And the many observations by viewers about the excessive and gratuitous nudity are on the mark. The completely contrived and unbelievable ending brings to mind Oscar Wilde's quote that "one would have to have a heart of stone not to dissolve into tears ...of laughter."

Sean Penn should stick to his day job of acting and stay away from writing and directing.