Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright (2010) (V)

Director:

R. Ellis Frazier

Writer:

R. Ellis Frazier (written by)

Release Date:

7 December 2010 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

The story centers on Charlie, a Los Angeles billionaire financial whiz who goes into self-imposed exile...

Cast

Aidan Quinn	...	Charlie Wright
Andy Garcia	...	Jorge Garza
Mario Van Peebles	...	Agent Hobbs
Danny Pino	...	Gabriel Garza
Claudia Ferri	...	Mary
Luke Goss	...	Damon
Gary Daniels	...	Michaels
Gina Gershon	...	Mariel Garza
Bokeem Woodbine	...	Miller
Jordan Belfi	...	Jimmy
Geoffrey Ross	...	Baines (as Geoffrey G. Ross)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bjørn Alexander	...	Businessperson (as Bjørn Alex Olsen)
Melissa Baldridge	...	FBI Agent
Raymond J. Barry	...	Borlec
Elya Baskin	...	Letvinko
Corbin Bernsen	...	FBI Director Hill
Reuben Cardona	...	Garza's Driver
Deirdre Dziadkowiec	...	Charile Wright Attorney
Daniel Faraldo	...	Chief Soto
David Fernandez Jr.	...	Omar
Manuel Flores-Ruiz	...	Arresting TJ Officer
Denitza García	...	Waitress Restaurant
Kenyon Glover	...	FBI Agent
Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez	...	Nurse 2
Iyad Hajjaj	...	Jorge's Gardner
Linda Llamas	...	Nurse
Eder López	...	Dead Body
Les Mumphrey	...	Lawyer
Joe Ordaz	...	Hector
Barbarella Pardo	...	Pharmacy Clerk
Vincent Rivera	...	Orderly
Chad Zuber	...	Young fbi agent
Ray Mortier	...	FBI Agent (uncredited)

Directed by
R. Ellis Frazier

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
R. Ellis Frazier		written by

Produced by
Jacov Bresler	....	producer
Bob Dziadkowiec	....	executive producer
Moctesuma Esparza	....	executive producer
R. Ellis Frazier	....	producer
Jose Martinez Jr.	....	executive producer
Ray Mortier	....	executive producer
Justin Nesbitt	....	co-producer
Geoffrey Ross	....	producer (as Geoffrey G. Ross)
Miguel A. Saldaña	....	line producer: Tijuana

Original Music by
Kim Carroll

Cinematography by
Anthony J. Rickert-Epstein

Film Editing by
Mike Wech

Casting by
Ricki Maslar

Production Design by
Sofia Jimenez

Art Direction by
Jason Cronburg

Set Decoration by
Gabriela Lopez

Costume Design by
Arlene Castillo

Makeup Department
Raul Covarrubias	....	hair stylist
Suzi Thompson	....	makeup artist
Nicole Valentine	....	hair stylist
Natalie Wood	....	makeup department head

Production Management
John Mazza	....	unit production manager
Mike Wech	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edward M. Beckford Jr.	....	first assistant director
Jacov Bresler	....	second unit director
Chris Fishel	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Antony DeQuin	....	production designer: additional photography
Stephen Heneveld	....	storyboard artist
Niles Padilla	....	property master
Jason Ray	....	assistant property master: Los Angeles

Sound Department
Sean Heissinger	....	sound editor
Harrison Meyle	....	dialogue editor
Harrison Meyle	....	supervising sound editor
Jeffrey A. Pitts	....	sound effects editor
Jennifer Ricciardi	....	sound mixer
John Sanacore	....	foley mixer
Chris Trueman	....	boom operator
Alex Ullrich	....	foley artist

Stunts
BJ Davis	....	stunt coordinator
Julia Davis	....	stunt performer
Darcy DeMoss	....	stunt performer
David Fernandez Jr.	....	stunt performer (as David Fernandez)
Ray Lykins	....	stunt actor
Alan Marcus	....	stunt player
Marty Murray	....	stunt performer
Joe Ordaz	....	stunt player
Spice Williams-Crosby	....	stunt performer: FBI Agent

Camera and Electrical Department
Colin Angle	....	additional grip
Noah Applebaum	....	digital imaging technician
Anthony Barrese	....	lighting technician
Patrick Blanchet	....	first assistant camera
Louis Chernovsky	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Trevor Crist	....	gaffer
Sara Elia	....	best girl grip
Mark Farney	....	grip
Dean Gunderson	....	steadicam operator
Philip Holbrook	....	still photographer
Erin C. Jones	....	set photographer
Mark Legaspi	....	second assistant camera
Taavi Lehtimaki	....	electrician
Joseph Matarrese	....	second unit: key grip
Paul Monroe	....	grip
Andrew Nigro	....	grip
Zach Rasmussen	....	key grip
Michael Schilling	....	best boy electric

