Jun 08, 2006 12:43 AM
3175 Views
There are bad movies and then there are worse movies... but these movies pretend to be good at times and exceptional rest of the times. Thankfully, there are also movies like Crash that don't pretend to be anything but do leave a mark, somewhere deep down your mind, somewhere deep down your soul. I rented this DVD the other day and was I pleasantly surprised! CRASH rises above an average Hollywood flick. It just doesn't remain about culture, it doesn't really confine itself to one nation, caste or creed. Such is this movies that it forces you to think - it makes you empathize, it gets you involved. You live a character of your own throughout the movie and relate to everything that happens on screen.
Since I don't know about many folks out there in Hollywood, I am not giving out details other than the director's name (Paul Haggis). This movie ran for close to two hours on the DVD. I don't really know the actors but they have acted well.
This movie follows all the principles of movie-making:
Reflection of society: If you thought racism was the central theme of this movie, you may be mistaken. It is just a device to show humane aspect of current day society (be it US of A or any other country) which is getting more of a mechanical system. Look for the pain of embarrassment, the call of duty, the reconciliation in post-nuptial, expectations - reasonable and otherwise...
Two hours of escape from the real life: There will be many who would say that this movie is nothing more than melodrama, nothing bigger than a fiction. I appreciate Paul Haggis for writing such a script that lets you take a quick break from your daily life and still gives you a reflection of your own life.
Moments of hatred for wrong-doers (the forced groping on street is filmed so well that if you are too involved you may feel as if you are being pinned to the ground, shriveled, charred and finished!
Moments to applaud the hero (the climax -turning point- is unrealistic but touches you to the core. look for the lady's reaction who is pulled out of her car after a near fatal crash)
A reason to smile, an excuse to shed some tears in the quiet (look for the scene where a mother misunderstands her son)
Leaving the audience with a thought or two: This is one of the best execution of a story on screen I have seen in recent past. Full credit to the screenplay writers, this is a gripping movie that leaves you with a question or two about life in general and tricky situations in particular. It lets you do a quick retrospection and makes you aware of the good side to an otherwise evil soul (look for the climax)
A sense of time-worth-spent: This is foremost but I have listed it last. There are so many movies with message but they just don't leave any impact on you. They leave you with a heavy head but no thoughts; many questions but not all of them relevant; a sense of waste of money and time. This movie gives back your money's worth and to me that is the most important thing of movie making.
Making a movie is different from other art forms as there is a possibility of dialogue with the audience through various character juxtaposed in a plot that may go to any extent. More than having an eye for art, the audience is expected to connect to the story, is expected to enjoy, is expected to feel content. You don't go back and watch the same painting everyday in a museum even if you like it a lot. You do go back and watch a movie. Not to demean any art form but masses can connect the most to a movie compared to any other art form.
Talking about this movie, the plot has many subplots that merge towards the end but it is not a dud as happens in most of the movies that play by this rule of bringing many subplots together to deliver that last punch. This movie succeeds and how!
I don't want to give out plot or any technical details. This is probably my first review where I have not torn a movie apart - I just don't feel like. There are flaws but I am not inclined to point those out.
If you trust my words, go watch this movie. If you don't you are missing a good movie.
