Is "Crash" the Best Movie of the Year?
Last night, we watched "Crash". I thought the movie was very compelling. The cast was very strong and I felt some type of attachment to every major (or even semi-major) character. Even Sandra Bullock. I think Sandra Bullock has been weak in a number of awful movies, yet she gave a strong performance in this movie. This was a different type of role for her. I do not remember her playing an angry, frustrated wife before. She surprised me with a excellent performance.
The movie moved along well and kept my attention until the very end. I was never bored and I never looked at my watch. In fact, I was always wanting to know what would happen next. When the movie ended, I was left wanting more. I wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters next. The movies had several themes going at once and easily moved between the themes. Several times, themes would merge and then diverge. This was all handled very smoothly. It certainly earned the "Best Editing" award.
However, this is not enough for me to declare "Crash" the best movie of the year. While I found the movie to be captivating and interesting, I was not moved by the movie. A week from now, I doubt that I will be thinking about this movie.
The messages from the movie were important, however "Crash" did not have a new and unique story. "Brokeback Mountain", "Capote", "Munich" and "Good Night and Good Luck" all had stories that were new and unique (at least to me). I am not sure if a new story is a requirement for "best movie of the year", however I think it is an important factor.
In summary, I think the movie was really good. It deserved an Oscar nomination, but not the best picture award. I believe that Brokeback Mountain is the best picture of the year.
posted by Steve @ 9:12 PM
3 Comments:
At 10:54 PM,
Anonymous said…
Okay, first and foremost, what a gay review of best movie. Brokeback Mountain? Come on, who are you trying to impress? Really. Also, Sandra Bullock was good in both Speed and The Net, among other things. Okay, maybe you don't think those are good movies, but well...hmmm, The Net definitely had a terrible lasting impression on me. (More so than Seven did)...that's for Mom. And I don't think Crash was the best movie of the year...(that was Batman Begins...snub of the century or what???), but it wasn't a gay cowboy flick either. And okay dude..."Munich", "fresh and original"...sorry bud, no can do. You might've wanted to edit that out of your blog. It happened in the 70's (or maybe you forgot???) and it's about sports and politics. You ought to have remembered that one. And what hurts is that you pretty much diacknowledged what was fresh and original about Crash, which was its take on modern race relations. As I pointed out to mom earlier, it is important to note that the setting of the movie is modern day Los Angeles, where I understand race relations is a whole hell of a lot more intense than in Santa Cruz. If you were living in Los Angeles, you would find it impossible to forget about this movie a week after seeing it. Thankfully, you don't live in Los Angeles. Celebrate this fact.
And I don't get what's so new and original in a movie like Capote or Good Night and Good Luck, both movies about past historical events, like Munich? Did they have a new take on an old subject, or do you just think they were stories that were so important for the world to know about? Anyway, you are going to have a tough time convincing me that they are original.
And anyone who disagrees that Batman Begins was the best movie of 2005, have at me...because you're wrong. That's my final word.
At 4:50 PM,
kg said…
Seriously, Batman begins as the best movie out there? You're kidding my right? This is not to say it was completely entertaining. Think film vs. entertainment. (Example - Speed and The Net = entertainment.)
Let's remember that in best picture, PLOT/STORY is only one componant. I agree with what was written here about Crash. Completely entertaining movie but not best picture material. Plus, I think Steve was trying to relate it to the other nominees; not all the movies from 2005.
I am not sure I think Capote, Munich and Good Night Good Luck are fresh, because they are the retelling of other tales, but as I whole, I felt they were better films. Personally I think Brokeback should have won - as it was not a gay cowboy flick (I think you agree with that, though).
And btw, why do you have to be so freaking rude??? It's fine you don't agree, but can't you be respectful about it? Geez!!!!
At 10:47 PM,
Steve said…
In my defense, I would like to comment that "Capote", "Munich" and "Good Night Good Luck" were all new stories to me. Furthermore, I would bet that most movie goers are not familiar with the stories of Capote, Morrow and Israel's response to the terrorists. On the other hand, I think most moviegoers are familiar with the modern race tensions present in our society.
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