hmm.

What's hmmm?

oh l dunno. just hmmming.

not sure l liked the film much. (though it's still far better than the majority this year has offered thus far).

Felt kinda shallow. Predictable. Pretentious even. And l felt the whole 15 main characters deal definitely didn;t work in its favor. Gotta think about it s'more, though.

Ambitious film that comes up short. Weaving in and out of stories at breakneck speeds, you never get to know any of the characters long enough to care. It was nice to see some actors playing against type, but once the novelty wears off, you're left with a "so what" sensation. The film on the surface appears to be about race relations in Los Angeles. But that's only being sold to get butts into seats. Crash is really about people who most of the audience will never encounter in their lives, being thrust into difficult situations, and every once in a while, running into each other in oh so clever ways.

Comparisons have been made to Magnolia. The connection isn't lost on me. There's a moment in the third act where I half expected the cast of Crash to begin singing an Aimee Mann song. The third act is also the weakest part of Crash, where coincidence turns mystic, and characters have seemingly unexplainable 360 degree changes in personalities and ethics. Crash nearly collapses in on itself under the immense weight of absurdity before the end credits roll.

Crash certainly isn't extraordinary, it isn't a defining moment in 2005 cinema. It's simply an okay film, something you would normally come across on IFC had it not such a high profile cast.

C-

Where do you start with a film liek this? What can you say that will make people understand the power of this film. I went into this film not knowing much about it. I had seen the commercials and that is what made me want to see it, but when I began to watch, nothing really could prepare me for what the film covers. In the foreground this film looks like it is about racism and the effects it has on our society, but look closer and this film is really about what is like to be alive and it asks tough questions that we are dealing with everyday. There isn't one inherently bad or one perpetually good person in this film. Every character is a study in the dicotomy of good and bad and that fine line that many of us tread unknowingly everyday. I want to give examples and I will, it is the only way to get across the message of this film, so if you have not seen it, and don't want to know about it until you do, stop reading now.





The two most emotional scenes in the film, well, make that three, is A) when Matt Dillon, after accosting Thandie Newton's character the night before, is now responsible for saving her life from a burning car. Here is a guy that we are led to hate in the film. He is racist, a bigot and an all around asshole. But he saves lives and when he does so, you feel for him at that point. You feel how good of a person he really is and that point of the film, you start asking yourself what it is that tunred him into a bitter human being. And then you go back and think as to what he says to his partner, "You think you know who you are. You have no idea." Those words ring so true because who we are today is not who we were five years ago and it probably isn't who we are going to be five years from now. I lost it in this scene. Absolutely lost it. I felt so terirble for both of them, and then relieved that it turned out the way it did.
The second scene that had me emotionally galvanized is when Cameron is confronted by the police and the two thugs and he is basically asking to die. He is acting out to be as tough as he can because his wife told him that he might as well be an Uncle Tom clone. Finally, on teh edge, he wants to get blown away by the police. And then to see how Ryan Phillipe's character helps hjim out, and then to ultimately see what happens to Phillipe's character, what a fucking brilliant piece of writing.
Finally, when Daniel is confronted by Farhad, and Lara is ostensibly shot, I thought it was over for me right there. I couldn't take it anymore. The film is an emotional rollercaoster but it isnot gratuitous. What you see up on screen is there for a reason and it all has something to say. What I get from the film is that we are all on teh precipice. We are all good people but we all need a little help sometimes. Ludicrous and his buddy are seemingly nothing but thugs, but what Ludicrous does at the end is nothing short of selfless.

Crash is tug at every emotion inside of you and it makes you examine some tough questions about who you are, and ultimate, the answer to the question, "You think you know who you are?" might not be answered, but it will make you think a lot about it.

10/10

It's going to be one of "those" films.

It's funny loyal, I hated Magnoliaa, but loved Crash. Go figure.

Everyone reacts differently to movies, that's what's so great about them.

Now I want to see this just to see if I respond to it like an A or a C. Honestly, the movies that illicit such a wide range of responses are the best, because it means they were aiming for something other than lackluster pleasure. Middle-of-the road movies that consistently get around a B from everyone are the toughest to talk about. Looks like this is going to stimulate tons of discussion.

A question, loyal, baumer, are either one of you guys Altman fans?

No, I do not like Altman at all.

Crash was a powerful film, and it featured some of the smartest dialogue to come along in a long time. The back and forth banter between Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges and Larenz Tate was very Tarantino-like, and all of the characters were very well drawn out, although I could have lived without the Persian store owner. The themes covered here are sure to evoke many responses, as race is one of the most touchy subjects in our culture, and Haggis didn't hold back. I predict a big future in Hollywood for Mr. Haggis, and I am really looking forward to Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers, as I have a feeling that it'll be another top notch script from the Haggin pen (or keyboard).

