Research Paper On The Movie Crash

When a film is seen many factors play into whether people think its good or bad. To make a good movie it takes money, know how, exposure, and most importantly acceptance. When asking the question was the film accepted consider three basic factors. Was it a Hollywood success? How many people went to see the movie? What were the opinions of the viewers? All these questions are answered when the film is shown. By applying these questions to the film Crash we can see how the general public responded to it.
Audiences view a film and decide if they like it based on various reasons. Many of the most popular films are Hollywood productions. According to yearwood this is because “ Hollywood has produced a few stinkers over the years, but few of the movies turned out by the studios have
been as bad as the ghetto-oriented films made by both black and white filmmakers.” (Yearwood pg 154 paragraph three) The reason for Hollywood's infamous reputation is because films made by Hollywood are created with a larger budget meaning better production. this allows hollywood films to meet higher standards than independent films. Hollywood movies are usually seen by more people and more widely accepted than other films. Hollywood has the power to promote to mass audiences and can afford to make the movie look appetizing with special effects, costumes, sets, etcetera. An important determinant of a film's success is how desirable it looks and how the audience receives it. It is important to have the film strategically marketed. As well as the viewers enjoy it so they promote it through word of mouth. Other factors are necessary to a films prosperity as well. Such as the film must reach a certain amount of people and it must make a certain amount of money. Crash met these requirements.

The film crash was a Hollywood success. The term Hollywood success refers to the substantial amount of money, publicity, viewings etcetera the film makes. Crash was viewed world wide by different nations with varying cultures. An audiences race, culture, upbring and nationality are some of many factors that add into how a film is received. Some people may not like a movie that others love. The same is true for crash but it had so many different parts it's as if it were different movies combined, not just one film to like or dislike.
The controversial plot of crash was enjoyed by diverse people for different reasons. Not everyone liked the same parts, but overall most still liked the movie. This element broadened the demographic of the approving audience. Crash was not categorized as a black, white, or other racial film. Each person of every race in the film felt like it was a film from that races perspective. White audiences did not feel like they were watching a black movie, and black audiences didn't feel like they were watching a white movie. Each race could find someone that represented them.
Many could relate to Crash because of its broad depiction of urban and suburban life.
People from different worlds saw their story in relation to each other. This created a general understanding, relationship, and at times sympathy for others where it may not have existed before. Blacks were seen as people with good or bad traits, not as one bit group containing mamies coons, bucks or bruts. People were moved by this film because it showed error in everyones ways rather than pick a target audience, and point the blame at the characters who were different from that group. There were villains in each character that everyone could relate to. Crash highlighted the existing, or potential evil in everyone and this made audiences think critically about the film. Not many films force their audiences to dissect and think about what the creators are trying to say. Crash had this effect because the relationship of all the characters was not revealed until the end of the film. The audience was taken by surprise when the film showed that no matter what race class or gender we are we are all connect and we do not even realize it. Crash minimized the social barrier that people in American society live
by.
These ideas were explained in the reviews the film received. Audiences accepted Crash and made the most popular film of the year. The R rated drama is one hour and forty minutes long. It was released may 6 2005 by Lions Gate, and received a four out of five stars rating. Although some critics say crash deserved five stars.Crash received rave reviews and was one of the the most financially successful films released in 2005. With a budget of $ 6.5 million the film made more than its investment during opening weekend. Opening weekend ticket sales did not disappoint reaching $ 9,107,071. The fill earned $54,580,300 domestically equaling 55.5% of screenings, and 43,829,761 from foreign viewers equaling 44.5% of screenings. That adds up to a worldwide total of $98,410,061in screens income. Many critics who watched the film gave it five stars due to it complex correlation of characters and modern depiction of interrelated lives in the city. The film takes place in Los Angeles and spiral into several different realities of diversified characters. Crash is condoned by many due to its unique approach and unexpected plot style. The film style literally crashes the lives of the characters together. Making different races understand each other, specifically for this course blacks and whites.
White audiences viewed Crash as a lense through which they could see how many of them live their lives in their own blind ways. Many white people look down on people of color, especially those who hold positions of domestic servitude. Many wealthy whites view themselves as above these servants, and often treat them worse than they would treat anyone they deem to be on their level. White audiences saw their own ethnocentrism when sandra bullock's character had no one to depend on but the maid whom she had previously treated poorly. Audiences saw this realization when sandra Bullocks character got hurt and couldn't even call on a friend. Her girlfriend who she considered on her level could not help her when she was injured because she was busy getting a massage. The only one who came to her rescue was the latin maid she had repeatedly disrespected. In that scene whites saw how they have acted toward blacks for hundreds of years. For centuries black men and women took care of the white house hold, from raising crops and children to keeping the house clean, and even preparing the food whites ate. These servants were loyal to their white masters, and later employers for generations despite the horrific and cruel things done to them. In the film the servant was the most loyal to Sandra Bullocks character despite being the person she had treated the worst.

This phenomena has occurred again and again throughout history, rarely is it brought to peoples attention in mainstream films. the role whites of looking undesirable, is usually portrayed by black independent films like Coffy, and Foxy brown, or it is simply the role of the black person in the majority of hollywood films. Blacks were depicted as villains in Crash as well, but they were also given a positive side.
In Crash blacks saw themselves as equal participants in society, but they were still being harassed by white America. According to Yearwood “The paradigm shift in black cinema has now taken full root”. (Yearwood chapter 2 page 65 paragraph 3) This was shown in the car scene with Thandie Newton and Terrence Howard. Thandie Newtons charecter was sexualy asulted in front of her husband, and he did nothing about it. this was a sign to blacks everywhere that racism is still alive and well. Audiences looked at this scene as the power white men still had over black men. Terrence Howard's character was a respectable black man but when it came to standing up to the white officer to protect his wife he failed.
Black audiences were aware of their subservient role, but they were also shown how aggressive and negative they can be. According to Bogle “Gradually, as the Negro performers grew in popularity, there evolved a special platform for displaying the entertainer to his best advantage”. (Bogle chapter 4 page 119 paragraph 4) Ludacris's character was one of the stereotypical view of the black man that had evolved from the time of the cooning negro. Black audiences were angered by his character, but also came to the reolization that he did represent some black men. Not all black men were like Terrence Howard's character, and not all black men were like Ludacris's character. Crash showed a valid representation of all different types of people within the same race, and that is why is was so successful when viewed by different audiences.
As a group we enjoyed the film. We thought it was informative and unique. The issues that occurred in the film are definitely issue that many people deal with today. Many of the characters were relatable and sympathised with many of them. However the film was negative for the majority of the time and that made it difficult to watch. We think the writer should have incorporated more comic relief to level out the sadness.