One of the most powerful films that I have ever seen has to be Crash. The film was released in 2005 and directed by Paul Haggis. Crash is also the winner of three Oscars, including Best Picture for 2005.
The film takes place in Los Angeles, California and tells the story of many characters of differing backgrounds, skin color, and socioeconomic statuses. The characters do not know each other, and do not realize how interconnected they truly are. This film really is an interwoven masterpiece. The story is not just told from one perspective, but many that are separate and unique. In the end, the characters, who were trying so hard to be their own individuals and live their lives, crash into each other literally and figuratively. My favorite quote from the film is, “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”. In any big city, I feel that this statement rings true. Human contact is needed because we are social beings, and need others for our survival. In a place where everybody is out for themselves, crashing into one another is inevitable.
Not only is the story extraordinary, but the music, filming, editing, and lightening also make for a powerful piece. Take for example Bird York’s song “In the Deep” that plays towards the end of the film. While watching the powerful images and hearing a deeply moving song, chills run up and down your spine as your realize that this too could happen to you. The audience feels for the characters because they are not doing anything unordinary, but simply living their lives.
Is the film overdone though? Are the characters’ lives filled with more drama and more connected than the average Americans? I would say some what, but it is the characters’ stories that make Crash seem realistic.
I would recommend that everyone see Crash. It opens the audience’s eyes to topics that are not often discussed outside of a sociology class, including discrimination, racism, and stereotypes. Crash gets my two thumbs up and undeniably deserves it.
The film takes place in Los Angeles, California and tells the story of many characters of differing backgrounds, skin color, and socioeconomic statuses. The characters do not know each other, and do not realize how interconnected they truly are. This film really is an interwoven masterpiece. The story is not just told from one perspective, but many that are separate and unique. In the end, the characters, who were trying so hard to be their own individuals and live their lives, crash into each other literally and figuratively. My favorite quote from the film is, “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”. In any big city, I feel that this statement rings true. Human contact is needed because we are social beings, and need others for our survival. In a place where everybody is out for themselves, crashing into one another is inevitable.
Not only is the story extraordinary, but the music, filming, editing, and lightening also make for a powerful piece. Take for example Bird York’s song “In the Deep” that plays towards the end of the film. While watching the powerful images and hearing a deeply moving song, chills run up and down your spine as your realize that this too could happen to you. The audience feels for the characters because they are not doing anything unordinary, but simply living their lives.
Is the film overdone though? Are the characters’ lives filled with more drama and more connected than the average Americans? I would say some what, but it is the characters’ stories that make Crash seem realistic.
I would recommend that everyone see Crash. It opens the audience’s eyes to topics that are not often discussed outside of a sociology class, including discrimination, racism, and stereotypes. Crash gets my two thumbs up and undeniably deserves it.
1 comment:
The music used to score "Crash" worked so well in the climax scenes to add to the tension. It's the kind of soundtrack that you could listen to as you reflect and write a movie review.
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