Across the Line (2000 film)
Encyclopedia
Across the Line is a 2000 American drama film
directed by Martin Spottl
and starring Brad Johnson
and Sigal Erez
. Johnson plays a small-town Texas
sheriff
who falls for an illegal immigrant
(Erez) who witnessed a murder on the Mexican border. While not an overtly political film
, Across the Line portrays illegal immigrants in a generally positive light and dramatizes their motivations and problems from a sympathetic point-of-view. In La Opinion
Jean Rodriguez Flores wrote, "The film Across the Line isn't just about the difficulties of crossing illegally into the United States, but it also reflects the tragedy of hundreds of people who are forced to leave their families for the "promised land." Some critics praised the film for its emotional intensity, authenticity, and integrity, but others questioned it for turning the plight of illegal immigrants into mainstream entertainment. Independently
financed and produced, Across the Line was distributed by Lionsgate Entertainment.
composed and performed the score, including the title track, Across the Line, which he released on his 2000 album Road Dogs
.
was originally cast to play the role of Harmon, the compassionate diner owner.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Martin Spottl
Martin Spottl
Martin Spottl is an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose works include Across the Line, a drama set on the US-Mexico Border,...
and starring Brad Johnson
Brad Johnson (actor)
Brad Johnson is an American actor and former Marlboro Man.Johnson's first acting credit was in the low-budget biker film The Nam Angels , and shortly after he had his first co-starring role in a major film when he played the role of Ted Baker in the 1989 film Always, directed by Steven Spielberg...
and Sigal Erez
Sigal Erez
Sigal Erez is an actress, screenwriter, and producer best known for her starring role as Miranda in the 2000 American film Across the Line.- External links :...
. Johnson plays a small-town Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
who falls for an illegal immigrant
Illegal immigration to the United States
An illegal immigrant in the United States is an alien who has entered the United States without government permission or stayed beyond the termination date of a visa....
(Erez) who witnessed a murder on the Mexican border. While not an overtly political film
Political cinema
Political cinema in the narrow sense of the term is a cinema which portrays current or historical events or social conditions in a partisan way in order to inform or to agitate the spectator...
, Across the Line portrays illegal immigrants in a generally positive light and dramatizes their motivations and problems from a sympathetic point-of-view. In La Opinion
La Opinión
La Opinión is a Spanish-language daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, USA and distributed throughout the six counties of Southern California. It is the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the United States and second-most read newspaper in Los Angeles . It is published by...
Jean Rodriguez Flores wrote, "The film Across the Line isn't just about the difficulties of crossing illegally into the United States, but it also reflects the tragedy of hundreds of people who are forced to leave their families for the "promised land." Some critics praised the film for its emotional intensity, authenticity, and integrity, but others questioned it for turning the plight of illegal immigrants into mainstream entertainment. Independently
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
financed and produced, Across the Line was distributed by Lionsgate Entertainment.
Cast
- Brad JohnsonBrad Johnson (actor)Brad Johnson is an American actor and former Marlboro Man.Johnson's first acting credit was in the low-budget biker film The Nam Angels , and shortly after he had his first co-starring role in a major film when he played the role of Ted Baker in the 1989 film Always, directed by Steven Spielberg...
as Sheriff Grant Johnson - Sigal ErezSigal ErezSigal Erez is an actress, screenwriter, and producer best known for her starring role as Miranda in the 2000 American film Across the Line.- External links :...
as Miranda - Brian BloomBrian BloomBrian Keith Bloom is an American actor, voice actor, and screenwriter.Bloom was born in Merrick, New York, the brother of producer/actor Scott Bloom and musician Mike Bloom....
as Walt - Adrienne BarbeauAdrienne BarbeauAdrienne Jo Barbeau is an American actress and the author of three books. Barbeau came to prominence in the 1970s as Broadway's original Rizzo in the musical Grease, and as Carol Traynor, the divorced daughter of Maude Findlay in the sitcom Maude...
as Mrs. Randall - J. C. QuinnJ. C. QuinnJ.C. Quinn was an American film and theatre actor. His acting career included stage, television and film television roles.-Career:...
as Harmon - Marshall Teague as Ty Parker Johnson
- Justin Urich as Billy
- Julio Dolce Vita as Jesus
Soundtrack
Charlie DanielsCharlie Daniels
Charles Edward "Charlie" Daniels is an American musician known for his contributions to country and southern rock music. He is known primarily for his number one country hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", and multiple other songs he has performed and written. Daniels has been active as a singer...
composed and performed the score, including the title track, Across the Line, which he released on his 2000 album Road Dogs
Road Dogs (Charlie Daniels album)
Road Dogs is a studio album by bluegrass and country rock artist Charlie Daniels. Unlike most of Daniels' work, almost all of the songs on Road Dogs are self-written. However, the two songs “Even up the Score” and “Standing in the Rain” are by Charlie Daniels Band keyboardist Joel “Taz” DiGregorio...
.
Development
Martin SheenMartin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
was originally cast to play the role of Harmon, the compassionate diner owner.