Crash!

• 32 mins Melissa Harris-Perry ‏@MHarrisPerry

  RT @fmanjoo: "Crash is your friend's grandmother whose family is really proud that she doesn't say "colored" anymore. http://flip.it/a5oHc 

I have never seen this movie and never will, because I have too good a notion of what it would be like. But I love this kind of cultural criticism.

Comments

[Ingineer66]

I thought it was an excellent film. The way they tied all the parts of the story together was really entertaining. I think you may be surprised. I did not think it was a "Hate Whitey" film at all. It was more about man's treatment of man, regardless of skin color. All ethnic groups can be guilty of predujice and racism.

[Hattie]

But isn't this the false equivalence I complain about?

[Rain Trueax]

I objected to this film also but not on PC grounds. I just don't like to put my time into negative films even when they are supposedly artistic. It turned me off and so I haven't seen it either and have no intention of doing so. Once in awhile I do watch something because I 'should' but this isn't on that list.

[Hattie]

The same web site I got this critique from has a glowing review of the Marigold Hotel. I hope you have seen it. I loved it.

[Rain Trueax]

I not only saw that one, Hattie but I bought it.We have a plan in two weeks of a few days at the coast with old friends-- as in friends since college-- and it's one I am taking along to share. i loved it.

[Hattie]

You are rich in friends and family, as am I. We are the lucky ones.

[Annie]

Crash was one of my favorites. But then, I have struggled with with white guilt for as long as I remember.

[Brandon]

That was some funky writing. I think of the Oscars awarded for movies from 1990. Dances With Wolves won Best Picture over Goodfellas. But that movie is half-forgotten while people still enjoy Goodfellas.

And I pronounce it cue-pon.

[Ingineer66]

I am not sure that I understand what you mean Hattie? Are you saying predujice by some people is different or worse than predujice by another group.

[Hattie]

Interesting comment. I grew up in the 50's, and this was a decade of reaction against women, tremendous prejudice against women affecting every aspect of our lives. The women's movement drove a lot of men right over the edge, as I recall. No one had ever said boo to them and all of a sudden women were telling them off! Some men never recovered from the blow! Of course, as a woman, and an old woman at that, I have experienced plenty of prejudice, than and now, and have learned to deal with it and not to let it get in the way of anything I really want or believe to be important. If I had been a man, I would have been more successful, but that's OK. White men can do the same in a changed society: moderate their goals and be realistic about themselves. Prejudice is not going to go away.
And still having not seen the film, so take it for what it's worth, the message of resignation to their loss and the worthiness nonetheless of lesser groups, especially to enlighten and even save the members of the dominant group, is very comforting to the winners of the race of life, who can convince themselves that losers really like to lose.
I also have not seen The Help, but I understand it has a similar message.
Footnote: I am actually referring to Dances with Wolves here, not Crash. I wish I could bear to watch those movies, so I could say more worthwhile things about them. I tried reading The Help, but it gagged me.