I disagree, just because you don't see it or hear it, doesn't mean people aren't thinking it. For example, I wouldn't want a poor looking ghetto hispanic changing the locks on my doors. And I'm hispanic!

I'm not that old, but I will agree that things have gotten a lot better. I can't speak for everyone, but for myself it's more about social class/education than it is race/color.

 

and apparently the Academy disagreed. Crash just won best picture of the year. Roeper predicted the "Crash" win and i, too, was rooting for this flic. As an Angeleno at heart, it's hard to understand why people didn't "get" this movie; unfortunate indeed.

to "Crash", I'll be getting the to-be-released special edition DVD. btw, not enjoying a movie specifically because of the praise is a sign of movie ignorance. you don't just a book by the cover; you don't judge a movie by the hype.

 

[QUOTE=Rickjames,Feb 18 2006, 11:27 AM] Before I get flamed with comments that I'm racist or other ridiculous accusations, watch the movie again and ask yourself, is this an accurate depiction of Racism in America?

 

Good movie, I enjoyed it and it makes you stop and think similar to American History X.

 

Lets clear something up here...just because the movie won an academy award, doesnt mean that I have to change my opinion, nor that my opininon is invalid. I personally was very surprised that Crash won best picture. Kind of reminds me of the year when Gladiator won best picture. And there are many critics that didnt think Crash was the best picture of the year. Did you ever think that maybe the movie won because it was simply about racism? I mean, it could be seen as the PC thing to do considering all the crap that has gone on in the past year with Hurricane Katrina and some people going around making baseless racist excuses in the wake of what happened with that tragedy. It could be a million reasons why the movie won...I dont care because those people have their opinions too. Doesnt mean that the movie is for a fact the best picture. Since when did the Academy reflect the opinions of every person?

This movie is at best an attempt to copy Magnolia, which wasnt a great movie either. At least Magnolia didnt beat the racism motif into the ground and throats of the viewers. The movie had great acting, yet was filled with too many big name actors trying to out act the other and was painstakingly long.

Well to some people, giving a minority a job over a more qualified white person is the law...in fact last time I checked, affirmative action was the law in quite a few places. While I hate affirmative action, I disagree that it is worse than using the N word. And I think most people would disagree it is a form of racism. Look up the definition--racism is the belief that one race is more superior than an other. Therefore, how is hiring a minority due to affirmative action racism? It isnt right, but it isnt racism.

Also, how over used is the Arab man a terrorist cliche used in the pop media? Lost, 24, Alias, and I could go on and on and on and find examples like this. Just because it is a subject found in a tv drama doesnt make it real on a daily basis. Yes, I have experienced in person discrimination against muslims after 9/11--yet it makes me sick that this is overhyped in the real world. Probably the only legitimate form of racism that can be seen today...just not everyday. This movie throws every cliche at you no matter how relevant it is in today's society, which makes it even more outrageous.

So, as far as hearing the N word be the worst form of racism I've witnessed... Well, being in the south, I have experienced on occasion racism at its worst. Anywhere from being around racist people in college, to being given Clan propaganda when I was in high school. However, my point was that it is once in a blue moon that you actually see something. And to me, you hear the N word every single day, yet most African American people that use the N word, would get very upset at a white person for even quoting the word from a popular song. My eyes are open--I just dont see these things happening on a regular basis.

So, how is this movie thought provoking? Just making that statement doesn't make it thought provoking. Honestly it just made me think what I've already seen in other movies and tv shows. And it gets old after a while. If you want to make a point about how bad racism can be--a much better example is something a la Schindler's List.

All I am saying is that other than over-played cliches in popular media, you do not see these forms of racism on a daily basis. Nor do most people experience them on more than rare occasions. So how do over-played cliches equate to what is realistic? What do you think the chances are in real life of every single one of those events taking place like they did in the movie to an ordinary person?

I appreciate everyone's opinion, and if I can sit through the movie again, perhaps give it another view. I also appreciate feedback, but let's keep this from making things personal.

Actually, aside from being about racism, they are actually quite different films. I liked American History X more because it is more focused and has fewer actors fighting for screen time. Still it is an outrageous movie. Again, stuff like Schindler's List does a better job of hitting home racism and that life is more than something to just take for granted.

