The 2004 Oscar winning film “Crash” offers a brilliant outlook on many of the topics we have been discussing in our final unit. (Going to miss this class!) Racism and Prejudice were key sociological issues in class, and they were shockingly brought to life in the film. However Crash also focuses thematically on fate and how every small act plays a very significant part in the much bigger picture. All of the character’s separate stories are connected in very unexpected ways, leading to some really jaw dropping scenes. The title of the film is a metaphor for the idea that a car crash is an impact between complete strangers, both just going on their own way in there life. The opening line says “It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something.”
Many cases of prejudice are demonstrated in small cases throughout the movie, from all sides. Sandra Bullock’s character was over the top racist against the Mexican lock mechanic as well as her maid, which was extremely aggravating. (Also how could she marry Brendan Fraser, he is so bland) Another character like this is Matt Dillon as a white cop, angry at a black secretary for denying his father an insurance pass to see a new doctor (Sicko already taught us the health care system in the states is messed up) On the receiving end, Ludicris explains how its like to be a black man walking through the streets of life, saying “Look around! You couldn't find a whiter, safer or better lit part of this city. But this white woman sees two black guys, who look like UCLA students, strolling down the sidewalk and her reaction is blind fear. I mean, look at us! Are we dressed like gang-bangers? Huh? No. Do we look threatening? No. Fact, if anybody should be scared around here, it's us: We're the only two black faces surrounded by a sea of over-caffeinated white people, patrolled by the triggerhappy LAPD. So you tell me, why aren't we scared?” We also see how an Arab shop keeper is treated by others, and in turn how he treats people. For being constantly belittled about his race, he loses his trust in other people, and only really opens up to his family. The thing I really liked about many of these stories was that there was more then the just black and white picture. At some points you would feel like a certain character was a complete bastard, but at others you feel an understanding for them and their motivations. This is what truly distinguishes the movie and makes it more realistic. There is always a bigger picture for things in life, but seeing how it all fits together is how fate ties into the story.
All of the above acts of discrimination play major impact on the events of the film. This is because in life everything that happens to us changes who we are, in sometimes strange ways. Seeing how all the characters fit together in the movie is really amazing, and probably makes it worth seeing many other times. For example, the shopkeeper tries to seek vengeance on the locksmith, however (*SPOILERS*) the bullets bought during an argument at the very start of the film were blanks and didn’t hurt the poor daughter. Also Matt Dillon’s extremely horrible humiliation and molestation of a black woman at night, and finally his having to save her from a burning car and almost losing her in the end because of her fear of him was extremely powerful. I was extremely shocked also at the eventual murder of Ludicrous’ friend, by the nicer white cop, because he was pulling out his same statue of St Peter. “Officer Hanson: Something else funny?
Peter: [laughing] People, man... people.”
I felt the overall message of the film was that no matter what, you should treat others fairly, without racism or prejudice, since somewhere down the line we are all connected. I think this is very important, because sometimes we do allow our smaller differences to get into the way, and this ultimately hinders us from becoming a true multinational country, or global community. As we learned from the notes, maybe there really is no such thing as race, and we are all just human beings. Even though we have our own separate lives and problems to deal with, we can always be there to either help or harm one another, and working together is a lot better then killing one another. Another thing I noticed was that racism in the movie sort of went in a cycle. When one character of a different race hurt another, they would then be more racist towards the other characters. For example, Sandra Bullock says “Well I got scared and I didn't say anything and ten seconds later I had a [Jabbing her finger into Rick's chest]gun in my face. Now I am telling you, your amigo in there is gonna sell our key to one of his homies and this time it'd be really fucking great if you acted like you actually gave a shit!” This cycle definitely needs to stop.
Crash is definitely recommendable, for being really deep and metaphorical, having shocking scenes and some humour as well. On a side note, there is a special kind of hell for people who talk in the movie theatre, and I’d say that rule should apply for people who talk during in class movies. (Except when filling in what the characters are saying when there is no sound) Seriously though, the movie will piece itself together eventually, you just have to sit and wait for your mind to be blown. There is no need to ask “WHO DAT” ...even though perhaps maybe there were in some cases too many minor characters introduced at random times throughout the story. This was part of the movies effect however and worked out perfectly. People talked during the Watchmen premier too though, how weak is that? Anyways, CRASH: ***** <---5 stars, one of the best in class movies I’ve seen for sure.
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