The Crossing (1990)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

George Ogilvie

Writer:

Ranald Allan (written by)

Release Date:

18 October 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A time for dreams... A time for choices... A time that would never come again.

Plot:

After 18 months Sam returns to his place of birth. He wants to ask his girlfriend Meg who he had let down when he left...

Plot Keywords:

Small Town | Dance | Parade | Car Racing | Independent Film

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Russell Crowe	...	Johnny
Robert Mammone	...	Sam
Danielle Spencer	...	Meg
Emily Lumbers	...	Jenny
Rodney Bell	...	Shorty
Ben Oxenbould	...	Heavyfoot
Myles Collins	...	Stretch
Marc Aden	...	Nort (as Marc Gray)
Megan Connolly	...	Kathleen
John Blair	...	Billy
Rani Lockland	...	Gail
Lee-Ann Towler	...	Mandy
Paul Robertson	...	Birdie
George Whaley	...	Sid
Jacquy Phillips	...	Marion

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | UK:15 | Canada:AA (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Condobolin, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Beyond Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Inside the Actors Studio: (#10.6)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

She's Not There

Crowe Makes "The Crossing"

When I read that this was Russell Crowe's big break, I wasn't sure what to expect, and I was a bit apprehensive since I'd never heard of it before. Although I wasn't just bowled over, I was pleasantly surprised. For a movie made in 1990, it has the teen or twentysomething-angsty feel of those old black-and-white potboilers you would see at the drive-in from American International, or RKO Radio Pictures. The soundtrack and accurately dressed period settings help enhance the feel even more effectively.

Prodigal son Sam (the achingly handsome Robert Mammone) returns home to the small Aussie town where he grew up, where he's welcomed home like a hero, and the glowing embers of the romance he had with best girl Meg (Danielle Spencer, now Mrs. Russell Crowe), threaten to reignite into a roaring bonfire once again.

But, as in all dramas of this genre, there are complications. The one in this story is Johnny (Russell Crowe), the emotionally scarred best bud who stayed behind to console Meg, and whom the heartbroken girl took up with. The stage is set for tragedy to occur, and it comes to that sad conclusion with predictable timing, as all three members of this ill-fated love triangle must make their own "crossing" into a world where love, honor and being true to one's self always comes with consequences; sometimes the kind that we least expect, or desire.

Mammone and Spencer are great and fresh-faced in their archetypal roles, but the person you can't take your eyes off of is Russell. Like Brando, Beatty and Dean before him, he owns, even channels the electrifying and emotional role of Johnny, and yet he pulls it off in a unique way that doesn't come across as a cheap imitation of any of the aforementioned actors. He gives the kind of performance that not only makes you sit up and take notice, but hope that you'll be able to see him again in bigger and better roles that will equal his expansive talents. Fortunately for him and us, that's exactly what happened.

THE CROSSING is worth checking out, for those interested in tracking the path of how, literally, a star was born.