The Crossing Guard

REVIEW
Writer-director Penn has crafted an actors' vehicle in this somber treatment of guilt and redemption. The story opens on the day John Booth (Morse) is released from prison after serving his sentence for the drunk driving death of a young girl, whose father Freddy Gale (Nicholson) has vowed revenge. Both Morse and Nicholson deliver powerful yet nuanced performances as each struggles with his own personal hell. Huston is equally compelling as Mary, the child's mother, who has attempted to move beyond her own numbing loss and reconnect with life. As the characters confront and rebuff each other, a more complete version of their lives emerges. A solid supporting cast and exquisite cinematography propel a sometimes lumbering story line to its resolution, unexpected in its emotional release.