The characters are gripping, and I would agree that Matt Dillon's character was the most complex. He was not a 2 dimension cookie cutter character, but a guy with many layers. His perverted side was just one facet, but deep down, he was a good man, just not a great one. His racist feelings didn't affect his ability to risk his own life to save another human being, regardless of her color. The scene where he gropes Thandie Newton is indeed disturbing, as her helpless husband is helpless to do anything, and her reminders to him about his cowardice almost cost him his life twice later on, as he does some foolhardy things when guns are pointing in his direction to prove to himself that he's "a man".

Dillon's partner, played by Ryan Phillippe, gives a very strong performance, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more of him. His character definitely journeys the furthest in the cast, from the naive and innocent young partner, to, well, you'll see when you watch it. I thought that it was hilarious that he actually did get his transfer by claiming that he had an excessive flatulence problem that embarrassed him from riding with a partner. He didn't want to take the suggestion, but not wanting to ride with Dillon anymore won out, and his fellow police officers were quite cruel with their teasing...lol

Don Cheadle and Jennifer Esposito were very good as the police partners/lovers. Prejudice knew no colors in this film, and they both had their own views of people that were different. Michael Pena was also very good as the Hispanic locksmith, who Sandra Bullock (looking good as always) takes to be a gang member, when in truth, he's a family man, and a very loving father. I really could have done without the Persian store owner, as it was not as interesting as the rest, and I would have loved more scenes with Sandy and Branden, but they were both very good, and Sandra was another character that does a bit of a character journey, going from the rich snobby bitch, to the more understanding equal.

Crash is filled with emotional moments, powerful moments, surprising turns, and some great humor, and it leaves you examining you own thoughts on our perceptions of those who are different. Even the name "Shaniqua" gets played for laughs, and how funny was it to see her and the gun store owner get in the car accident at the end?

A-

Like Baumer, I'm not a fan.

Outside of the things I mentioned in my brief review, there are some creative decisions (wild slo-mo, music keys, tracking shots) that are pretty brutal and hackneyed. It's borderline insulting. The screenplay is laughable as well.

If you do see Crash, the scene between the Persian and the Latino is the biggest offender. Dillon's scenes and Larenz Tate/Ludicrous are close behind. Haggis' background is in television so maybe that's why all the characters are drawn so over the top and unbelievable.

Crash most reminds me of the films from the mid to late 90's that attempted to be indie buzz hits. The only real difference here is that a graduate film student wouldn't be able to secure Don and Sandra and the rest of the cast.

This movie is an awesomely naked view of race* in America today!

I was enthralled!

This from a guy who didn't "get" Magnolia! (...or Million Dollar Baby for that matter.)

Be sure to see it - you'll laugh/cringe/cry...

5 out of 5.



(*Note: "Race" is a myth as far as science goes - unfortunately, it is a very "real" social construct...)

There are at least three scenes in this film that will test your ability not to break down and cry in the movie theater.

I feel like Bart in that episode of The Simpsons where he sold his soul to Milhouse.

I wasn't remotely close to crying in Crash. Rolling of my eyes? Yes. Laughing when I shouldn't be? Yeah, that too. Crying? No way.

Surely I'm not the only one at KJ who saw through the smoke and mirrors.

You sound like I felt after seeing Magnolia - I thought I was in some kind of mirror universe...

Exactly!

I'm slowly getting used to it. I generally don't like films that pretend to be more than they really are. I'm not easily fooled or manipulated.

I'm glad to see that others liked this film. It's definitely a smartly written picture, so it's not something that the mindless herd would understand or enjoy.

So can someone elaborate on the sturcture for me a bit? I'm wondering. Is this a series of vignettes of unrelated incidents? Sort of like "Night on Earth," does it have unrelated scenarios that seem tied together by location or one shared experience "Like Nashville or Short Cuts," or do all these people know eachother and interact regularly?

For the most part they all know or ultimately interact with each other.

not really. it's a chain of events deal. the store owner knows the locksmith who interacts with the rich girl who has the spanish maid. the two black thugs interact with each other and one with the movie director who interacts with the cop who is partners with the other cop who meets one of the thugs. etc etc etc.

l wish l could get out on text my feelings on this movie. but every time l write something l have to delete because it just doesnt sound right.

Kypade, just type out your thoughts, buddy. I'm sure you'll be able to convey how you felt just fine. :wink:

The best film of 2005 so far. I can't really put my thoughts about this movie into precise words, but it almost made me cry three different times. That's saying something.

The acting, ranging from Sandra Bullock to Ludacris, is all wonderful.

A

Yes, some serisou scense were funny, which was jsut ugh.

For a thought provoking movie on race, rent Do the Right Thing, Boyz in the Hood...not this.