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Tishala
Member
08-01-2000
| Sunday, May 08, 2005 - 6:00 pm
I had great hopes before I went to see Crash because the "buzz" about the film has been great. So I hate to say it, but Crash is an extraordinary film but not a great one. You need to know only two things about the film to get a sense of it: it features an all-star cast comprized of A and B listers like Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon, Ludachris, Don Cheadle, Lorenz Tate, Brendan Fraser; and it is written and directed by the same screenwriter who gave us Million Dollar Baby, a film whose unrealistic sentimentality posed as "gritty realism." This film continues that unfortuanate arc but lacks the sure-footed direction that papered over Million Dollar Baby's many shortcomings. We are divided in Los Angeles, we learn, by racial, class, an experiential differences. This should not come as a surprise to any Angelino, but it is apparently sufficiently noteworthy to merit all kinds of metaphorical cinematic drek and trickery. Like Million Dollar Baby, it is manipulative and obvious; unlike MDB, you probably won't buy it for a minute or you might feel dirty if you do. There is some very good acting in this film by Mr. Dillon and Mr. Cheadle. Ms. Bullock is better than I remember seeing her before and the film shows the great promise of Ludachris. But I think director/screenwriter Haggis study the work of master storytellers like Robert Altman more assiduously before he tries to create these overlapping narratives again. His direction is far too obvious and sanctimonious. I'm sure the film will garner lots of good reviews from people like--oh, I don't know--Ebert, who will love its quasi "liberal" message (as they do with films overdetermined with similar "messages"), but it's a decidedly suburban, banal liberalism this film tries to peddle. Watch it for the acting...
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Sunday, May 08, 2005 - 9:53 pm
Interesting, Tishala. You've made me want to see this even more...
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Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Monday, May 09, 2005 - 10:42 am
Tishala, you write such great reviews! I'm not even sure what to say about this movie. The acting is good, very good in some cases. The movie has a Magnolia and Altman feel, but is not as good as either. It feels very important while you're watching, but is forgettable a few days later. It was nice to see my old heart throb Matt Dillon.
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Knightpatti
Member
12-06-2001
| Monday, May 23, 2005 - 8:24 pm
I hated this movie! Waste of money! If you like to go to the movies for entertainment, do not see this movie! Very depressing story. No bright side to any of it.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Wednesday, June 01, 2005 - 5:52 pm
Saw this movie today. Not sure what to say except that it reminded me so much of Magnolia that I expected to see it raining frogs in the final scene. It had Magnolia's astonishing sadness without its redeeming sweetness. It has left me mainly befuddled about what its message is, if any.
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Ketchuplover
Member
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, June 01, 2005 - 7:29 pm
<kicks Crash in the balls>
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Tashakinz
Member
11-13-2002
| Monday, September 12, 2005 - 10:27 am
I watched this yesterday. It was a great, horrifyingly painful movie to watch. If you're looking for a popcorn flick this isn't for you. If you're looking for an honest examination of post 9-11 racist attitudes in the United States, this is a shining example.
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Native_texan
Member
08-24-2004
| Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 7:49 am
Tasha, this was a painful movie to watch. I feel that if this movie makes you uncomfortable, then you probably really need to see it. There were a moments where I was so wowed that I had to rewind and watch again and there were moments where I cried.
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Tashakinz
Member
11-13-2002
| Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 8:07 am
I didn't say it made me uncomfortable - it made me sad and mad, thus the "painful" comment. I'm aware of the glaring racial issues in this country - I live in an area with a huge racial and economic divide. We have one of the top 10 richest counties sitting right next to one of the worst run poor cities. I'm currently watching (on a daily basis) the spit and polish that the local, regional and state government is attempting to apply to our downtown region because of a major sporting event that is coming to town, including a ridiculous bridge span outside of the airport. Money that could be spent on, oh I don't know, something like city services, i.e., snow removal or street lights that actually work. (rant over)
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Lycanthrope
Member
09-19-2002
| Friday, September 16, 2005 - 7:34 am
You guys should see the original movie titled "Crash" with James Spader and Holly Hunter. It was really twisted. I can't compare it to this version of "Crash" because I haven't seen this one yet....but I will. The reviews of this "Crash" are all very emotional...which I can't resist.
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Roxip
Member
01-29-2004
| Monday, December 05, 2005 - 1:16 pm
I'm in the middle of watching this movie (had to stop because my DD came in and it is not an appropriate movie for an 8-year old). I am on pins and needles wondering whether the Mexican locksmith survives (assuming the gentleman from the store goes after him) or his daughter has to forever think she killed her father by taking his magical cape. One of the things that I appreciate so far about this movie is that it shows that these people are neither good nor bad - they are just reacting to the stereotypes that have been shown to them. The Ludicris character is just as racially prejudiced against the whites as he perceives that they are against him. The middle Eastern man believes that the locksmith is trying to cheat him. The racist white policeman (Dillon) is a man who truly loves his ailing father and is scared. And whose body is that at the beginning? Hopefully my little girl will go to bed early some night soon and I can watch the end of it!
