Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

One of my all time favorites.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

In one way, I actually see The Crossing Guard as a nifty orchestrated masterpiece with a simple plot and a very believability of story and situations, with some almost too real moments, if you can grasp that. The movie has a very real life scenario, yet simple, potent dialogue, where the film is left to the real and flawed characters to drive it. It's the way the story is manipulated by the two mains understandable intentions, and I felt this all through the movie. Loss is a horrible thing, and this is what has driven a womanizing/seedy jeweller Freddy, (Nicholson, great as always) onto a path of alcoholic destruction. The day has finally arrived, when the man, John Booth (Morse, in one of his best ever performances) who accidentally ran down his daughter, is coming out of the pen. This is the day he's been dreaming about, where he has vowed to kill this guy, with a frightening determination, and Jack has the gun to prove it. He even gives Booth a prior three day warning, what's about to ensue, that death is near, where this makes for Booth's uneasiness, and handling of his situation. Booth, who's dirty unshaven look, reminds of Kiefer's ex con one in An Eye For An Eye. Booth is not a bad man. He's polite, courteous, well spoken, and loves his adoptive parents, as frankly says "more than anything in the world". A funny conversation between the three in the car, when coming home from the pen, where a few expletives are freely dropped, leads you to momentarily think they're not your ordinary family. Nicholson's frank revelation to his ex wife (Huston, who does the role solid) with the line, that he's gonna kill Booth, is one of my favourite bits, where it's unintentionally funny, but you do feel, especially in the first viewing that it's a much more serious situation. Booth's one real savour is a girl (Robing Wright Penn) at a party, where, she even feels out of his reach, with his self punishing, she being the only one he told about Jack's nasty little visit. He even crashes her place, his first words to her "Define Guilt". What kind of was annoying, a little bit, was the continuing switch of scenes between Booth and friends, and Jack and his lady friends. He's even doing a much younger girl, Mia, an unrecognizable Kari Wuhrer, where she became a little known, in the years that followed. Sean Penn, of course, better actor than director (I mean he's a great director, but his acting quality is so high) makes good films with real stories. It becomes real fun, knowing what the next move of the two will be, Booth kind of accepting of his murderous fate, where Jack's fate becomes increasingly dangerous, as in the last fifteen minutes of the film, which are electric. The film had an ending I really appreciated, and admired, and again was believable. It made sense, as nearly everything else in the film does too. Yes, there are kind of some over the over the top or unbelievable moment's like Morse's decisions to protect himself, playing cowboy, but this is a good movie and a good drama, thanks to real characters with real and believable motivations. Underrated, yeah, definitely, where I felt that with The Indian Runner. A few cool great slo mo shots of Jack exiting a few bars, strip clubs, whatever. What I like about Penn, is he doesn't get experimental or over indulge with his films. Bruce Springsteen's soundtrack is dynamite. The gay Asian who works at his jeweller is, a cute and funny touch too. Watch for John Savage's great cameo at the start.

Any film featuring Jack Nicholson is worth a look. So too Robin Wright. Add Angelica Huston and how can a film go wrong? And for quite a ways into the film, The Crossing Guard definitely holds the viewer's attention. Nicholson is fine as the grief-stricken father who knows only one way to assuage his grief and that is with violence. David Morse plays against type; there is a softness to his portrayal, a quality I had not seen in his more recent appearances. Robin Wright plays what might be the most interesting of characters, the woman sympathetic to her lover's situation, but unwilling to live with his sorrow.The story, in quite a subtle way, keeps the viewer shifting his / her sympathy between two of the main characters (played by St. Elsewhere's David Morse, and Nicholson); I was never certain about for whom to root. But in the final third of the movie, a definite moral tone takes over; the film became, for me, a message movie. It's earlier edginess is lost.

Legendary Actor Sean Penn's Criminally Under-Rated 'The Crossing Guard' is an astonishing, powerful Human Story, that leaves a terrific impact. And Acting Epitome, Jack Nicholson, is Mesmerising, as always.'The Crossing Guard' Synopsis: Freddie Gale is a seedy jeweler who has sworn to kill the drunk driver who killed his little girl.'The Crossing Guard' is unsettling, disturbing & dark. And that is its biggest victory, it treats this difficult Human Story with proper treatment & detailed execution. Penn's Screenplay & Direction, both, are exemplary. He has handled the film with majestic treatment & magnetic understanding. He's at the top of his game in here!Performance-Wise: Nicholson is mesmerizing. His performance as a father who's daughter was killed, is heartbreaking. Watch his breakdown sequence when he calls up his ex-wife, its haunting. Nicholson is an unmatchable, impeccable, flawless performer who's way above of any award. Anjelica Huston plays Nicholson's ex-wife & she's stunning. David Morse as the culprit, is extremely subdued & restrained. A graceful performance. Robin Wright Penn is efficient.On the whole, 'The Crossing Guard' is an astonishing cinematic achievement. Don't Miss It!

Unfortunately some fine acting by Jack Nicholson is badly wasted due to a script that stretches credibility to the extreme. The first problem is the numerous t&a scenes that do nothing to enhance anything other than Jack Nicholson's ego. Second, there are scenes that are totally unbelievable, and the ending seems nothing more than audience manipulation. Third, there is very little character development other than Jack Nicholson, and Angelica Huston's part should have had far more importance. Fourth, the title "The Crossing Guard" is way off base, giving no hint that the main theme of the film is redemption, and forgiveness. Not recommended. - MERK