Watch Across the Tracks

Across the Tracks is a heartfelt drama released in 1990 directed by Sandy Tung, starring a young Brad Pitt and Ricky Schroder, who play estranged brothers trying to make amends. With a run time of around an hour and a half, the movie follows the story of the two brothers who grew up on opposite sides of the tracks. Billy (played by Ricky Schroder) is a high school track star with a bright future ahead of him. The movie opens with him competing in a local track meet, where he ends up setting a new school record. He is focused on running and has ambitions to get a track scholarship and attend college.

However, his younger brother Joe (played by Brad Pitt) has had a rougher start in life. He is a troubled youth with a criminal record and a history of drug use. Joe has been in and out of juvenile detention and is trying hard to turn his life around, but his past mistakes continue to haunt him and make it difficult for him to get back on track.

Despite their differences, Billy and Joe were once close. However, their relationship started to deteriorate when their father died, and their mother (played by Carrie Snodgress) struggled to make ends meet. Joe felt abandoned and resentful of Billy, who seemed to have everything going for him.

When Billy discovers that Joe has been released from juvenile detention, he decides to try to reconcile with him. He invites Joe to come to track practice, where he introduces him to his coach (played by John Toles-Bey) and his teammates. Joe feels out of place but starts to see the potential for a new life.

As the story unfolds, the two brothers slowly start to reconnect. Billy helps Joe get a job at a local garage, and Joe starts to take an interest in track. However, there are still obstacles in their way. Billy's girlfriend (played by Julie Griffin) is not supportive of his efforts to help Joe, and Joe's past catches up with him when a former accomplice (played by David Anthony Marshall) tries to pull him back into a life of crime.

Throughout the movie, there are several emotional scenes that showcase the power of forgiveness and redemption. Both Ricky Schroder and Brad Pitt deliver strong performances, and their chemistry on screen is palpable. Carrie Snodgress also delivers a solid performance as the mother who is trying to hold her family together.

One of the things that sets Across the Tracks apart from other coming-of-age dramas is its focus on athletics. The track scenes are filmed with a documentary-style approach and add a level of authenticity to the story. The movie also features a great soundtrack, with several popular songs from the time period, including "Wishing Well" by Terence Trent D'Arby and "It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette.

Overall, Across the Tracks is a touching and relatable story about two brothers who learn to put their differences aside and come together as a family. It is a coming-of-age drama that deals with issues such as family, forgiveness, and second chances. The movie has aged well and is still worth watching today.

Across the Tracks is a 1989 drama. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7.