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Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 1917
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 11:57 am: | 
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March 6, 2006
More Myths About About Blacks and Racist Cops
A Second Look at "Crash"
By NATE MEZMER
Last night at the Academy Awards "Crash" took home the Oscar for best picture. The film starring Matt Dillon and Terrence Howard (Hustle and Flow) has been acredited with deconstructing the race issue in America by exposing the human frailties of its multi-racial cast of characters.
Indeed at first glance this collision course of incredible coincidence seems to push the limits by painting a provocative and ground breaking picture of race relations in the city of Los Angeles. However when everything is said and done, "Crash" is nearly as safe a flick as "Gone With The Wind."
Just as it has been done for years in Hollywood, the roll of the black male in this movie is quickly reduced to that of weakness and ignorance. At every turn, the black man is portrayed as either powerless or out of control (Howard) while the white man gets away with murder, and more specifically in Dillon's case, saves the day (that is, saves the life of a black women he initially harasses both racially and sexually).
Furthermore Dillon's cop character is classic American myth!
Although it is established early on that he is deeply flawed, it is ultimately suggested that his sins are to be forgiven due to his heroics. Because Dillon's character is never held accountable for his repugnance and moreover in the end romanticized, "Crash" does more to uphold the subconscious structures of white supremacy than destroy them.
If you have seen "Crash" and disagree with this synopsis I challenge you to watch it again and re-analyze what is so different about this movie in regards to race? It may not be as traditional an approach as the "Legend of Bagger Vance," but it does not do much to actually test the underlying themes of racism in hollywood nor America.
In the end, acceptance and accolades for such a cinematic statement could be very harmful if left unchecked.
Think about it.
Nate Mezmer is a hip-hop artist. His debut album "Kill the Precedent" was released on Mad 7 Records in 2005. He can be reached at: natemezmer@tmail.com
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4443
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 12:05 pm: |
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Chris,
I agree with Mezmer's thesis.
And I think Mezmer's analysis was similarly characterized in "Monster Ball". Is it any wonder why "Ball" featured a love affair between a Black woman and a racist White man resulting in conferring the Best Actress Oscar to a woman of Black/White descent? |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 927
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 12:09 pm: |
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Um....and what was the role of the Black woman in "Crash"? Please. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4445
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 12:17 pm: |
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Yvettep,
Well. By the look of Thandie Newton's character (Terrance Howard character's wife), be sexual vulnerable to but then rescued by a White man (Matt Dillon's character), clearly supporting the argument that no matter how White men abuse them, Black women need White men to survive. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4446
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 12:18 pm: |
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Yvettep,
...A LOT of the very same kinds of messages were enforced during slavery, as I'm sure you know. |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 930
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 12:20 pm: |
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...and what about the Black crackhead mama...or the sassy heavy Black gov'ment-type worker...
In fact, this movie is mainly about manhood and race/ethnicity. For example, we get very little insight into Sandra Bullock's character or the shop keeper's daughter. |
Sisg
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Sisg
Post Number: 251
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 12:52 pm: |
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The author made some good points..but i wouldn't generalize or over analyze the black man's role in this movie...he references only Terrence Howards role, but ignores the roles played by Don Cheadle, Larenz Tate and Ludicrous...was the movie meant to deconstruct our beliefs about racism in America, or was it meant to wake some people the hell up!
You know it's not Black people going around saying racism don't exist...its them, and no matter how they try...making the white man the heroe...or whatever, none of his previous actions, murder, sexual offensive behavior, or todays beating of yet another black man goes unnoticed...at least not in the Black community.
