Movie: Crash

Release Date: May 6, 2005

Director: Paul Haggis

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Brendan Fraser, Terrance Howard, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe, Larenz Tate

Personal History: Watched Before

Rating: 5.25 Oscars out of 10

We have a problem with racism in America. I think a majority of people living here today in the year 2023 can attest to that. However, back in 2005, that number was probably much lower. Most white or non-marginalized people ignored, denied or turned their back on the idea that people discriminated against others based on race, creed, religion or sexual orientation.

Three years later when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, those same white, non-marginalized people felt vindicated in their beliefs. Their thinking was that if we in fact were a racist country, we would not have elected a black man as President. And while President Obama did his best to serve and run this country successfully for eight years, the underbelly of hate grew leading to where we are today.

Back in 2005, I was not one of those uninformed thinkers that thought racism was actually dead and gone. Yes, I am a privileged white man and although I have been victim of prejudice and bullying based on my sexual orientation, it paled into comparison of what my male and female black friends endured time and time again. Witnessing it first-hand, those experiences made me anti-racist long before that term gained popularity in 2020.

I am not saying that to pat myself on the back, it’s just a fact. And it is also why I feel I did not love the movie ‘Crash’ when I saw it in theaters back then.

‘Crash’ was released in the Spring of 2005 to critical praise. Although it was not a huge commercial success, it performed decent at the box office. Even when it was released to home media that Fall, it remained a critically praised independent movie that flew under most people’s radar. It wasn’t until Award season nominations appeared did the movie pick up some steam. Its surprise Oscar win for Best Picture in early March of 2006 catapulted it to a much higher audience culminating in many DVD rentals and purchases.

I did not see ‘Crash’ in theaters. I rented the movie through Netflix sometime in the Fall of 2005. My initial reaction was that the film was nothing astounding. The ensemble acting was fine but the screenplay and how it covered racism bothered me to the core. Written by two privileged white men, how could it not? I not only disliked the movie, I held it in disdain because the movie could have (and should have) said so much more about race.

I own the DVD for ‘Crash’ only because I own all of the Academy Award Best Picture winners. It is not a movie I have ever watched again until now. So, in 2023, have my thoughts changed on the film? No. Not in the least. If anything, it solidifies my belief that I should be watching another film instead of this Oscar winner.

‘Brokeback Mountain‘ (click on the link to read what I said about it in 2020 as part of my 365 Movie Day Challenge), was the film that should have received the statue for Best Picture back in 2006. A little homophobia perhaps in Hollywood at the Academy back then? You betcha. However, even the other nominees, ‘Goodnight and Good Luck,’ ‘Munich’ and ‘Capote,’ are all far better movies than ‘Crash.’

My vote for Best Picture would still go to ‘Brokeback Mountain.’ Because of that and because I feel I should be writing about that movie today instead of ‘Crash,’ here is an edited version of what I said about that Ang Lee masterpiece three years ago.

From A Movie a Day Keeps the Doctor Away November 23, 2020:

In 2005, I was an out and proud gay man with a boyfriend and somewhat happy existence. It was a long road for me to get to that happiness and bliss, a road filled with drama, turmoil, divorce, repression and depression. But thankfully I survived that rocky journey to see two clichés proven true: there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it does get better. Little did I know that I would be reliving some of that journey again through the eyes of Ennis Del Mar.

‘Brokeback Mountain’ was released in early December in limited theaters. As soon as it was released it was getting glorious reviews from critics and tons of Oscar buzz. Deemed the “gay cowboy” movie, based on the short story of the same name by Annie Proulx, it was a film that I knew I would be eventually seeing in theaters. By the end of January 2006, it finally received a wider release right around the time it was nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture. The film was a commercial success and eventually became the highest grossing movie of the five Best Picture nominees.