Casting Department
Theo Caesar	....	extras casting
Barbarella Pardo	....	extras casting: Mexico
L.C. Spencer	....	casting assistant
Sheila Thompson	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rebecca Agee	....	set costumer
Galaxia Bautista	....	set costumer
Danielle Johnson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Michelle Wang	....	on-set costumer

Editorial Department
Stephen J. Murray	....	post-production assistant
Keith Roush	....	colorist

Music Department
Justin Nesbitt	....	music supervisor
Mac Quayle	....	composer: additional music
Alistair South	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Louis Dargenzio	....	transportation coordinator
Zach Rasmussen	....	driver

Other crew
Jeanette Aguilar	....	production accountant
Nikki Barbanell	....	legal
Kristin Graham	....	production assistant
Geraldo A. Iglesias	....	ket set production assistant
Illyana Jimenez	....	production assistant
Tanit Lee Lascelles	....	production coordinator
Barbarella Pardo	....	production coordinator
David Rickabaugh	....	stand-in: Andy Garcia
James M Turner	....	assistant to Mr. Goss
Dennis Williams	....	location manager

Thanks
Donna Rowe	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Project One Films

Distributors

• Maya Entertainment (2011) (USA) (all media)
• Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Eagle Films (2010) (Non-USA) (all media) (middle east)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Initiative Cinema One (ICO) (2011) (France) (DVD)
• Joyncontents Group (2013) (South Korea) (all media)
• MobiFusion (2011) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• SP Films (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• SP Films (2011) (Argentina) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Bangladesh) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Bhutan) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (India) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Maldives) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Nepal) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Pakistan) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Sri Lanka) (all media)

Other Companies

• American United Entertainment  funding
• Anarchy Post  foley recording
• Global Powerhouse Production  product placement services
• Roush Media  post-production
• TEAM Casting and Production  extras casting
• Underscore Media  sound post-production

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some language

Runtime:

Canada:94 min | Argentina:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #46524) | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:16 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Project One Films

Quotes:

Charlie Wright:My dear Isabel, When a man finds himself at the end of his days He has to take an account of his life He has to be able to live with what he has done If he can find the goodness somewhere If there is a chance to find some kind of redemption Before we...

How to make an international thriller on a budget

Just as his billion dollar financial empire is about to crumble, a scheming businessman evades the authorities and goes on the run. Hot on his trail are two different crime organizations as well as the FBI.

The scope of the story is enormous considering what looks like a shoestring budget but "Across the Line" is what I'd call a straight-to-video thriller done right and much of the credit should go to R. Ellis Frazier who wrote, directed and produced this movie.

Frazier has penned a classic thriller which would end up below average but thanks to the different story threads he has crafted as well as an attention and love for the characters and the setting, it rises from mediocrity. The direction is gritty, down to earth yet tasteful and aesthetic enough for the genre, with tight editing and a great score.

However, where this movie shines the most is probably in the acting department when again, we consider this is a straight-to-video thriller. This movie's casting stands out in all ways. Aidan Quinn stars as Charlie Wright, the con men on the run who now seems haunted by his past. Quinn is simply amazing and it is almost unfortunate to see him give such a performance in a movie that will give him absolutely no chance of recognition at any kind of award ceremony.

Andy Garcia is also breathtaking as a crime lord. Far from the standard caricature of the merciless, threatening boss, Garcia plays up the fragility of his character due to past failures. There is a lot of depth here thanks to Frazier's writing and Garcia's portrayal. Every other cast member is good or even better. Even Van Peebles, who has mailed performances in so many direct-to-video lemons gives a better than usual performance.

Despite Quinn getting the lion's share of screen time, this is very much a story with an ensemble of characters, a dozen or so. Many of those given more attention than we are used to, even in bigger productions.

There are few action sequences here but one stands out in the middle of the film. An intense shootout that may not be as spectacular as Michael Mann's Heat or Christopher McQuarrie's Way of the Gun but is close enough and memorable as well as unpredictable.

The film is not without flaws and unfortunately, loses steam in the last third or so. Clocking at around 90 minutes, there could have been a few more twists and turns and an added 15 to 30 minutes further exploring some of the characters. Perhaps due to the short running time, the film also relies a bit too much on unlikely coincidences and certain characters crossing path a little too often.

But all in all, this is great writing by Frazier (who seems to favor stories taking place south of the border), a solid directorial effort and some smart choices as a producer to surround himself with actors whose stars may have faded a little but are still able to deliver great performances.

I'll be sure to watch Frazier's next effort.