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Misty
Veteran Poster
Username: Misty
Post Number: 60
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 12:59 pm: |
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i think the movie was made to represent the multidimensions that every human being has. It shows that jsut because a person is racist doesn't mean they're always capable of letting someone die just because they're black. There are several layers to racism. It also shows that because a man may be an uncle tom in certain situations doesn't mean he won't stand up for himself in others (as in terrence howarsd case)or that he is a tom all the way around.
for instance, the white guy was racist but he also saved a black persons life and he actually did suffer for what he did in the movie. His racism is what made the black female government worker allow his father to die. So in this case the movie was basically showing how your own racism can hurt you. |
Renata
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 833
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 04:20 pm: |
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I saw it more as a guide on how to pass your frustrations and issues onto the next person. |
Doberman23
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 198
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 04:40 pm: |
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renata i agree with your analysis, i thought it was excallent film. i gave it out as stocking stuffers for xmas. each character was given a smidgen of time otherwise it wouldn't have been a movie and been a series ... it was the best film of the year and it desrved it's award. |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 1826
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 08:09 pm: |
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CONFESSION:
I really despised "BrokeBack Mountain" from a womanist point of view.
I'm not against homosexuality or gay love stories at all. I encourage those depictions (as 98% of the depictions we see are of STRAIGHT people).
But I found it impossible to get past these men being MARRIED to women, no matter how the film tried to explain it....
and on top of that, if they had been black, they would be accused of the "Downlow"....but because they're WHITE, then it's a sensitive love story????
I didn't like CRASH either, but I really didn't like Brokeback.
Kola
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4116
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 08:46 pm: |
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Sometimes we can't see the trees for the forest, always looking for a message instead of taking things at their face value. Maybe this film was just a slice of life that lived up to its name by depicting a clash of cultures, in general, and people, in particular. Blah blah blah, Thank you Cynique. Anyhoo, I don't know why I didn't check this film out when I had a bootleg CD available but I am lookin forward to watching it soon. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4449
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 02:13 am: |
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Kola,
So you believe that married bisexuals should ALWAYS tell their spouses they have homosexual feelings?
Cynique,
Buying and viewing bootleg media is tantamount to being an accessory to a crime. |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 1829
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 02:41 am: |
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ABM,
I wish the fuck Thomas would be having a LOVE AFFAIR with another man.
That wasn't part of our goddamned agreement.
When he came in my bed, he promised to love ONLY ME....and that his sex was available....ONLY TO ME.
And mines him.
Other than me bringing co-wives during my pregnancies, we had a VOW only to one another. No outsiders.
And YES....if you're "bisexual", you damn sure better let me know. Because I don't lay with bisexual men.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4450
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 02:58 am: |
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Kola,
What do you think about bisexuality, in general?
You believe bisexual people should marry? |
Stephgirl
Regular Poster
Username: Stephgirl
Post Number: 35
Registered: 09-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 12:42 pm: |
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Let's not forget the colorism in the movie as well as the director's obsession with black sexualtiy, whether is between Newton's and Howard's character. Or, the interracial relationship between Chedle and Episito charcter. They were shown naked in bed together. Similar to "Jungle Fever." Also, the implied IR between Karen and the white DA that made his wife extremely jealous. Let's discuss that.
Stephanie |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 1832
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 12:47 pm: |
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Abm, I believe the scientists who say that ALL HUMANS are born "bisexual" by nature.....and then society induces a moral code, thereby controlling and dictating our sexual preferences.
I have no opposition to bisexual people, other than...I don't want to be in a relationship with one.
I am straight and I need a straight male.
Because of the way men are socialized and rewarded for promiscuity--I can't deal with the additional dilemna of bisexuality. Something I have little interest in.
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Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 1833
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 12:56 pm: |
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Let's not forget the colorism in the movie as well as the director's obsession with black sexualtiy, whether is between Newton's and Howard's character. Or, the interracial relationship between Chedle and Episito charcter. They were shown naked in bed together. Similar to "Jungle Fever." Also, the implied IR between Karen and the white DA that made his wife extremely jealous. Let's discuss that.
Stephanie
That's why I HATED "Crash", Stephanie, because once again....the message is that black people aren't fully human unless they're having sex with white people.
