Crash- Page 6

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 2:55pm

Back to CRASH.

A fact left out of the mix:

The Lions Gate producers sent out 130,000 copies of the DVD to all creative union members (I got one). I don't think this distribution of screeners -- the only film to do so this year, I believe -- can be ignored.

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 3:27pm

This is a moment where you Crash haters MIGHT want to rewatch it and see if MAYBE you got it wrong.

Not possible. With all due respect, jerby... I've seen Crash three times (once in the theatres, and twice on DVD), and I still feel the same way. Updated On: 3/6/06 at 03:27 PM

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 3:30pm

yes, but you also like House Of Wax and High Tension, so really.......

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 3:37pm

Wow. That was uncalled for. And what do those two movies have to do with Crash, and why do you feel the need to insult my opinion for no reason?

ETA: And, yes. I did enjoy House of Wax and High Tension. I wouldn't not consider them to be the BEST films of the year, but I did enjoy them moreso than others did. I've discussed it on this board several times. Do you have a problem with that? Updated On: 3/6/06 at 03:37 PM

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 3:39pm

*cough* Poppy...now we do know that taste in film is in the eye of the beholder (sorry for mixing metaphors there).

I hated Crash. I keep pounding it into the ground because the defenders are using the same points as well, but this film was too heavy-handed to be anything more than annoying for me.
Give me Spike Lee's take on race any day.

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 3:41pm

Thanks, bwaysinger.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 3:43pm

Uh, you're "welcome," 86, but I do think you're crazy for liking High Tension.
CuCu knows I love him, anyway.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 3:43pm

I'm not insulting your opinion, 86. I'm demonstrating with examples how we're on completely different planes when it comes to the movies. I love trash movies (Bride Of Chucky? Fabulous. Seed Of Chucky? Even better) but I'm well aware that they are trash and happily admit that. But you wax rhapsodic about Wax and Tension (and Hostel, which pretty much got unanimously derided from all comers) and you dismiss Crash for reasons that make no sense.

And CeeCee, I told you to shove it.

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 3:48pm

I've fully explained my thoughts on Crash in many other threads.

And, no. High Tension and especially Hostel were not unanimously hated. Some really appreciated what the filmmakers did with a tired genre, others didn't. And besides, what do reviews have to do with anything? I liked those movies, and I have my reasons. There's no reason to call me out on it.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 3:50pm

There's every reason. It's called a discussion.

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 3:53pm

"But it had some good moments.
Some amazing ones actually.
But overall, mediocre."

Those are my thoughts exactly. I mean, the moment with the daughter and the gun was an awe-inspiring scene, but the movie as a whole was dissapointing.

And I'm not a Crash hater, I just don't think it deserves the hype, and now award it has received.

Nevertheless, I am dissapointed that Brokeback's acting was recognized at all and I think it deserved Best Picture, but life goes on.

And just for the record, I saw Crash way before Brokeback and had the same feelings I have now.

[downtoearth]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 4:03pm

So you thought Brokeback should have won, they thought Crash should have one, and I think Match Point should have won. This is by no means a huge Oscar upset---don't forget that the same year Sidney Lumet's Network and Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver were nominated....Rocky won. Or that in the year when Roman Polansky's Rosemary's Baby and Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey were made....Oliver! won. The other two weren't even nominated. THOSE were upsets. Just because a movie takes on hot issues doesn't make the movie good art/good film. Just because a movie spurs certain emotions (makes one cry) doesn't make it a good film...some films aren't about emotion, but they are about thinking---intellectual stimulation, or they are about spurring laughter (comedy).

Anyway, my view is that both Brokeback and Crash won. Why? The fact remains that American award shows are backwards in that the Best Picture award goes to the producer and not the director of the film. While in pre-1960s "studio system" cinema the producer was the main artist of the film, that greatly changed with the demise of the studio system (even within the studio system some directors were still the main artists of the film, and some worked outside the system with companies such as UA). Today, the director is the clear artist of the picture, and is resonsible for the creative aspect of the film (while the producer is responsible for all non-creative aspects--financing, securing locations and actors, etc.). Most other nations and awards acknowledge this, and there is no "best director" award---the best picture award is given to the director. There is no reason why James Schamus needs to get an oscar for Brokeback Mountain. Paul Haggis, director of Crash, also happens to be a producer of Crash. By giving the Best Director award to Brokeback and the Best Picture award to Crash, both Paul Haggis and Ang Lee are awarded for their achievements in filmmaking. Both directors go home happy, and producers don't get an award which is associated with artistry and creativity. They should probably switch it around and create a "best producer" award.

