The Elm Student Newspaper
An Oscar Preview: CRASH
By Darla Cornett
Elm Staff Writer
It's almost that time of year when Hollywood's A-list turns out in droves, with the stars wearing their best (and worst in some cases) and hoping to receive a little statue named Oscar.
In the weeks before this illustrious event, let us step back and look at a picture that has been nominated for one of the most coveted awards: Best Picture.
"Crash," which was released in May, disturbed me, but it did so in a good way.
It takes a look at a multitude of people living in Los Angeles and traces how their lives intersect over a period of a few days. This could be the basic premises for a less-than-stellar comedy, but "Crash" takes a different approach, looking at racism and the way it affects the lives of people of all cultures.
Sandra Bullock and Brendan Fraser play an affluent white couple, Matt Dillon and Ryan Phillippe are a pair of cops, and Ludacris portrays an angry black man (the most stereotypical character in the cast) in a group that also includes Latinos, Middle Easterners, and Chinese.
Though it may seem like nothing but a group of stereotypes, the sad truth is that many of the events that happen in "Crash" do occur in real life.
Black men are harassed by police officers, poor white men blame affirmative action for their unpleasant lot in life, and people from the Middle East are discriminated against because so many now assume that being from that region automatically makes a person a terrorist.
What saves "Crash" is that it makes you think (this is the disturbing part). As we see the characters interact, we observe how their deeply held prejudices make their lives much more difficult than they should be. However, the film also shows that there are some foundations to the prejudices we hold as a society.
It is unfortunate, but there are reasons for the stereotypes we have, and this movie points out the faults not only of those who hold the stereotypes but also of those who help create and maintain them. It also shows that, in some situations, humanity can rise above all hatred and prejudice.
"Crash" leaves audiences with a feeling of hope, a sense that people can change for the better, even if it's not anytime soon. It also makes one think about how he or she views the world.
In my case, the movie made me think about my views and how even simple things I thought were no big deal could be hurtful to people of other races. This, the fact that it makes people of all races take a look at their attitudes and actions, is the true beauty of "Crash."
That's one nominee down and four to go. Check out next week's edition for more reviews of film's deemed worthy enough to be nominated for the film industry's biggest award.
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