Crash (Paul Haggis, 2004)

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kieslowski_67 · #51 Post by **kieslowski_67** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:00 pm

I watched it again this weekend and actually believe that it works better as a combo of horror film and comedy.

It sucks when it's taken as a serious drama if you know what I mean.

ben d banana · #52 Post by **ben d banana** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:33 am

Absolutely.

Polybius · #53 Post by **Polybius** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:22 am

(I finally saw this this weekend. Showtime free preview weekend. I'm an HBO guy

)

Andre Jurieu wrote: By far the best scene occurs between a Latino locksmith father and his daughter when he arrives home to discover her hiding under her bed. Within this single scene, which could have become ultra-cheesy, Haggis is able to subtly touch on issues dealing with race in an effective manner, without the need to become heavy-handed. Instead of having his characters spout off racist dialogue and artificially discuss racial issues, the father and daughter simply talk about moving away from a dangerous community to a much safer community, and we witness the sacrifice the father has had to make afterwards when he must answer a late-night service call. Sadly this subtle, effective, delicate scene is later exploited in the most melodramatic fashion.

Yes, on both counts. That was a wonderful scene, full of the kind of verbal subtlety that eluded him for most of the rest of the script. (I also rather liked the last word of Howard's character to the kid played by Ludacriss. "You shame me. You shame yourself." Terrence sold that with his personal greatness.)

Kasdan's Grand Canyon has been mentioned (I thought of that, too, except that Kasdan can usually make you feel that his weltanschuung is plausible while you're watching the film itself, even if you recongize at the same time that he's doing that) and so have Short Cuts and it's clubfooted offspring Magnolia (and that was supposed to be snow, it's mentioned as a possibility in the first scene of the film when Cheadle's character finds his brother's body at the crime scene.)

All of those comparisons are valid, as is Nashville (mostly not in Crash's favor), but I think the film that Crash truly wants to be, and fails in it's attempt, is John Sayles' masterpiece rumination on urban racial politics, time, loss and regret, City of Hope. You will not find the same sort of mind bogglingly expository dialogue, sudden unrealistic translations from polite conversation to bitter racial invective and general hamhandedness in John's script.

Crash has a good cast (Howard is a guy I've had my eye on for a while, I love Larenz Tate in everything I've ever seen him in and Thandie Newton could win, and actually deserve, an Oscar if given the right role), but some of these other people, Dillon and Phillippe in particular, were pretty dreadful. And I think we've all seen Fictner do better work than he did here.

Not as awful as Chicago, but not Best Picture material, either.

#54 Post by **zedz** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:01 am

I keep noticing this thread and I still have no desire to see the movie, but I'd blind-buy any album by a band called Crash Haggis.

Travis · #55 Post by **Travis** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:41 pm

From IMDb:

'Crash' Coming to the Small Screen

Oscar-winning racial drama Crash is being adapted for the small screen and will appear on televisions across the U.S. next year. The movie version starring Sandra Bullock, Terrence Howard, Matt Dillon and Don Cheadle, won Best Picture at the Academy Awards in March. The film's producer Cathy Schulman says, "I hope it will air in the next year. "The actors from the film will show up. Don Cheadle is a producer and will also be on at least a few episodes. "We'll see about everyone else."

Len · #56 Post by **Len** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:44 pm

I hope every episode ends with Paul Haggis giving a lesson in tolerance to the viewers, based on the events of the episode.

#57 Post by **cdnchris** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:49 pm

"The more you know" [cue music]

kieslowski_67 · #58 Post by **kieslowski_67** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 1:35 am

Len wrote:I hope every episode ends with Paul Haggis giving a lesson in tolerance to the viewers, based on the events of the episode.

I see massive potential for Paul Haggis to pull out a "Dekalog" like effort here. There are lots of room for him to improve on those interwoven short stories. And he can use the scene of Sandra Bullock falling down the staircase (from different angels) to connect these stories. That, should make Roger Ebert poop and announce to the world the birth of a new Orson Welles caliber film maker and pop the new "Crash" to the top of his all time favorite film list.

Polybius · #59 Post by **Polybius** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:10 am

Phillippe will plug a new hitchhiker each week

Napoleon · #60 Post by **Napoleon** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:19 am

I hope that at least one episode can be put aside to allow Haggis to take on the prejudice of homophobia.

I think that he would tackle the issue in such a knowledgeable way that even Ehrenstein would unreservedly sing his praises.

HerrSchreck · #61 Post by **HerrSchreck** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 3:28 pm

Polybius wrote:(I finally saw this this weekend. Showtime free preview weekend. I'm an HBO guy (I also rather liked the last word of Howard's character to the kid played by Ludacriss. "You shame me. You shame yourself." Terrence sold that with his personal greatness.)

