Crash, the Movie

More About Crash at Yahoo

A friend of Thorninpaw writes:
Hi all,

Some of you know that I only write a movie recommendation when I believe a
film warrants a trip to the theatre, even if it has to be planned! "Crash"
caught me off guard, so to speak, and ranks as one of the most important and
brilliant American films of recent years.

Many say, "That's the one about race, right?" It isn't. It's about
anger--primitive, judgmental, complicated anger. The kind that can be
triggered without notice, as when two volatile chemicals accidentally mix.
Yes, race is the catalyst here. And yes, there are a few car wrecks, but
they pale compared to the human collisions. A few of the most
well-intentioned characters confront their own poisonous potential, grown
out of internal conflicts of what they know vs. what they've learned and
what they should do vs. what they want to do, and the cost of willful
indifference between the two. All is not for naught, however, as the film
invests equally in powerful transformations.

The acting is evenly outstanding across the board, even when against type.
For example, Sandra Bullock blisters through a ferocious tirade that leaves
the audience with their spines pressed into the seatbacks. Terrence Howard
and Thandie Newton mesmerize. Michael Pena is achingly vulnerable. Matt
Dillon terrorizes, and so on. The camera work is completely committed to the
story, using short angles, fast cuts, and slow zooms that compress a scene
into its own vehement intensity or opens it to a larger truth.

Of course, allow time afterwards for ample discussion. I think this film has
suffered a bit due to an ambiguous marketing campaign. But it's also very
densely textured with multiple layers, and requires full concentration,
virtues perhaps not suitable for mass marketing. The audience I saw it with
was more or less subdued into silence within the first 10 minutes, and
stayed that way, an achievement unto itself.

Feel free to let me know what you think...hope all's well with everyone.

George www.stilabower.com