I also don't consider Thandie Newton (who is African) a black woman----she's biracial, and in REAL LIFE, she deals EXCLUSIVELY with White men ONLY, just like the singer SADE does----so it's infuriating that black men constantly whine and bitch over the loss of a Half-white Mulatto woman (because of her white blood), but wouldn't give a shit if Matt Dillon were stealing an authentic black beauty (the kind that creates black people) like Roshumba.
Black people are so RETARDED...they don't even know what power is.
And Roshumba = genetic power that Thandie Newton could never hope to match.
But in our niggerish idiocy, we can't see that--and the reason we can't see it, is because black people don't WANT to be black.
The white man wins any way you slice it.
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Schakspir
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Schakspir
Post Number: 198
Registered: 12-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 01:30 pm: |
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"I wish the fuck Thomas would be having a LOVE AFFAIR with another man.
That wasn't part of our goddamned agreement.
When he came in my bed, he promised to love ONLY ME....and that his sex was available....ONLY TO ME.
And mines him.
Other than me bringing co-wives during my pregnancies, we had a VOW only to one another. No outsiders.
And YES....if you're "bisexual", you damn sure better let me know. Because I don't lay with bisexual men."
Oh, Jesus. WHO CARES??
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Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 1837
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 01:37 pm: |
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You reprinted the WHOLE THING, Schakspir,
so apparently YOU DO.
You're the dumbest cluck in the truck.
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Schakspir
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Schakspir
Post Number: 199
Registered: 12-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 01:58 pm: |
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I could reprint any number of things you've posted on this board, and the substance of each of them would be absolutely the same. That is why I asked "WHO CARES". You're like a broken record, endlessly repeating yourself until the listener wants to scream. This is exactly what the insane and the self-obsessed do. I've had ample experience with both of these types to know what I'm talking about. |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 1840
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 02:47 pm: |
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YOOOO--HOOOOO,
Oh Schakspir.
THE BLACK WORLD TODAY just announced their 10 books you should read for SPRING 2006.
Kola Boof "Diary of a Lost Girl" was #1....and my love, Michael Eric Dyson's new book was #8.
But they got my book cover wrong!
http://www.tbwt.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=689&Itemid=40
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Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 1841
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 02:48 pm: |
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Scream all you want, BOY.
Cause you talked CASH SHIT about me being NO TALENT nothing----a cocksucker, etc.
But you gotta admit....GIRL GOT GAME.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4128
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 03:24 pm: |
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Kola is the poster girl for egomania, Shakspir, and if this was pointed out to her by a best-selling author like Toni Morrison, Kola would immediately accuse Morrison of being JEALOUS of her. I knew what I was doing when I vowed to not read her book which as it now turns out is over 400 pages long! I can't imagine wanting to read even FOUR pages on the subject of Kola Boof. LOL |
Serenasailor
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 330
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 07:52 pm: |
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Did you notice how the only real IR was between Matt Dillon character and Thandie Newton's. There relationship in the movie was made to look beautiful. Now, I also noticed that when it comes to IR relationships in the movie's between a white man and a Black woman the black woman is always half-black. As if to say, no descent well respecting white man would ever get with a full blooded black woman. That was the stereotypical Jezebel chacter. The movies have always shown romantic liasons between white men and black woman, but only if the woman is half-black.
Now on the other hand you have Don Cheadle's character. Notice he is a very dark-skinned black man. The movies see nothing wrong with putting a very dark-skinned black man and a white woman together(Sidney Poitier and all of his movie's, Wesley Snipes in all of his movie's, and Taye Diggs). That is just a way of saying that white man having better taste and more loyalty to their race, than white women. Therefore, it is a white man's duty to protect white women since they have such poor judgement.
