The Crossing
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Movie Reviews of The Crossing
Movie Review: One of the Best Rev War Pics Out There!
Summary: 5 Stars
I give this film five stars despite some of its historical innaccuracies because it is so well produced. Compare this movie to say something like Mel Gibson's PATRIOT and you have the difference between quality and trash! The movie conveys the feeling and desperation of Washy's army on its last legs before striking back at Trenton. Jeff Daniels does a spirted but probably false impression of Washy. In reality the man was much more stiff and proper than is shown here. Washy would never use such language in front of the common soldiers! He rarely lost his temper as well, otherwise the famous tongue lashing of Charles Lee at Monmouth two years later would never have created such a sensation as it did. Daniels makes Washy much more likeable to the modern audience, but is an flawed portrayal.
The production value of this film is first-rate. Obviously period re-enactors were used and their dedication to the hobby shows in the correct formations, drills, etc. The brief skirmish at the beginning with the British probably did not happen so close to the Delaware like that. Also, the uniforms for the British appear off somehow. They look like an earlier period, not the 1770s. Still, it works. The Hessians are well portrayed, although it would have provided variety if some Musketeer's with their tri-corn hats were shown. Not all of Rall's men were Grenadiers and Fusiliers!
American losses were actually 2 dead from the march, and 4 wounded from the fight, including Hamilton and Monroe, the latter a future US President! I don't know why the movie did not convey this. The effects of Knox's artillery seems also much exaggerated. Solid shot and cannister was used, not explosive shells as shown here. Most films on this period fail to show artillery accurately in that regard. Still, the acting and mood of the film are right on the mark which makes it easily the best Rev War production out there. Too bad it did not go further to show Washy's next great triumph at Princeton where a small British detachment gave him a much harder run for his money. Still, what we have here is a nice concise work that comes close to converying the actual history of the event. This is more than most Hollywood productions do these days. Let's hope future movie producers draw upon this movie for inspiration rather than the PATRIOT and others like it.
Movie Review: Very Good Film on Washington and critical time in the American Revolution
Summary: 5 Stars
Jeff Daniels had brought to life previously a great figure in American history by his masterful job as Joshua Chamberlain in 'Gettysburg'. In 'The Crossing' he takes on a even larger icon from the American past and pretty much knocks it out of the park. George Washington has always been one of my favorite historical characters, I think pretty highly of him. I think that he and his men were the glue that held the American Revolution together. Washington could have been a dictator but wasn't. His character and devotion to country are the stuff legends are made of.
'The Crossing' finds Washington at a critical time when he is at low ebb after the humbling defeats around New York. The war effort is portrayed in a very unromantic life. This was a war that America lost more battles than it won. But Washington at Christmas 1776 had a ace up his sleeve and the rest as they say is history. Daniels dazzles as Washington and portrays him as a very human character and shows his great temper that Washington usually kept under wraps. His dry humor is also a nice touch. I also like the bringing to life of the nearly forgotten John Glover ,by Sebastian Roché, and the true bravery of his men and what they sacrificed for the cause without their efforts little would have been possible. Roger Rees also does a nice job as Washington's friend Hugh Mercer. Mercer was one of the ancestors of George S. Patton of World War II fame, for a little trivia.
The film captures the cold of winter well and is a DVD to watch in December-January when the leaves have fallen off the trees and you have a warm crackling fire inside. This film captures that tough winter well and the spirit of the men who remained and the great leader who led them in one great roll of the dice. I wish more films were made about our Revolution.
The DVD has good picture and sound plus an interesting little 'making of' the film as an extra.
Highly recommended!
Movie Review: America's history of tenacity and unselfishness
Summary: 5 Stars
Every American should see this film. They should see, in the dramatic way that a video makes possible , the sacrifices that these earlier people made to give us a free country. I have often marvelled at the patience and tenacity of Washington through those 7 long years of war. This film emphasizes his tenacity and just plain "toughness." It also gives us a picture of those few common soldiers who stayed with him through bitter defeat and privation while the majority deserted or otherwise disappeared. These few made the great difference. And among these few were fewer still the fishermen from Marblehead who saved the Army in New York making possible the escape march to Valley Forge. This same close-knit group of men made the difference again at The Crossing. They knew how to handle boats actually making the crossing possible.
As you watch the film listen especially carefully to the conversations between General Washington (Jeff Daniels) and Col. John Glover (Sebastian Roche). Col. Glover is the feisty, outspoken officer who often disagrees but who knows how to take orders. He commanded the Marblehead fishermen without whom Valley Forge and the Crossing would never have taken place.
If you are interested get Howard Fast's "The Unvanguished." This book tells the story of the Marblehead fisherman in New York in detail. Fast wrote The Crossing including this film script. With Fast's earlier New York battle background you will understand how the Army got into such a desperate situation and Washington's relationship and conversations with Glover in this movie will make all the more sense. .
The acting is good to very good. The script is very good. The story moves along well. The settings are realistic and well done. This is no sacrifice. It is real entertainment. But it could inspire you to a little sacrifice for your country should the need arises.
Movie Review: Victory or Death
Summary: 5 Stars
This is truly a great movie and I highly recommend it to anyone. Whether you are a history fan or not. This movie depicts an event in American History that needed to be told in detail. Many people are familiar with Washington's infamous crossing of the Delaware River, but do not realize how important of a mission it was. And to what degree of deterioration Washington's army was by the end of 1776. It was literally "Victory or Death" for Washington in the final week of the year. His troops enlistment's were almost up, moral was low and Washington desperately needed a victory. So he decided to attack a group of German troops (hired by the British)stationed in Trenton NJ the day after Christmas. Needless to say, the mission was accomplished........
On Christmas Day every year, I always slip in a toast at the dinner table for Washington's success at Trenton NJ. Yes it sounds corny, but I am a corny guy and love to remind people of such events.......
My only complaint about The Crossing was that German leader Colonel Rall was given a message late in the evening on Christmas Day, warning him of the attack . Rall requested not to be disturbed and refused to read the message. He tucked the unread message in his coat pocket. The message was finally read the following day AFTER the attack. This incident was left out of the movie and really needed to be included. For if Rall had read the letter, he would have been prepared for Washington's attack. Most likely ending the American Revolution right there.
Movie Review: History or Poetry?
Summary: 5 Stars
There is an old debate as to which is truer: history or poetry.
The accuracy is surprising, considering that it was adapted from a novel written by an author who generally knows better than to let history get in the way of a good story. In this case, the bending of the facts, mostly in characterization of some of Washington's generals, was relatively restrained, and supplied conflict that was real, if not always attributed to the correct historical person. Thus, the literary license does not get much in the way of history. Many of the small details are correct to an exceptional degree. All the characters, whether historically accurate or not, are well portrayed as people of the time. There is enormous subtlety here.
This is a magnificent expression of the American situation at the time and place.
Which is truer, history or poetry?
The correct answer is: "Yes."
This film is both. Don't miss it.