Crash (2004) - SPOILERS

[bradavon]

I saw Crash (2004) last night and thought it was excellent. With good acting by all.

It was nice to see Sandra Bullock playing against cast for once. For me Thandie Newton stole the show. The scene when she was almost blown up was shot incredibly well and she played it really well being scared to shit of the racist cop.

I wish that story was resolved. I have a few questions please:

1. Right at the start Don Cheadle and Jennifer Esposito were in a car crash. What happened? Did we find out?
2. This scene had a brief conflict with a Korean woman. Who was she?
3. Later on we saw her husband talking to another Korean. Right at the end of the film we see him in hospital from I presume the same crash?
4. Don Cheadle walks out of the car from the crash and then he's looking at his dead brothers body, What? I think this was a different scene.
5. Why did Thandie Newton's husband (the black guy) shout at those police officers? He'd done nothing wrong.
6. Thandie Newton was in a very traumatic car crash but her husband seemed oblivious to this.
7. She didn't have a mark on her.

It's clear lots was cut out (it didn't feel cut though). I hope we see an extended cut some day.

[EvaUnit02]

The other Crash is better. Gimme a cerebral film about car crash fetishists over contrived manipulative garbage that's automatic Oscar baits for all the strong left leaning Hollywood tossers anyday.

[bradavon]

I've just remembered in the response to question 3 those two black crooks ran over what they thought was a Chinese man.

Answers are here:

http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/show ... ost6115640

[thelostdragon]

I saw Crash (2004) last night and thought it was excellent.

I thought it was good, but not excellent. It tries to deliver a message which isn't new to anybody: "People are prejudiced in one way or the other."

I hate Hollywood for the ending of the Mexican/Persian story. If the kid had died, they would have been consequent and wouldn't have made such unrealistic crap.

1. Right at the start Don Cheadle and Jennifer Esposito were in a car crash. What happened? Did we find out?

Are they actually in a car crash, or just in a traffic jam due to all the cops on the highway. I think the cops are there due to the corpse.

4. Don Cheadle walks out of the car from the crash and then he's looking at his dead brothers body, What? I think this was a different scene.

His scene is connected to his brother's scene. His brother gets shot by Matt Dillon's colleague. So the film plays with the chronology of the scenes.

5. Why did Thandie Newton's husband (the black guy) shout at those police officers? He'd done nothing wrong.

Did he shout at them? As I remember it, he did the exact opposite and stayed completely quiet.

[bradavon]

Nope he definitely shouted. You're think of the first encounter. It's a crash as they start arguing on who hit who.

"Mexican/Persian story."

Agreed but who it played out afterwards was handled very well.

No need to use spoiler tags btw it's in the post title. How long ago did you see Crash?

Crash: 2 Disc DC has been announced/rumoured here:

http://www.dvdtown.com/discdetails/cras ... ion/18240/
Cover art: http://www.dvdtown.com/coverart/crashdi ... ion/18240/

With a release of 4th of April. It also lists the runtime as 101 minutes which cannot be correct as that would make it 21 minutes shorter. I really can't see Haggis cutting 21 minutes.

I also ask how are they going to include the commentary? I again can't see it being cut by 21 minutes.

It smells of rumours but anyway . . .

Thanks to Bisc.

[brooce-leroy]

The black director was shouting at the officers (in the 2nd encounter with Police) because he was at breaking point, after the indignity suffered by his wife (at the hands - no pun intended - of Matt Dillion's cop), and then having a bad day at work regarding racial issues. His wife had been going on at him for not standing up for her and also himself, and he was on the verge of a breakdown. When the black kids try to steal his car, he just cracks, as he'd had enough.

[Markgway]

I thought it was good, but not excellent. It tries to deliver a message which isn't new to anybody: "People are prejudiced in one way or the other."

But most films that deal with this subject do so in a partisan manner, taking sides, drawing conclusions. Haggis points out that "we" are all as guilty as each other no matter which race you belong to or which side of the fence you come from. A valuable lesson in today's politically correct climate. This maybe an L.A story but it's relevant to everyone. That's why I hope it wins some Oscars - but it won't. Buttcrack Mountain will as it's more obviously liberal.

I hate Hollywood for the ending of the Mexican/Persian story. If the kid had died, they would have been consequent and wouldn't have made such unrealistic crap.

