THE CROSSING GUARD
A film review by Vince Deehan
Copyright 1996 Vince Deehan
Written and Directed by Sean Penn Cast: Jack Nicholson, David Morse, Robin Wright and Angelica Houston Release Date: Friday August 16 1996 (UK)
THE CROSSING GUARD tells the story of how two men cope with the death of a young girl from a drink-driving accident. One man being the father of the young girl, Freddy Gale (Jack Nicholson) , the other being the drunk driver himself, John Booth (David Morse).
When the film begins we see John Booth being released from the jail where he served a six year sentence for killing the young girl. We see him welcomed back with loving arms by his parents Helen and John (played by Piper Laurie and Richard Bradford). John decides to live in a trailer beside his parents house and no sooner has he moved in when he is visited by Freddy Gale seeking revenge for his daughter's death. Fortunately for John, the gun with which Freddy fully intends to shoot him, doesn't appear to have been loaded. Freddy then decides to give John a three day reprieve before he returns to visit him once more. It is this three day period which the rest of the film shows, leading up to their next meeting when Freddy fully intends to carry out his original plan of killing John.
During the course of the film we get to meet Freddy's ex-wife, Mary (Angelica Houston) and her new husband (played by the singer Robbie Robertson). Mary has two young sons from her marriage to Freddy (in addition to their deceased daughter), who now call Mary's new husband "Daddy" and call their estranged father "Freddy". Freddy is shown to have abandoned his wife and sons after his daughter's death and has kept in little contact with them since. Whilst Mary is shown to have remained strong for the sake of their young sons, we see that Freddy couldn't or wouldn't face up to his responsibilities to his family following their tragic loss.
Freddy runs a jeweller's shop in town and spends a lot of time in local strip joints and with the young girls who work there. His daughter's loss never seems far from his mind though, as we see him lovingly observing a young girl embracing her father in the street. Freddy is convinced that taking the life of the man who took his daughter's life will somehow make things better. When he tells his ex-wife of his plans to kill John Booth, she doesn't take too kindly to the idea. Freddy reckons that this means that somehow Mary doesn't really care for their lost daughter, so deep is his conviction that revenge is the answer.
During the three day waiting period, John starts a new job and meets and starts a relationship with a woman he meets at a party, Jojo (played by Robin Wright). Jojo is aware of John's past and clearly starts to develop strong feelings for John, as does John for her. But it soon starts to become very clear to Jojo that John's guilt is so great that she feels unable to reach him. There is a wonderful scene in the film when John visits Jojo and seeks solace from the pain he is feeling. Jojo knows how mere words will not do, and anyway she knows that she will be unable to find the right words, so she simply puts on a tape and urges John to dance with her. Jojo starts to dance but John just stands still at first, realising that neither Jojo or anyone will be able to help him get over his pain. The acting by David Morse and Robin Wright in this scene is amongst the finest in the film. Very few words are spoken, but you can just feel what is going through their minds.
The acting throughout the film is excellent. Sean Penn has drawn fine some performances from all the lead actors. Jack Nicholson is on top form and is never anything but totally convincing. His pain and anger is palpable throughout the film. David Morse is always a solid performer and he is great as John, playing a man whose pain and anguish is almost deeper than that of Freddy's. David Morse is a huge man but with the quietest of voices and superbly portrays a character who clearly has spent much of the past six years examining his conscience and wrestling with the pain and suffering he has inflicted on Freddy's family and indeed his own family. Piper Laurie and Richard Bradford, as John's loving parents, are excellent in the short amount of screen time they get. Especially, their scene in the car on the way home from jail when John's father is so ecstatic that he has his son back with him that he can't help but laugh out loud and can't keep himself from swearing with glee - the first time he has sworn in front of his son. Piper Laurie, as John's mum, gets in on the act too and lets out a swear word. This scene is wonderfully played - and I haven't really done it justice here.
Sean Penn's script is very well written and deals with very delicate subjects - mourning, and the feelings of revenge that can overcome people who have suffered such a terrible loss as Freddy. Whilst we are never led to believe that Freddy's plans are right, we nevertheless can't help but feel for Freddy - a man who seems unable to face up to life without his beloved daughter.
Review Written on Sat August 17 1996 by Vince Deehan
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