"Crash"

Title: "Crash"
Director: Paul Haggis
Producer: Paul Haggis, Don Cheadle, Bob Yari, and Cathy Schulman
Editing: Hughes Winborne
Composer: Mark Isham
Starring:
- Brendan Fraser as Rick Cabot
- Sandra Bullock as Jean Cabot
- Don Cheadle as Detective Graham Waters
- Chris "Ludacris" Bridges as Anthony
- Larenz Tate as Peter Waters
- Terrence Howard as Cameron Thayer

Plot and Critical Review: How does one give a plot synopsis to the film "Crash"? It is about as easy as explaining the intricacies of an elaborate spider web using only words. One cannot simply say "it's white and branches out a lot." "Crash" is a film of unparalleled intensity, emotion, and challenge to the viewer. Within 10 minutes of the opening credits I was already asking myself a most heartbreaking question, 'Is this my America?!" While some may criticize the film for its extreme (and extreme doesn't seem to suffice here) treatment of inter-racial tension, there is something to be said for the broad and horrific biases draw between races and cultures in this film. Some may choose to answer the social challenge of the film with comments like 'That's just how L.A. is!' or 'That would never happen in my neighborhood.', "Crash" reaches into the deepest part of every viewer, grabs hold, shakes us around, and forces us to look within. A critic once said "I go to the movies to watch the screen; not to be watched by it." "Crash" is a movie that watches us.

"Crash" is also one of the few films that "made it" without ever having much to "make it" with. The film was originally granted a meager budget of $6.5 million which is truly insignificant next to the hefty $75 million budget of "Munich" which was also nominated for Best Picture in 2005. "Crash" also rose above the noise of a politically-charged year at the Oscars when it triumphed over films concerning themselves with lifestyles of homosexuality like "Brokeback Mountain" and "Capote." While the Academy has been known to be fickle with its selections for Best Picture, here we are not disappointed.

In 1977 George Lucas directed and produced the most legendary space-opera sci-fi film of all time; "Star Wars: A New Hope". In this film Lucas made use of a series of transitions ("melts" as I recall) which moved the film from scene to scene in a beautiful and fluid motion. While Lucas' "melts" were achieved through special effects, "Crash" makes use of a nearly flawless system of "melts" (all done without special effects -remember the budget) which move the film along in perfect rhythm. When a door closes in one scene a door opens in another with perfect timing and we're transported from one plot to another without having to reorganize our brains. Hughes Winborne won an Academy Award for turning this "spider-web" of a film into an understandable and approachable story. While one might be uncomfortable with the tone and topic of the film the viewer is allowed to become comfortable enough with the film itself so that when a "crash" is about to happen the suspense is raised to levels that can barely be tolerated.

"Crash" is a film that watches us. See for yourselves.

My Rating: 8/10

The "Reel Revelation": "Redemption"

Have you ever been in a situation that seemed to be beyond redemption? Have you ever looked around and realized you've ended up in a place from which there seems no escape? Perhaps you know of someone (for it might be easier to think of the peril of a friend rather than your own) who is stuck traveling a path that seems to lead to certain destruction and death. If you've not had an experience like the ones listed above, I am certain that you will. And even though you may never be in a situation that will threaten your life you very well may come to a place in time when you feel like your freedom and liberty will be compromised. What will you do? For the answers to the most difficult questions we must look to the One who walked the most difficult path himself, we look to Jesus.

Jesus' life was truly glorious and the Gospels spell out a narrative of absolute grandeur and beauty. We see him with small children, healing the sick, preaching and teaching about the everlasting Kingdom of God, and showing unyielding kindness and mercy to everyone he met. But long before Jesus became a man and walked among us his life was already threatened. The kings of his time knew that the Messiah would be a threat to government, economy, and the strength of the military. They knew that he would raise up an "army" to go forth in his name. They knew that he would rule as no other ruler had and that his followers would follow him even unto death. So it is no surprise that when Jesus arrived his life was compromised at once. Innocent children were killed in a search for him, his cousin died because he was not ashamed to proclaim that God was near, and his best friends died because they would not cease from professing Jesus as the one true God.

The brightness of the Gospel seems eclipsed by an endless veil of sin and evil as Jesus is led to Calvary and crucified. How can God reverse this unbelievable act?! How can any sense of redemption come at this darkest of moments as the Son of God (God himself!) hangs in the web of death. But what we cannot understand is what God knows best; what we cannot do is what God is the best at doing and three days later Jesus stepped out of the tomb. The best part of it all is that the resurrection is not unbelievable! The same Spirit that brought Jesus forth from death is the same Spirit that God has given to you and I. Yes! Believe it!

Part of living in a sinful world is getting used to the fact that our lives are going to spiral out of control all the time. 'All the time, Eric? But doesn't God promise us prosperity, victory, and peace?' You betcha. But is that the promise of the world? By no means. If it promises anything, "Crash" promises that the will of man is wicked, twisted, and not to be trusted. While a person may perform feats of bravery, chivalry, and greatness, no man can rescue as God can. If you're in the midst of your very own Calvary turn to the God of the resurrection and call out for his assistance, mercy, and rescue. Bob Fitts put it simple enough for us all to understand, "He will come and save you." Amen.

See you tomorrow - E.T.