Crash

Miraenda's Review   |   Ron's Review

Originally, I heard about Crash from several friends raving about the movie. For that reason alone, I decided to watch it at Sycamore Mall on May 28, 2005 at 7:00pm.

Beginning with the first scene, Crash shows how assumptions on the direction of the film or events we are seeing can be inaccurate. A car stopped in a line of cars appears to be a car crash. The man and woman in the car appear to be a couple. Later on, these same elements of scenes that aren't what they seem turn the world on its end and our preconceived notions along with it. Crashes do occur, but most of them are due to psychological events that the characters and we along with them undergo more than the physical actions that happen.

Some movies simply leave you awestruck by the beauty of the story, some by the scenery, some by the performances, but very few combine a script, memorable scenes and fantastic acting into one complete package. Crash accomplishes this and much more with ease. Taking on topics such as racism and discrimination unabashedly, the movie ties in stereotypes and then twists them completely. Characters we like do actions we can't accept; characters we don't like perform actions filled with heroism. Each of them becomes humanized by showing such failings and merits.

One scene in the film, the brightest gem in the tiara which is encapsulated on the movie poster pictured above, had me literally in tears. I do not generally cry in a film, but it was impossible not to be affected by that moment when it happens. I won't ruin the scene by providing more details, but when you watch this film, you will know exactly what I mean.

Although the script can be slightly trite at times due to a compulsion to have everything fit tidily together with each character interconnecting with every other character in some way, this is such a small complaint in a film so powerfully presented.

Crash deserves the highest rating I have of great, even bumping Kingdom of Heaven from its top spot at #1 on the rating bar list. This is actually the best film I have seen in several years. I won't watch it frequently since it is very emotionally draining, but it is worthwhile to watch at least once as you will be thinking about the ideas in the film for a long time afterwards.

Please feel free to comment on this review or on the movie itself at the forum thread devoted to it at this location.