On C List of Movie Reviews
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The Crossing Guard (1995)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
10/17
10/17:
This is Sean Penn at his most indulgent and manipulative.
His take on human behavior almost reminds me of Kevin Spacey's pathetic attempts at it during
Albino Alligator which is the
reason why he almost never directed again. The reality is people don't generally act that way.
Why did Jack Nicholson waste his talent on a small film for Sean Penn? He could've found a better, more sensible
script given his experience with such pictures during the 70's. In The Crossing Guard, Jack Nicholson acts like a
ten-year-old boy.
I don't care about the characters; everybody is acting for the sake of acting. They could've done it in theater, and it
wouldn't have made a difference. What do the lead character's party with strippers and the convicted felon's night out with
some bohemians have to do with the grand scheme of things? Either way, it makes for bad filler.
All in all, because he's fucked in the head, Sean Penn is an all-time bad director.