[Eugene]

In the same vein as Traffic and Collateral, but better than either of those two films, IMO. I guess since mentioning these two films, I'll get my opinions on them out of the way first...

Traffic was pretty straightforward. Other than having a handful of distinct storylines to follow, the storytelling was basic and straightforward. It seemed a little disjoint as a result, but Soderbergh probably didn't want to weave each separate story together unrealistically. Also having the drug trade as the single overlying theme made the film really monotonous at times.

On the other hand, Mann paces Collateral like a typical thriller. You hardly to get a pause to think before people start shooting and getting thrown out windows. Over all, pretty formulaic right down to the final extended chase scene.

So how does Crash stack up? I loved it. It doesn't allow you to get bored, but it doesn't need to use mind-numbing action to keep you attentive. There's so much great interaction/dialogue, I easily ignored the contrivance of all the coincidental bump-ins between the characters. In addition, Crash does everything without an A+ list actor like Michael Douglas or Tom Cruise. Shit, they get away with having Ludacris and Brendan Fraser in a serious role...that's an achievement in itself.

And as usual it's not the headliner who steals the show. Most people are going to associate Don Cheadle with the film, I think. He's the closest to a central character the film has to offer. Others are going to immediately identify Bullock, Phillipe, Fraser, Ludacris, etc. for their level of exposure. The most memorable portrayal in the movie belongs to Michael Pena without question.

[Eugene]

---SPOILERS---

For the most part, everything ended as I would have expected. Though it's obvious there's going to be a huge fallout between at least two of the characters in the movie, you never know which two until after the fact. Would Cameron's fit of rage result in him or Officer Hanson being shot? Would Officer Ryan die in his attempt to save (and reconcile with Christine) from the overturned car? Would Farhad kill Daniel or force Daniel to kill in self-defense with his daughter watching? And after the fact, the false alarm when Farhad pulled the trigger with Lara embracing Daniel. And of course the real climax where Hanson's own prejudice/presupposition leads to him fatally shooting Peter.

Unlike Collateral, it never was obvious what would happen. Everyone who saw that movie knew from the beginning that Cruise's character was profiling the office building where Jada Pinkett Smith's character worked. About the most surprising thing in that movie was when the NARC got shot in the chest by Cruise in the club scene.

Everything ended as it should for the most part. The only character who stayed clean throughout was Daniel, so I was particularly hysterical when I thought his daughter had been shot. Don Cheadle's character did the wrong thing to cover up the cop vs. cop shooting. He also did a poor job taking care of his junkie mom. In the end his punishment is losing his brother and his mother's respect. Dillon, Ludacris, and Bullock's characters all have their humanizing epiphanies while Farhad gets a reprieve for his actions in the form of pure luck. Works for me...

The only thing I would have done differently would have been to tie up the loose ends in Officer Hanson's story. I felt cheated not knowing the consequences of his actions or how he would end up dealing with it.

[staph]

Hmm. And for a moment I thought you were referring to the movie adaptation of the J.G. Ballard novel.

Now that was an odd film. Spader definitely suited the role though.

[Eugene]

Originally Posted by staph Hmm. And for a moment I thought you were referring to the movie adaptation of the J.G. Ballard novel. Now that was an odd film. Spader definitely suited the role though.

Heh, I totally forgot about the Cronenberg film. As for odd, what do you expect from the guy who brought us Brundlefly?

[Moogs]

This looked pretty good to me, so I plan on seeing it as well.

[ast3r3x]

Just so you guys know, Eugene isn't lying. It's good

Could follow and predict most of it, but they did do several things that you didn't see coming. I agree that it's much better than Traffic in keeping your attention.

It does make me furious at stereotypes. When the lady is screaming about the guy letting the police feel her up, it makes me so mad because there isn't anything you can do. Arg.