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 4:59pm

There's every reason. It's called a discussion.

I'd consider your previous comment something of an instigation, but okay. I'd appreciate it if you didn't do that in the future, that's all I'm saying. Updated On: 3/6/06 at 04:59 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 5:04pm

Well, 86, that's completely fair. :) You saw it again and your opinion wasn't swayed--that's absolutely fair.

And, I'm only sorry that you weren't treated to the same experience I was--that film was a roller coaster for me! I BAWLED, I got angry, I laughed.

Updated On: 3/6/06 at 05:04 PM

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 5:10pm

And I'm very happy that the movie got such a response from you. My heart is with another movie, but I want to make it clear that I do not hate Crash. Some good moments, and a couple of great performances (Thandie Newton).

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 5:12pm

An instigation?

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 5:22pm

yes, but you also like House Of Wax and High Tension, so really.......

Yes. We've discussed these movies before, but you seem to bring them up when it's unnecessary.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 5:25pm

It's always necessary to me though.

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 5:26pm

Okay.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 5:28pm

i got $5 on pcb. he keeps a razor in his shoe, y'know.

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 5:31pm

lol

It's always necessary to me though.

I still don't know how to respond to that.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 6:46pm

When discussing movies, your opinion of those two movies is always necessary for me to remember.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 7:25pm

Everyone re-read downtoearth's fact-packed post again. One of the most thoughtful here, amid the breathy hysteria (mine included -- I even forgot that ALL ABOUT EVE won best pic in '50.)

Bravo, Downtoearth. Reminding us that Rocky beat Taxi Driver and Network. NETWORK! Really makes us BROKEBACK sob sisters look a little self-indulgent with our pouting.

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 8:22pm

When discussing movies, your opinion of those two movies is always necessary for me to remember.

Well, it needn't be. My taste in movies is just fine. It's just that we tend to get in arguments about movies that we disagree on. These were my top films of 2005:

Batman Begins
The Best of Youth
Brokeback Mountain
Cache
Capote
The Constant Gardener
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Good Night, and Good Luck
Grizzly Man
A History of Violence
King Kong
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
Little Manhattan
Munich
Murderball
Mysterious Skin
November
Pride & Prejudice
Sin City
The Squid and the Whale
The Upside of Anger

Any problem there? Updated On: 3/6/06 at 08:22 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/7/06 at 3:17am

Jeryby: Time for nay-sayers to rewatch?

Its not like now that CRASH won Best Picture, it can be said once and for all that it IS the best film of the year, and now we should all change our minds about it.

Maybe CRASH's potential impact has something to do with demographics. All of my friends from upstate and most of my NYC friends felt the same way about the film that I did. We were engaged in the film, but felt that it contradicted itself in several areas, beat the audience over the head with it's harshly overwritten stereotypes and script, then ended on the strangest note possible.

Now, upon buying the DVD and watching it half a dozen times with different people, I have warmed up to the film. I tear up ALWAYS during a few of the big dramatic scenes - they are incredibly well acted and wonderfully written. This film did have an impact on me, just not enough for me to really have any emotional attachment to it.

I do think it's a reasonably well-made film, and I am thrilled beyond belief that it has impacted and perhaps influenced so many people across the world.

Despite the fact that I was rooting for the other films, and thought the ones left out were superior to CRASH (CINDERELLA MAN, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE, WALK THE LINE, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, THE CONSTANT GARDENER, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, and especially KING KONG), I am thankful that a film that ask questions took the award. Although it doesn't present them as neatly as I was looking for, it asks questions. It causes people to think. So really, why the bitterness? Atleast something like NARNIA or LORD OF THE RINGS didn't win again. Atleast this film is relevant to today - as all the nominees are. Just because it was voted best picture doesn't mean it IS the best (art is subjective), it just means it got the academy's vote. And don't think of it as if they voted AGAINST BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN for homosexual reasons, because that's just stupid. People vote for what they believe is the best - not what will piss people off the most.

Okay, sorry for the ramble. Let's just be thankful something semi-smart and nearly-artful won - rather than some irrelevant giant epic blockbuster.