Reviews & Columns |
Reviews DVD TV on DVD Blu-ray 4K UHD International DVDs In Theaters Reviews by Studio Video Games Features Collector Series DVDs Easter Egg Database Interviews DVD Talk Radio Feature Articles Columns Anime Talk DVD Savant Horror DVDs The M.O.D. Squad Art House HD Talk Silent DVD
|
DVD Talk Forum |
|
Resources |
DVD Price Search Customer Service #'s RCE Info Links |
Columns
|
|
Crossover
Now, it's possible the last 15 minutes are full of nuanced acting, logical storytelling and restrained, mature directorial tactics. But it's unlikely. This is one of the goofiest, most melodramatic, most unintentionally funny movies I've seen in a while. I suspect the print melting was the result of the projector committing suicide.
Written and directed by Preston A. Whitmore II in his first major feature film, "Crossover" is the story of two Detroit teens who just want to play basketball. One of them, Tech (Anthony Mackie), spent his senior year of high school in juvie and is now studying for the GED. The other, Cruise (Wesley Jonathan), has always been a good kid (OR HAS HE???????) and now has a scholarship to "California University of Los Angeles," or CULA, not to be confused with UCLA.
Tech plays regularly on a streetball team in a highly organized streetball league, with uniforms, cheerleaders, illegal betting and everything. A shady nightclub owner named Vaughn (Wayne Brady) has the games fixed, I think, and pays all the players. The ones on the winning team get more, from what I gather. The film is not terribly clear on how the whole system works. But I know that by participating in one of the games, Cruise jeopardizes his eligibility and his scholarship.
In the meantime, though, the two pals acquire girlfriends, Vanessa (Eva Pigford) for Cruise and Eboni (Alecia Fears) for Tech. They're all African-American, but Eboni has blond hair, which was a poor choice on her part. As for Vanessa, to quote Kanye West, I ain't sayin' she a golddigger, but....
The four go to L.A. for Cruise's "orientation" at CULA, though I think real colleges have their orientation immediately prior to the start of classes, not weeks in advance. It's more of a tour, really, but Cruise keeps calling it orientation, bless his heart. Anyway, while they're in town, Tech somehow gets a gig in an athletic-shoe commercial, only to turn angry when he learns he's just the real star's body double. Thus begins Tech's descent into general surliness, evoking a confrontation with Cruise and the girlfriends.
The entire film is just so over-the-top, feeling more like an After School Special than a serious inner-city drama. You know the stories where someone is illiterate? Watch for the uncomfortable and hilarious scene in this movie where it's revealed that Tech can't add. As in, numbers. Can't add 'em. Hilarious.
The flat acting on all counts doesn't help, either. Wayne Brady, not believable as a bad guy in the first place, couldn't be less menacing as Vaughn if he were wearing a kitten costume. Wesley Jonathan and Anthony Mackie, meanwhile, as Cruise and Tech, seem like nice enough kids but just have no charisma as actors. Everything is spoken in a dull monotone, except when it's being yelled histrionically.
A friend who saw the whole movie filled me in on the details of the last few minutes, and yeah, no surprises. Whitmore may have promise as a director (provided he reins in his fondness for excessive cuts and zooms), as some of his shot compositions are eye-catching. He'll need better material, though. This kind of generic teen drama is strictly amateur.
|
Popular Reviews |
Sponsored Links |
|
Sponsored Links |
|
Release List | Reviews | Shop | Newsletter | Forum | DVD Giveaways | Blu-Ray | Advertise |
Copyright 2024 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use,
Manage Preferences,
Your Privacy Choices
|