A definite replay of the style of interwoven stories in the film CRASH, CROSSING OVER uses illegal immigration as its central theme (as opposed to racial tensions in CRASH) to link its stories together.  Obviously a good idea as CRASH went on to win a Best Picture Oscar as well its writer/director Paul Haggis an Oscar for best screenplay.

But the main problem of Kramer’s film is that writer/director Kramer RUNNING SCARED, THE COOLER) takes his material too seriously.  Imagine watching or reading 5 short stories where the greatest family catastrophes occur all in a short span of time. 

In one of the many stories, a Palestinian schoolgirl who gets her family uprooted as a result of her strong essay sends mixed signals.  Her reading aloud leaves the audience to feel that she is in the wrong as she should know better than to voice a concern (whether legitimate or not) in public.  Again why a teacher would let such an incident occur in a classroom is beyond comprehension.  The variety store shoot-out scene with agent Hamid (Cliff Potts) offers would-be robber Yong Kim (Justin Chon) a second chance is both laughable and predictable.  The casting of Brit Jim Sturgess (ACROSS THE UNIVERSE) as a Rabbi Wannabe is as unbelievable as it is poor casting.  Kramer also fills his film with action packed segments that look out of place in this drama.  Why too, would an Australian (the reason of love is not really strong enough) undergo such hardship to remain in the U.S. is questionable.  Obviously, Kramer is one proud American.

The camera placement during parts of the film is intriguing.  The multiple use of overhead shots look out of place and serves no purpose except perhaps for letting the audience guess which part of L.A. the scenes are shot.  CROSSING OVER is a case of too many plots, over dramatization and over sentimentality.  Observe the amount of crying there is.  The tying up of the film’s loose ends is also a problem – leading the film to its almost long 2 hour mark and past its climax.

Though a few of the stories intersect, others do not.  This is apparent as a few actors do not share any screen time together, the main leads Harrison Ford and Ray Liotta, being a clear example.  The tie in of the stories by the rendering of the U.S. National Anthem at the citizenship ceremonies adds a neat touch though the various stories leave the audience confused as to whether to feel proud or apprehensive.  CROSSING OVER is no CRASH though that was a problematic movie as well.