Post by Quorthon on Dec 12, 2005 13:50:52 GMT -5
Crash
Drama
2004
Color
MPAA Rating: R
Directed by: Paul Haggis
USA
We Americans have it pretty good. So good in fact, that the only thing left to do is complain and make everything crappy. And one of the top ways that we make life shitty for each other is to be as racist as humanly possible--or, if we're not being racist, we're calling other people racist. Now, am I just talking about white people here? Oh hell no. Everybody's racist in America. We even have laws, like Affirmative Action, that actively promote racism! If somebody doesn't get a fair shake, they can just blame all the racists around them that are making life miserable for them. But we haven't stopped there, we've decided to focus extensively heavily on everybody's individual, personal "rights." How busy we all are to hand out "rights" and "freedoms" to whoever is in the spotlight at the moment they feel discriminated against! So much so that we eventually become numb to real victimized people! Because we're a country desperate to look like we really give a damn. Be it in our colleges that look at the color of someone's skin as more important a factor than their academic background, or in our laws giving the "minorities" (roughly 70% of the population of this country) easier and easier lives than those people that work good and hard for what they have. Yes, America. America the racist nation of people that care too much. But am I talking about racist conservatives, here? Oh hell no, I don't think they can be blamed alone for the racist creation of Affirmative Action--which reminds all blacks that they're so unworthy of getting a job on their own that the government will force people to hire them. So maybe I'm talking about the Rap culture that does a better job of keeping black youths from succeeding and being happy than could any Ku Klux Klan master plan? How about the illegal immigrant problems we have? That's a lot of Mexicans hopping the border down there, right? Well, who knows how many Chinese are floating into this country in wooden boxes? How about the blacks that complain endlessly that the government is racist against them, while catagorically denouncing successful black like Colin Powell or Bill Cosby? America. We're bombarded with constant images of Asian intelligence, White racism, Jewish wealth, Black criminals, Mexican slackers, and Indian drunks and those other Indians driving cabs. America is chock full of every race, religion, creed and background out there--each and every one of them racist against someone else and always busy looking for differences. So maybe we should shut the hell up and sit quietly and look around ourselves and at the stereotypes we deal with every day--and just think about the hell we're making for each other and ourselves. Yeah, we should all do that.
And that's what Crash is all about. It follows several small, interweaving stories as the people within them have their perceptions and problems and racism overlap creating disorder and mayhem.
Here’s the breakdown:
The Good:
--The acting is top-notch. There wasn't a moment in the film where I didn't believe the characters.
--Excellent atmosphere and cinematography carry it along and keep the tension up.
--Deep characters--each, for the most part, with their own flaws and golden moments.
--Some genuinely rough moments for most anyone to watch pop up here and there. For me, it was the scenes involving the hispanic locksmith and his daughter. Say what you will, but since my son was born, I've lost the ability to deal with anything where children are in danger. Now, there are enough horrible things happening in here to make most anyone (anyone with human feeling) grit their teeth or look away. Sure, that kind of uncomfortable feeling isn't a great thing--and I may never watch this film again because of the part that bothered me, but it's a testament to the quality of the characters and acting.
--Well written stories, with an interesting dynamic and believable in the way they twist and turn into each other.
--The movie serves well to make some excellent points on the problem of racism in America--and is one movie that should have some real attention paid to it.
--Upon rethinking the movie for this review, I realize that the ending could be perceived in a couple different ways--so this is a movie that will spark some fierce conversations.
--The film doesn't just focus on racism, but also on the way we (as Americans) make far too many decisions worrying endlessly about racial outcomes. "Gee, if we execute this cold-hearted, bloodthristy, killer of countless people--will his respective race riot?" That kind of thinking--but not that specifically. A nickel to anyone that correctly guesses what I'm referring to there.
Didn’t Hurt It, Didn’t Help:
--Decent music.
--Endless racist banter from everyone to everyone. Some of it is delivered in faily humerous ways: "So tell me, who took all those drastically different people from their different backgrounds, and taught them all to park on their lawns?" Some of it is incredibly harsh.
The Bad:
--The tense and uncomfortable moments in the film will be major turn-offs for a lot of people. But, if it's going to tackle a problem such as racism in America, I can see where it'd go balls-out.
--The characters are generally, despite their quality, laid out as extreme racial stereotypes. Some made to counter the harsh stereotypes, some made to enforce them as though we need it beaten into our skulls.
The Ugly:
--Unfortunately, very unfortunately, there's this horrible hint that white people are perceived as the most racist of the races. Now, I'm white, so as you can probably guess, this didn't sit too well with me. My major gripe about this comes from, in case you didn't guess already, laws like Affirmative Action which is well-known as a law that completely misses the point by those of us willing to actually look at what it can do. We live in a society that gives near endless breaks to those who are perceived as "minorities." So far, the only people that aren't being given breaks are white heterosexual males--the last minority, if you will. White males are, instead, blamed for everything. In reality, I would imagine that the overly negative attitudes of Rap do more to keep self-esteem good and low in black youths, than anything white people could do to them. At least this point is touched upon in the film. Frankly, I can't wait for the day when Affirmative Action really backfires and a black man isn't accepted somewhere (job, college, etc) because they need to hire/accept, say, more Indians. Gee, maybe focusing on academic background/achievements or proper qualifications doesn't seem like a bad idea. After all, those things don't focus on skin color--and isn't that what blacks have fought for for so long?
--Somewhat predictable ending with most everyone having learned some important lesson about themselves and other races out there. However ***POTENTIAL SPOILER*** the film ends with the white people as the ones who had to learn the most, and they are, at the end of the day, no better off than before or potentially worse than before. ***END SPOILER***
--For all it's depth and quality--it didn't focus enough on politics for me. It was set up to show personal experiences and problems, that's all. Politicians are more to blame than almost anyone for a great many of the racial problems this country has. It needs to be said more often that Democrats get more votes if they keep blacks poor--but blame the Republicans. Stuff like that. Of course, that would probably take up another whole movie on it's own.
Memorable Scene:
--"I can't talk to yah now mah, I'm fuckin' a white girl."
Acting: 9/10
Story: 10/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Character Development: 9/10
Special Effects/Make-up: 9/10 (when applicable_
Nudity/Sexuality: 3/10
Violence/Gore: 8/10 (little gore, a lot of violence)
Dialogue: 9/10
Music: 8/10
Direction: 8/10
Cheesiness: 1/10
Crappiness: 1/10
Overall: 8/10
I'm sure by now that we're (or anyone that's used to my attitude and film reviews) all familiar with my attitudes on race and movies. I've reviewed three films about Nazis or White Supremacists and related racial problems therein. This film has some powerful messages, and is something that I believe everyone should take a gander at. But be warned, it isn't afraid to step up and throw some serious shocks our way. Nice depth, but remember, (even you white people), white people are not the central problem--and saying that whites are the numero uno in the level of shame for racism only keeps old problems alive.
