Crash!

I've mentioned our friends Michael & Jamie several times in this blog. Jamie asked us last weekend if we wanted to go see 'Star Wars' with him. I paused, saying nothing for a few seconds, and Joe said "Sure". I didn't really want to say that I had no interest in it.

I noticed Jamie did not say "see it with US", but rather "with me". Jamie then explained that Michael wasn't interested in seeing it, and that he didn't want to go to the movies alone. Joe agreed to go with him, and they made a date for Friday night.

Then Thursday Michael IMs me at work and asks me if I want to go to the movies with him on Friday night. "I need to see Crash" he explained. "You NEED to see Crash?" I repeated for clarification. Michael said he's in charge of teaching this diversity class at his office, and the 'Train the Trainer' person recommended that he see Crash before teaching the class.

'Oh' I thought. "What's it about?" I asked. Its amazing how sometimes I can be so clued-in while others times being so clueless. "It's about racism" he said.

'Oh now THAT sounds like a fun Friday night movie' I thought to myself. Then he pasted a synopsis of the movie into the IM and I became intrigued.

Issues of race and gender cause a group of strangers in Los Angeles to physically and emotionally collide in this drama from director and screenwriter Paul Haggis. Graham (Don Cheadle) is a police detective whose brother is a street criminal, and it hurts him to know his mother cares more about his ne'er-do-well brother than him. Graham's partner is Ria (Jennifer Esposito), who is also his girlfriend, though she has begun to bristle at his emotional distance, as well as his occasional insensitivity over the fact he's African-American and she's Hispanic. Rick (Brendan Fraser) is an L.A. district attorney whose wife, Jean (Sandra Bullock), makes little secret of her fear and hatred of people unlike herself. Jean's worst imaginings about people of color are confirmed when her SUV is carjacked by two African-American men -- Anthony (Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris), who dislikes white people as much as Jean hates blacks, and Peter (Larenz Tate), who is more open minded. Cameron (Terrence Howard) is a well-to-do African-American television producer with a beautiful wife, Christine (Thandie Newton). While coming home from a party, Cameron and Christine are pulled over by Officer Ryan (Matt Dillon), who subjects them to a humiliating interrogation (and her to an inappropriate search) while his new partner, Officer Hansen (Ryan Phillippe), looks on. Daniel (Michael Pena) is a hard-working locksmith and dedicated father who discovers that his looks don't lead many of his customers to trust him. And Farhad (Shaun Toub) is a Middle Eastern shopkeeper who is so constantly threatened in the wake of the 9/11 attacks that he decided he needs a gun to defend his family. Crash was the first directorial project for award-winning television and film writer Haggis. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

"Okay - sounds interesting" I wrote back. "Let's do it."

Fortunately a nearby theatre had both Star Wars and Crash beginning within 5 minutes of each other, so it worked out perfectly. And being the thrifty little buggers they are, M&J had coupons worth $3. off each movie ticket! Gotta love these boys!

I have just three words to say about Crash: Fabulous - loved it.

This is a movie I think everyone should see, whether you're about to teach a diversity class or not. Its just plain good for you. Really makes you think. Four thumbs up (both of mine and both of Michael's).

Jamie and Joe enjoyed Star Wars too, so it was a great night. All four of us got to see something we liked without having to suffer through something else we didn't like.

Jamie & Michael invited back to their place and we enjoyed a late night nosh on their top floor balcony. It was special.