NationStates Jolt Archive

Has anybody seen the movie Crash (http://www.crashfilm.com/) yet?
I saw it yesterday, and I have to say, it is clearly among the best films I saw so far...

I like the fractured way the story is being told, I like the way the depth of the characters is portrayed within just a few minutes and the way the movie sets you thinking about your own perceptions of mankind without ever being patronising.

I prefer David Cronenberg's "Crash". THAT was an awesome movie.

I prefer David Cronenberg's "Crash". THAT was an awesome movie.

I think I'm going to crash pretty soon... [g]

That scene with the locksmith, the shop owner and the little girl got to me.

That scene with the locksmith, the shop owner and the little girl got to me.
I think that was the most powerful scene in the movie. And it's a great movie. I liked how it portrayed people as people, instead of stereotypes.

A guy was just telling me the other day how moving it was. I really want to see it now.

To me, the most intense scene was the one with the woman stuck in the car and the police officer... that really got me. I could put myself in her place easily due to some experiences in the past, and I don't know how I would have reacted.

I haven't seen it yet, but I've gone to the site linked in the first post. It looks good. I'm probably going to see it when it's on cable. It's important to talk about race, and film is a way to start the dialog, but it's also important to remember that everyone's experience isn't the same. No film, no book, no speech can encompass everyone's experience dealing with race in America. Granted, I haven't seen the movie, but I still think you should remember that it's a snapshot of certain individual characters in a certain part of the country as told by one individual writer and modified by the director and actors. Don't start stereotyping based on a film.

I haven't seen it yet, but I've gone to the site linked in the first post. It looks good. I'm probably going to see it when it's on cable. It's important to talk about race, and film is a way to start the dialog, but it's also important to remember that everyone's experience isn't the same. No film, no book, no speech can encompass everyone's experience dealing with race in America. Granted, I haven't seen the movie, but I still think you should remember that it's a snapshot of certain individual characters in a certain part of the country as told by one individual writer and modified by the director and actors. Don't start stereotyping based on a film.

See, that's just what I find exceptional about the film : It doesn't stereotype anybody. Nobody. Not black, not white, not Asian, not Hispanic. You've got the black criminal and the black detective, you've got the white racist cop who turns out to show some very intersting angles of personality.
All of the characters are affected by the stereotyping of others, though. All of them are being told or shown how they are being racist themselves, simply because circumstances don't let them be anything else.

See, that's just what I find exceptional about the film : It doesn't stereotype anybody. Nobody. Not black, not white, not Asian, not Hispanic. You've got the black criminal and the black detective, you've got the white racist cop who turns out to show some very intersting angles of personality.
All of the characters are affected by the stereotyping of others, though. All of them are being told or shown how they are being racist themselves, simply because circumstances don't let them be anything else.
Like I said, I haven't seen the film, but I will when it comes out on cable. It seems pretty good, but not having seen it and judging from other films about race I felt I had to introduce that disclaimer. Not all black guys have to deal with LAPD, you know? The black and white and (insert race here) experience is different for everyone. I guess stereotype wasn't a good word to use.

Like I said, I haven't seen the film, but I will when it comes out on cable. It seems pretty good, but not having seen it and judging from other films about race I felt I had to introduce that disclaimer. Not all black guys have to deal with LAPD, you know? The black and white and (insert race here) experience is different for everyone. I guess stereotype wasn't a good word to use.

I'm really curious now if you are going to like that film. Telegram me, when you've seen it.
As I said, it manages to shed light on many different angles of personalities, including prejudices and racial differences. But it's very hard to describe without telling the story, so I'll just hope you'll see it soon :)

I'm really curious now if you are going to like that film. Telegram me, when you've seen it.
As I said, it manages to shed light on many different angles of personalities, including prejudices and racial differences. But it's very hard to describe without telling the story, so I'll just hope you'll see it soon :)
How strongly do you endorse it? If you think it's a must see I'll buy the DVD as soon as it's available.

How strongly do you endorse it? If you think it's a must see I'll buy the DVD as soon as it's available.

Personally, I would say it is a must see. It's the same class as Magnolia, Clockwork Orange, Run Lola Run, maybe Amerian Beauty, or Miranda&Miranda. Not the same topic, just the same depth, quality and class ;)
But why go to the expense of buying the DVD? Why not just go and see it at the cinema? Or just rent the DVD?

Personally, I would say it is a must see. It's the same class as Magnolia, Clockwork Orange, Run Lola Run, maybe Amerian Beauty, or Miranda&Miranda. Not the same topic, just the same depth, quality and class ;)
But why go to the expense of buying the DVD? Why not just go and see it at the cinema? Or just rent the DVD?
I don't go to the cinema. I'd rather see movies in my own home. That way I never get distracted by people coughing, talking, etc. and I can pause the film when I need to take a leak. I don't rent DVDs because I tend to watch movies that I like over and over again. It's cheaper to own them than to rent them multiple times, plus there's no late fee.

I don't go to the cinema. I'd rather see movies in my own home. That way I never get distracted by people coughing, talking, etc. and I can pause the film when I need to take a leak. I don't rent DVDs because I tend to watch movies that I like over and over again. It's cheaper to own them than to rent them multiple times, plus there's no late fee.

That's exactly what I do with books. But I normally find out if I like one or not by getting it from the library. If I like it, I can still go to the bookstore and buy it. ;)
Anyway, I suggest you see that movie. I don't know if you're going to like it, the way the story is told isn't in any way traditional and therefore maybe a bot hard to follow, and even though guns are involved, it's not an action movie. I liked it very much because of its unbiased approach to a complicated topic and because of the intens way the story evolves.
I hesitate to recommend buying it straight out, because I don't know what kind of movie you normally like, and I would hate being responsible on you wasting money...

See, that's just what I find exceptional about the film : It doesn't stereotype anybody. Nobody. Not black, not white, not Asian, not Hispanic. You've got the black criminal and the black detective, you've got the white racist cop who turns out to show some very intersting angles of personality.
All of the characters are affected by the stereotyping of others, though. All of them are being told or shown how they are being racist themselves, simply because circumstances don't let them be anything else.
I don't know actually, I think there is quite a lot of stereotyping. The thing for me that comes off is that, in the end, no-one is either completely good or evil, they're all very... complex.

I posted on this topic when I saw the movie several months ago and said at the time that it was maybe the best movie I have ever seen on the topic of race and prejudice in this country. A must see movie.