I sorta thought that myself for a moment... but the point is already made. The Persian storeowner learns the extreme extent of his bigotry without blowing the kid's brains out. And that's why the scene is there.

[bradavon]

There would've also been consequences anyway. The kids parents would've called the cops for one!

[thelostdragon]

How long ago did you see Crash?

Watched it in the theatre when it was released here, which was in the beginning of last August.

[BiscLimpkit]

I hate Hollywood for the ending of the Mexican/Persian story. If the kid had died, they would have been consequent and wouldn't have made such unrealistic crap.

The film shows that the bullets were in fact blanks. The Persian store owner's daughter deliberately bought "the ones in the red box." In the scene where she grabs her father's gun to put away in the drawer, that's when we find out about the blank bullets.

I thought it was a beautiful moment, reflecting on the child's imaginary bullet-proof blanket.

The whole film was a well woven portrayal of racism in LA. The photography and music really struck a chord with me. I loved it. 4.5/5.

[bradavon]

If you're shot by a blank at that range it could still easily kill you.

Besides how did you work that out? Does it says blanks on the box?

[thelostdragon]

I know, that's why the owner of the gun store asks if they knew what kind of bullets she just took ('she' looks great by the way). But I for one wished they got real bullets and that the kid had been shot. As harsh as that might be, but it would have been so much better. It would have been a film you wouldn't be able to forget that easily.

That's also why "The Killer" is such a film.

[BiscLimpkit]

Does it says blanks on the box?

Yes, it's clearly marked. She wasn't shot at point blank range but I'm no firearms expert. Don't know what sort of distance is required before you can kill someone with blanks.

I know, that's why the owner of the gun store asks if they knew what kind of bullets she just took ('she' looks great by the way). But I for one wished they got real bullets and that the kid had been shot. As harsh as that might be, but it would have been so much better. It would have been a film you wouldn't be able to forget that easily.

That's also why "The Killer" is such a film.

I prefer that scene as it is just now. I don't think a child needs to be killed in order to emphasise a point and I personally won't forget this film in a hurry. The way the director left it already takes you through the shock factor but ultimately remains symbolic.

I also noticed the repetition of STOP signs, indicating that a catestrophic event is about to happen. Man I love this movie.

[bradavon]

A revised Crash cover art is up:

http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/crash4.html

It's identical to what was posted before except it has an Oscar sticker on it now. The spec. shown at DVD Town looks to be correct. It's formatted much better than the DVD Active one (I wish they'd fix this :twisted: ) so I'd check that out:

http://www.dvdtown.com/discdetails/cras ... tion/18240

p.s - What is confusing is the length of the Director's Cut. The Theatrical Cut is 113 minutes long (the R1 rear cover art incorrectly lists 122 minutes).

The DC could be:

2 minutes longer - I reckon this is true
Cut by 7 minutes
Cut by 20 minutes

[grim_tales]

Has Eva seen Crash (2005?)
I thought the other Crash was a pretty shocking (surprising, not bad) movie - not something I'd watch again though.

[Shen]

Crash was a ok movie, could have been played out better tho i think, it was good but not like amazingly awesome, watched it once, and mark itdown to experience, not one i'd watch again unless i was watching it with someone who didnt see it before..

there are just a million other ways you could portray racism and make it more interesting, the concept was goood, but just lacking in something.

[bradavon]

Experiance Shen. I'd say it was his first film, very good considering but a first film.

DVD Times have listed the same:

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=60750

Including a running time of 115 minutes up from 113. I'm not sure if I want to upgrade I have more interest in the extras than the 2 minutes tbh and the current DVD already has the commentary.

It's a keeper but not a classic or masterpiece.

From the new cover art:

"3 Winner Academy Awards 2005 - Including Best Picture"

. Someone better tell the Lion's Gate it's no longer 2005.

[EvaUnit02]

Has Eva seen Crash (2005?)

I don't usually judge stuff until I've witnessed it first hand but Crash always looked utter rubbish to me. When I learnt that it was written by Paul Haggis, who had written Million Dollar Baby, which was the most manipulative contrived load of bile that I've seen in eons - I instantly knew Crash was going to along the exact same lines.

I read this the other day and the film sounds ALOT worse than it sounded. Now I have even less desire to see it.

[grim_tales]

OK then

[Unrealnils]

I watched and thought it was good but nothing special

Iittle bit up itself 8)