Crossover (2006)

User Rating:

1.7/10   

Director:

Preston A. Whitmore II

Writer (WGA):

Preston A. Whitmore II (written by)

Release Date:

1 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sport

Tagline:

Play by your own rules.

Plot:

A naturally talented basketball player, Noah Cruise is determined to become a doctor using his basketball scholarship to UCLA pre-med...

Plot Keywords:

Basketball | Critically Bashed | African American | TV Commercial | Title Spoken By Character

Cast

Anthony Mackie	...	Tech
Wesley Jonathan	...	Noah Cruise
Eva Pigford	...	Vanessa
Wayne Brady	...	Vaughn
Little JJ	...	Up
Philip Champion	...	Jewelz
Alecia Jai Fears	...	Eboni (as Alecia Fears)
Kristen Wilson	...	Nikki
William L. Johnson	...	Aub (as William Johnson)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ele Bardha	...	Uniformed Officer
Gavin J. Behrman	...	Director (as Gavin Behrman)
Shelli Boone	...	Shelli
Linda Boston	...	Shirley
Marvin Collins	...	Stretch
James Cowans	...	Referee
Allan Cunningham	...	Carl
Dave Daniels	...	Basketball Fan
Rian English	...	Girl
Tondy Gallant	...	Makeup Artist
Dana Gamarra	...	Security Officer
Nicholas Harvell	...	2nd Assistant Director
Loretta Higgins	...	Professor
Julia Ho	...	Waitress
Michael Kimbrew	...	Look
Michael Lamone Bivins	...	Heart Attack (as Michael Bivens)
Kristine Mansour	...	Clerk
Jason Martin	...	Double A
Allen Payne	...	Kemp
Margaret Scott	...	Ma'Dere
Marcello Thedford	...	Big Man
Tamer Werfali	...	Angelo (as Tamer Alwer Falli)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some language.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #42132)

Filming Locations:

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Company:

360 Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: When Cruz is brought into the hospital, 2 nurses pass Tech and Cruz's grandmother. In the next scene, the nurses pass Tech and Cruz's grandmother again.

Quotes:

Tech: Great minds think for themselves

Movie Connections:

References Beauty Shop (2005)

Soundtrack:

Love & Happiness (Let's Stay Together)

Crapover

For all who have cried for quality urban film-making free from gangsta, thuggin, and drug related themes…keep looking.

Detroit is a city rich in culture, history, ethnicity and empowerment but in recent years has developed an unfortunate reputation that upsets many natives. Those with a voice, the politicians, the rappers, even the filmmakers try desperately to reverse that negative image much to their credit. Writer and Director Preston Whitmore II, a loyal patriot indeed, attempts an urban tale about street ball, dreams fulfilled, and dreams deferred. It seemed like every few minutes there was a needless montage of city landmarks that were not part of the storyline. A gimmick that seemed patronizing at best, insulting at worst. I too love my city and I understand patriotic sympathies. However, they simply have no place on the celluloid. If a filmmaker wants to show the good of the city make a good movie! But that was just part of my problem with Crossover. It wasn't dramatic enough to be taken seriously and not funny enough to be a comedy. The funniest thing in the movie was the main character Tech (Mackie) spending half the movie studying for his GED. The plot was mediocre and the acting simply ghastly. Wayne Brady (who said he could be a leading man?) has to prove he's black to all his critics and quite unconvincingly portrays Vaughn, part businessman, part thug who has more than a legitimate interest in street ball. The cookie monster is a scarier underworld figure. Wesley Jonathan who was absolutely priceless in Rollbounce was less than thrilling-- almost boring. And Eva Pigford's play acting of the femme fatal just ruined a character that might have been interesting.

Crossover (or Crapover as I was calling it by the end) was a film that probably looked good on paper but lost its focus somewhere between the pitch and the production. I often advise urban screenwriters to beware of this potential peril. It's a death sentence to the film, but more importantly it is another unwanted blemish on the genre of film that is blemished enough.