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Westtexan
Member
07-16-2004
| Monday, December 05, 2005 - 3:44 pm
I rented Crash and thought it was great for all the reasons you stated above. People are not all good or all bad. But there is good in everyone. People have reasons for their beliefs even if those beliefs are whacked. This is one of those movies where you have to ask yourself to put yourself in someone else's shoes.
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Roxip
Member
01-29-2004
| Friday, December 09, 2005 - 2:34 pm
Finished the movie, thought it was wonderful. Not my normal type of movie (generally like to be entertained by the movies I watch without any kind of moral or mental commitment) but thought it was very compelling.
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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 7:23 pm
We rented "Crash" to watch on New Years Eve. I loved it. Even though me and DB didn't agree on some parts, it caused a wonderful conversation about what racism was and how it is manifested differently in different people. I think the performances and stories were powerful.
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 8:19 pm
It was very depressing but well acted. I loved th irony of the racist cop being the one that saved the girl and the nonracist one ended up killing Laurence Tate. I was surprised when we learned he was the detective's bro.
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Roxip
Member
01-29-2004
| Thursday, January 05, 2006 - 3:39 pm
The character's actions that I most didn't understand was Terrance Howard's - did he just lose it or was he trying to, first of all, punish the carjacker, and then save him later? That was confusing for me.
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Marameko
Member
07-15-2002
| Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 12:45 pm
I watched this last night. Never ,ever has watching a movie made me so tired due tothe emotions that surfaced.
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Auntiemike
Member
09-17-2001
| Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 11:36 am
Just saw Crash last night. I am still "chewing" on all the various layers it presented. Quite a complex subject really. I found my emotions tugged in varying directions on several occasions. The agony of the father when his little girl was "shot". The lack of understanding English with the immigrant shop owner. The cop who took out his anger on the wife by humiliating her in front of her husband. The irony detective and his brother; both at opposite sides of the law. The pain of the mother loving the younger brother. I could go on and on. There were some very good performances and some that I wasn't sure were going anywhere.
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Legalboxer
Member
11-17-2003
| Saturday, April 01, 2006 - 10:19 pm
I was sure I had posted a review for Crash but I don’t see one anywhere on the board… Anyway- saw this last fall, along with watching the cast on Oprah twice, and just loved loved loved the movie. Yes it is not your typical movie but do we always want that storybook tale? I always like when movies bring issues to the mainstream – even if that issue is something we know is out there, it doesn’t mean that we don’t still need to hear it, see it, and try to grasp it, over and over and over until its not an “issue” anymore – and things like racism and discrimination take time to change but that change only comes with awareness which this movie provided a sliver of. I loved all the performances and was very happy it won best picture since they all deserved to win for it. After I saw them on Oprah, I wanted to see every movie Terrance Howard ever has been in because his “real life crash moments” just are too touching and emotional not to want to support him in everything he does. And the fact is, all the cast had real “Crash” moments in their lives to share, which is part of this movie – that no matter where we come from, where we live, what we do, or who we are with –we all deal with hardships of some form, we all deal with prejudice or wrong assumptions from others, or we make wrong assumptions about other people and events. Bottom line is we all are human whether we are a movie star, a DA, a cop, a locksmith, a carjacker or a housewife and we all have a lot to learn from the time we are born until the day we die – otherwise we wont be living. Anyway – it’s a movie I would recommend for anyone, of any age – especially if people have the chance to talk about it with others, whether its children talking to parents about it or spouses or college friends or colleagues – the movie is thought provoking and is meant to bring up discussion and so I hope people have the chance for that dialogue with someone else in their life once they see the movie.
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Heyltslori
Moderator
09-15-2001
| Sunday, April 02, 2006 - 5:11 am
Great post Legalboxer. I loved the movie too.
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Bbfanatic
Member
08-14-2000
| Monday, April 03, 2006 - 8:48 am
I watched it on Directv last night and it had trouble keeping my interest. I usually am looking for an escape. It probably just wasnt my type of movie. That is why I am not going to say it was bad.
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Tigerfan
Member
11-06-2003
| Monday, April 03, 2006 - 10:19 am
We saw it this weekend. We really liked it. It made us laugh, cry, shout and hug. Very good movie.
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Monday, April 10, 2006 - 6:02 am
I just saw this movie last week and loved it. Very thought-provoking movie and some great performances. I highly recommend it.
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Karen
Member
09-07-2004
| Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 6:13 pm
Meh. I hate to say it, but all this movie did for me was bash me over the head with a message I was taught when I was a very little girl. What's that?? Racism is bad?? What? We're all created equal? Oh, really? I didn't know that.
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Yellek
Member
08-22-2001
| Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 7:17 pm
Karen, I totally agree. Which is why I was so surprised by all the awards.
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Legalboxer
Member
11-17-2003
| Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 7:28 pm
see Gentleman's Agreement and it is very apparent why such movies like Crash are necessary and why some messages never get old.. it has never mattered to me that "I" always knew the basics.. i also know the reality of how human beings still can act and the importance of putting those messages out there, in whatever format available, to whatever audience...
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Karen
Member
09-07-2004
| Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 7:45 pm
Oh, don't get me wrong, Legal -- I fully agree that the message needs to get out there in whatever form. I just find it sad that most people who see this film already know this lesson, and those who don't, I doubt they'll change their opinions based on a plotline from an overhyped movie.
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