rOcKS on 'CRASH'

I just felt the need to write a review for this film as it is incredible beyond belief. There are no words to categorize this film. Haunting, intense, provocative, startling, raw, and incredible are all understatements. It is the best movie of the year by far and one of the best I've seen in a long, long while.

The story is quite intriguing. It is about, basically, how strangers affect us and how we all collide and 'crash' and can really impact eachother's lives. Mostly every character in this movie 'crashes' at one point or another, or their stories can somehow be tied in to another one. It starts out as a simple, multi-plotted film, but by the end, you realize it's turned into a complex, stirring film in which the numerous plots all combine to form one. It's really remarkable.

The ensemble remains one of the best ensembles ever assembled for a film, IMO. They are individually and uniformly spectacular. The best has to be Sandra Bullock who really shows her acting stripes in the (surprisingly) few scenes she has. The "lock changing" scene in which she goes on a rampage about having the locks in her home changed after being car-jacked is simply phenomenal. She is so powerful and so real and so emotional in this one scene you feel as though you either want to jump through the screen and clap for her or jump through the screen and strangle her. She is wonderful. Thandie Newton is another standout. She takes what probably looks like, on paper, a simple, one-layered character and just as if by the push of a button, she creates layers upon layers upon layers for her character by doing something as simple as changing her facial expression or putting her hands a certain way. Her performance isn't only remarkable because of her acting but also because of the simple quirks and little, tiny, somewhat unnoticable movements that make her character so interesting and so complicated yet relatable.

There is one scene in which *SPOILER* a cop (Matt Dillon--also delivering a great performance) saves a woman (Newton) from an overturned car soon to catch on fire. What makes this scene so spectacularly moving is that at the beginning of the film, Dillon molests Newton, and now, he is saving her life (or attempting to). I wont try to spoil much, but the way the scene plays out and ends will leave you reaching for the tissue box and un able to catch your breath. Its an undescribably wonderful scene.*END SPOILER*

This movie has moments in it where you may cringe (a lot *A LOT* of racial discrimination is approached in this film in a manner that, at first, may seem unsatisfying and sudden but soon turns out to be smoother than you thought and really perfect). But, while you may cringe or feel uncomfortable during these scenes, think why. I can tell you why you probably will right now. Because you've felt these things. You may not have said them outloud, but you've thought them. You've mumbled them to yourself when you're alone. You contemplated saying it. You may not admit it, but you have. And its a subject that has NEVER been approached until now. And what an excellent way of approaching it. With no sugar-coated, candy-colored moments. With realness. It's done impecably and suddenly. It's said flat out and not subtely. It's not the way most would have approached this (being the first to do so) but it works. You may not think so at first, but it does. And it's quite remarkable.

All in all, this movie will blow you away on so many levels. What I felt when I watched Crash was that (like most movies nowadays) it wasn't trying to express a feeling like love or hatred or passion or whatever. It's not trying to show how you miss those who are gone or what you learn by coming of age or anything about your friends or family members. It doesn't mean to go deep. It doesn't want to. It just wants to skim the surface which resonates within you and you, on your own, dig deep to find the purpose of a scene or the significance of a line. The movie doesn't want to change you. And it doesn't. It mearly starts a feeling that changes you. You will finish this movie and feel changed and different and moved. But not totally because of the movie. Not really. Because the movie struck a nerve or a feeling that made YOU come to certain assumptions or made YOU come to certain realizations about yourself. And I've never seen a film that has been able to do such a thing. It may sound confusing and I may not be expressing it in the best manner, but basically, because of the way you leave the theater (changed by yourself, not the film) Crash is a masterpiece pure and simple.

FOUR STARS
GRADE: A+

Whoops, sorry.

Hmm...yes. I quite enjoyed this movie. And I know the scene you're talking about. I held my breath through that entire scene as well as the one with the locksmith's daughter.

Although, I don't know if "molest" is the right...word for this. Maybe violated?

---

Well, Munk found the thread and I wouldn't have commented if it wasn't for your obnoxious comment. But now, since you seem to think that I must hate this movie without merit, I am here now to present my arguments and points of view on this movie so you can see where I'm coming from. I've talked about this movie with a lot of people - most of whom have loved the movie - and in the end of the conversation they saw clearly what I was saying.

First of all, there's no denying that the entire cast is strong and more than rises to the occasion here. The strongest, in my opinion, is Sandra Bullock who undeniably deserves to be nominated ATLEAST for a Golden Globe award, if not a supporting actress Oscar is the competition stays slim. It's her finest performance so far.

I don't hate this movie - I have such a problem with it because it COULD be so great - but it's so terribly unfocused and confused that it makes me literally angry.

What's good about this film is that it presents us with characters we all know or we all have encountered before. They say things that normal people say - they say particularly racist things that almost everyone has atleast THOUGHT. And the set up for this film is excellent - it's the execution that sucks.

Example. When the two black guys are walking down the street and are talking about how people look at them weirdly - how people EXPECT them to have a gun - how people EXPECT them to be violent and act like animals. Yes, they undoubtedly have a point. Then what do they do? Pull out guns and hijack a car. Okay. And now you WONDER why people are fearful of people that look like yourself? What do you expect?

This movie contradicts itself in so many areas that it's hard to keep track. You will love this movie is you just watch it and don't ask questions. Take what they give you and don't question it - then you'll love it.

Now, I know that the POINT is that the black men actually HAVE a gun. But, I ask, what is the film saying? I'm only quoting one part of the movie, but they're all identical in that sense. They set people up as being victims, then they turn out to actually BE "bad," for lack of a better word.

In they end, this is what they leave us with. Everyone is racist - and yes, if you act scared when two black men walk toward you, it's okay because they MIGHT have a gun. They make people - particularly African Americans - look bad in this movie. If that's the intention, then I really question the motives of this film.

I'm quite honestly just babbling now because I can't get my thoughts together, but I hope you can sort of SEE where I'm coming from - and I know this is a legitimate argument, because many of my friends feel the exact way. I am open for people to explain this to me if I'm missing something - the invitation is out there, and I'm willing to learn. I own the movie, for one.

And also - at the end. When "Ludacrous" (whatever) finds out that the van is full of ASian children. First of all, what the hell is that - what a terrible way the end the film. SEcond, by him giving them money and telling them to roam around in a country they 1, don't know and 2, can't speak in or READ in - we're supposed to just accept the fact taht he's now a GOOD person and is rescuing these children from the terrible lives they would have led otherwise? PLEASE.

---