 

IMO affirmative action is definitely racism. As someone in management, I hire based on many factors - skills, qualifications, personality, etc, none of which is race.

Think about this - how does a cliche become a cliche? Stereotypes about races are everywhere in our society and everyone is quilty at one time or another of assuming something about someone based on their race. Yet everyone goes about their daily lives and no one stops to think about these stereotypes. I think this is the message that Crash is trying to convey. Sure the racist overtones are in your face and hyped up, but in the end, it is a movie for entertainment purposes.

I find Crash to be very realistic. You obviously disagree but I think it maybe due to our own personal experiences and where we live. As a Chinese/Cuban living in Miami but having gone to college in New Orleans and lived briefly in Fort Lauderdale, I can relate to Crash. Miami is a big city with so many different races, ethnicities and cultures that there isn't too much of that in your face racism, but in certain areas, its pretty bad. But going north, past the Miami border, you'll quickly reminded that Miami is part of FL, which is part of the deep south. I lived in Fort Lauderdale for several months in 2002. I moved back to Miami, in part due to racism. People would stare at me, make comments behind my back, cops pulled me over for nothing but being an Asian driving an import car, harrassed me and gave me bogus tickets. I've been literally asked by a Broward Sheriff's Officer, "what's your kind doing up here in my town?" Going further north, it gets worse. I've been called chink, gook, threatened by some white kids asking my friend, who is Puerto Rican but is easily mistaken for a white girl, what she was doing with a chink, denied service at a gas station in AL, even had a shotgun pointed in my face in GA by a bunch of hillbillies.

So you still don't think those events could happen to an ordinary person? In a big city, like LA, NYC, SF, DC or Miami, its called life. Maybe it doesn't happen all within one day, but I could see a Muslim's store being trashed and burned down, a white cop harrassing random minority people (it happens to me everytime I go to Fort Lauderdale), a black man trying to fit into white society, a white cop shooting a black man, etc etc etc.

 

I think some of you guys are missing the point. Crash isn't pointing fingers at any one race i.e. All whites are racist (a la Spike Lee) but instead shows how EVERY person, no matter what their race falls back on stereotypes. There was not a single character without fault. In addition, it goes beyond that to show not only WHY people have those stereotypes, but also how those stereotypes are expoited. For example. many people, without thinking, thought that Matt Dillion's character was a racist pig; but he wasn't. You saw that he was burnt out and frustraited by the system. Here he is trying to take care of his father, who is not getting the treatment he needs, and who does he see as responsable....a black person. That same night he harrasses a black couple, not b/c he hates blacks, because he lash out against the person he feels is responsable for his father's suffering; a father that busted his tail to give black people a fair shake and was then screwed by affirmative action. So is he racist? No...if he was, he wouldn't have risked his life (despite other officers and firemen trying to pull him out of the car) to save a black women. Also, watch carefully the scene at city hall, where they (the gov. spin doctors) are going to pin that black cop's death (who was dirty and loaded on coke) on the white cop... all in order to avoid bad publicity in an election. You think that cop won't have a beef against black people when/if he ever got out jail?
What the movie did very well was point out the fact that race relations, as a whole, SUCKS.

 

its all about race and the wheel that we are in. i thought the film not really saying anything new. i would worry about people who thought this was new material, but good for them. Stereotypes are everywhere and everyone is guilty.

reference experience with various car and motorcycle situations, i found myself laughing, because some of the stuff was funny. i related to it because i happened to me or i was there, had done it in the past, etc. like the first and second visit to the chop shop, or the asian man stuck under the suv. i am sure the movie patrons were horrified at my laughter.

 

It's one of those movies I enjoyed while watching, then felt totally disgusted at myself for enjoying it. Kinda like listening to Cold Play. You listen and it was enjoyable...as soon as you find out its Cold Play, you go "Ewwwww!!"

I'll never admit to enjoying that movie. It was way too sappy in an easy way IMO. It's kinda like watching a dying puppy. Of course its going to make you sad. Too easy.

 

Crash was a very good movie, but I wish it could have more of an even distribution between racism. Seems like the whole movie was "How whites treat blacks. How whites treat hispanics, how whites treat midde easterners, etc.". I'm so sick of that shit.