I liked that line myself, I thought it worked well:
Not that it's all that important-- just making sure I'm not a total burnout (okay maybe I am) but, wasn't that line You embarass me; you embarass yourself. ?

Polybius · #62 Post by **Polybius** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:45 am

Yeah, I had some trepidation about the exactitude of that. Thanks for the precise words.

I like Terrence and I have for several years. He and the mighty Jeffrey Wright made the historic King-Abernathy partnership come alive in Boycott.

kieslowski_67 · #63 Post by **kieslowski_67** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:00 pm

n. w. wrote:I hope that at least one episode can be put aside to allow Haggis to take on the prejudice of homophobia.

I think that he would tackle the issue in such a knowledgeable way that even Ehrenstein would unreservedly sing his praises.

To let a homophobe tackle the subject of homophobia? That will make Ebert wet his pants in a hurry and fall down the staircases.

Yep, we got a 2007 Oscar winner right here.

hearthesilence · #64 Post by **hearthesilence** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:07 pm

So is Haggis going to write these episodes? Bear in mind, this guy was the co-creator of "Walker, Texas Ranger," not to mention a writer for "The Love Boat," "Different Strokes," and "The Facts of Life"...will this be the work of Haggis, the serious filmmaker, or Haggis, the TV hack? Or both? Could be an interesting train wreck.

ben d banana · #65 Post by **ben d banana** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:58 am

Crash is funnier than any of the aforementioned TV comedies (I can safely say I watched 80-95% of the entire runs of each) so for giggles sake let's hope it's the "serious filmmaker".

By the way:

Famous Scientologists
Celebrity, Influential, Notable Members of the Church of Scientology

Current Scientologists (and deceased famous people who were in Scientology when the passed away):

L. Ron Hubbard - best-selling science fiction author; founder of Scientology
John Travolta - actor
Chick Corea - influential American jazz pianist and composer
Brandy (Norwood) - R&B singer, actress
Tom Cruise - actor, movie star
Nancy Cartwright - voiceover artist best known as voice of "Bart Simpson" on The Simpsons
...
Paul Haggis - screenwriter, story editor, TV producer

The Invunche · #66 Post by **The Invunche** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:03 am

Why did I check that list? I didn't need to know Catherine Bell was one of those idiots.

hearthesilence · #67 Post by **hearthesilence** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 4:17 pm

Ugh. Haggis too? Maybe that's the root of racism. Damn you Xenu!

#68 Post by **cdnchris** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 4:22 pm

They're sucking the Canucks in, too!? "Damn you Xenu" indeed!

What is Scientology like, anyways? Is it like that group Eddie Murphy's character belonged to in Bowfinger? I always assumed that was who Steve Martin was poking fun at in that movie.

kinjitsu · #69 Post by **kinjitsu** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:07 pm

cdnchris wrote:What is Scientology like, anyways?

William S. Burroughs on Scientology

hearthesilence · #70 Post by **hearthesilence** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:49 pm

The Secrets of Scientology:
http://www.xenu.net/

Or for a quickie, cartoon version courtesy of South Park:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68WBSM0- ... cientology

Ishmael · #71 Post by **Ishmael** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:04 pm

cdnchris wrote: What is Scientology like, anyways?

Martin Gardner has a chapter on L. Ron Hubbard in his book Fads and Fallacies which is sure to terrify and delight any good sceptic.

#72 Post by **cdnchris** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:57 pm

I apologize for taking this thread off track about the beauty that is Crash (2004) but I had to ask at some point. I used to work in a used bookstore during high school and we got a lot of books by Hubbard in and that's when I first looked into Scientology out of curiosity. I pretty much put it up there with the Jonestown thing and stopped looking into it. But now I just had to know what it was like to be a member and what goes on, other than the idea behind it. Thanks for the reading material

Polybius · #73 Post by **Polybius** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:52 pm

The Invunche wrote:Why did I check that list? I didn't need to know Catherine Bell was one of those idiots.

Cause for mourning for me, as well.

Jean-Luc Garbo · #74 Post by **Jean-Luc Garbo** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 7:41 pm

Bernadette Peters and Neil Gaiman might be Scientologists? My day just keeps getting better and better. #-o
But seriously, the number of actors/actresses on that list is extensive. Is Scientology some sort of fad in Hollywood?

Andre Jurieu · #75 Post by **Andre Jurieu** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:29 pm

AMB wrote:Is Scientology some sort of fad in Hollywood?

It's been a major part of Hollywood for awhile now. Actors are usually screwed up and successful (ie. wealthy) = perfect prey for Scientology.

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Crash (Paul Haggis, 2004)