I went to see ‘Brokeback Mountain’ alone during its opening weekend. Being alone was probably one of the wisest decisions I ever made. I loved the movie, but it was an extremely emotional one for me to get through. Take away Wyoming and the cowboy hats, and it was like I was watching my life play out before me on the big screen. Heath Ledger’s portray of Ennis Del Mar was all too real for me. I felt the character’s guilt, inner conflict, self-hatred and confusion all too well. By the time the credits were rolling, I was an emotional wreck. I think I even cried myself to sleep that night.

Despite the film making me a blubbering fool, I adored it and went back to see it in theaters, this time with friends. Although I was still emotionally affected by the movie, I was able to contain it to just a few tears that a wipe of the jacket could easily make disappear. My friends, also gay, liked the movie, but not to the extent that I did. I don’t think they were able to relate as much to the characters living in the closet as much as I could. They came from the group of gays that were always out and proud and had the attitude of “get over it already.” Sometimes “getting over it” is a lot more difficult for some people, with my life and Ennis Del Mar’s as living prove.

As I have mentioned many, many times before here on this blog, I was a huge Academy Award fan. I loved all things Oscar. It was my Super Bowl. It was an evening of snacks, champagne, and an all day viewing of television from red carpet preparations to the red carpet to the telecast. I even stayed up for all of the after party coverage and back stage interviews, which also gives me time to go over my picks of who won the statue that night. On March 5, 2006, the TV that I owned at the time got a dent the size of a nickel on the bottom of the screen when ‘Crash,’ a movie that I despised, beat out ‘Brokeback Mountain’ for Best Picture. I couldn’t help it, I hurled my remote at the TV as soon as I heard it. That evening I went to bed without watching any of the post-award shenanigans. Basically, I was pissed.

Eventually I got over that Oscar night, although I still feel ‘Crash’ is one of the worst Best Picture winners of all time, and focused more on my love for Ang Lee’s masterpiece. When ‘Brokeback Mountain’ became available on DVD, I purchased it immediately and re-watched it again. And sobbed again. In fact, every time that I watched the film, my emotions always took over and I ended up weeping by its finale. It was a stunningly beautiful movie to look at, well acted, had a gorgeous score but more importantly had a story that I could relate to one hundred percent. The movie was recognized by the Library of Congress in 2018 when it was added to the National Film Registry for being a “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant film.” For me, it was significant from day one.

“He always said he wanted his ashes scattered on Brokeback Mountain, but I wasn’t sure where that was. I thought Brokeback Mountain might be around where he grew up. Knowing Jack, it was probably some pretend place, where bluebirds sing and there’s a whiskey spring.”

I watched ‘Brokeback Mountain’ today with my husband. Watching a movie with my husband in the theater is one of my favorite things to do. Watching a movie with my husband at home can go one of two ways, good or not so good. Today’s viewing of ‘Brokeback Mountain’ was not so good.

It started off absolutely fine. We were both on the couch snuggled up together with only a few questions from him that I had to answer. Even if he has seen the movie, he often forgets plot points or facts about the film. One of today’s question was “When does Maggie Gyllenhaal show up?” I had to explain to him that she was not in the movie. As the movie played on, my husband, who can barely ever sit still started stirring. By the end of the movie, he was full on decorating for Christmas right in front of the television. I tried to stay focused on the movie, but was quite distracted. This is the first time that I ever watched ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and didn’t full on sob. At least I could thank him for that.

Despite my husband, ‘Brokeback Mountain’ was still a wonderful, sweeping, epic romantic drama that really does melt my heart every time. I love absolutely everything about it. The direction is superb as is the incredible acting by its glorious cast. Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams all give fantastic performances. And I just love the story, despite it being heartbreaking and devastating. It has been even more difficult to watch since 2008 after the untimely death of Heath Ledger. What a tragic loss, as he was one phenomenal actor.

‘Brokeback Mountain’ is more than a movie for me, it is a reminder of how difficult and horrible my life was and how lucky I am that I escaped pretty much unscathed. The movie is simply stunning and I highly recommend it to anyone that loves a dramatic romance movie. Just keep those Kleenex close by.