I did not like the movie because of Ludacris's character. It was just plain "stupid and wrong". They were trying to say that all Black Militants are criminals and hypocrites. Of course Ludacris had no problem with it. He is just another simple-minded rapper trying to wet his feet in the acting pool. |
Serenasailor
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 331
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 07:58 pm: |
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Also, if anything they should have given beautiful Nona Gaye's character more lines. I think she is ten times as pretty as (white woman dipped in chocolate) Thandie Newton. Also, Kola I don't understand why you only mention really dark-skinned African featured women as being beautiful. When there are beautiful brown-skinned, AUTHENTIC looking, black woman. I don't see you going "to bat" for women such as Gabrielle Union, Nona Gaye, Aisha Tyler, Nia Long, and Sanaa Lathan. Now those are beautiful, authentic looking, black women! |
Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 2045
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 08:51 pm: |
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Serenasailor,
"I don't see you going "to bat" for women such as Gabrielle Union, Nona Gaye, Aisha Tyler, Nia Long, and Sanaa Lathan. Now those are beautiful, authentic looking, black women!"
Are you kidding?? Kola goes to bat for and talk about these women all the time. You probably haven't heard her because you haven't been here long enough.
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Doberman23
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 201
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 02:53 pm: |
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i have to disagree with you guys... the purpose of thadie's character was to make it seem as thought she was a white girl when the cops seen her at first glance, if it had been a darker skinned woman than dillon's character wouldn't have been so upset by it and possibly not have even pulled them over. both her and terrance character then went at each other trying to call each other sell-outs, this wouldn't have been as effective if one of the characters where darker skinned, because like all of YOU COLORIST on here, the argument would've been "oh since i'm darker that automatically makes me more black" but the writers/directors didn't make it that easy.
secondly jennifer espistios character is of latin descent not a white woman ... this movie is showing california life...believe it or not there are TONS of black/latino relationships in california, they are depicting california life!
nona gaye...whom was having an affair with her white boss in the movie, is slightly lighter than don cheadale. loretta devine's character wasn't sassy or some mean bitch, she was someone who was in a postion to treat dillon's character the way you or I would probably be treating a racist asshole (it was the writer's way of showing karma)... by the way devines character was dark skinned if you hadn't noticed.
serenasailor you should totally understand ludacris's character ...it is of a black person who complains and complains about shit not being right but does all the wrong things. i know i'm not the only one who has relatives/friends/aquaintences who have robbed people, sold or used drugs, dropped out of school, and yet have the nerves to blame all of their problems on racism when they we're their own enemy. at the end he set the chinesse slaves free so at least he was able to do "something...instead of just talking about it"
the story was written brilliantly and the acting was outstanding ... as i stated before if they had more time to go into everyones character in detail then it would not be a movie it would be a series like "lost". |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4138
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 03:22 pm: |
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One thing for sure, Crash's upset win is pissing off the gay mafia in Hollywod, who just knew "Broke Back Mountain" or even "Capote" was going to win, and these gripers are claiming that the real message Crash is sending is a homophobic one. The compelling thing about this movie is that as SisGal noted it is multi-layered and each viewer relates to it from a personal perspective. Bottom line, "Crash" is yet another example of "art imitating life". |
Libralind2
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 326
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 08:42 pm: |
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Doberman23 writes: i know i'm not the only one who has relatives/friends/aquaintences who have robbed people, sold or used drugs, dropped out of school, and yet have the nerves to blame all of their problems on racism when they we're their own enemy.
Yesterday the program I run in low income housing was robbed. They took computers, a boom box, resource materials, snacks for the kids..every peice of candy, arts and crafts, videos and a TV which I got back but it was tore up. I was told by a few folks the reason I was targeted was they didnt get paid by the owner of the complex. 1. the owner of the complex has NOTHING to do with my program except to donate the space. 2. The owner of course, is white. 3. All they did was hurt children we serve in the community.
You NAILED it Doberman. I also thought Crash was brilliant.
LiLi |
Brownbeauty123
Newbie Poster
Username: Brownbeauty123
Post Number: 2
Registered: 03-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 09, 2006 - 01:22 am: |
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I didn't like Terrance Howard's portrayal in the movie.
There was a scene where Terrance is being told by this white guy that he needs to change a few storylines so that the black actor can have more of a ghetto accent i.e Ebonics. Okaaay, who is this white guy supposed to be and what is his position? If I'm not mistaken, wasn't Terrance's character supposed to be this high power-driven, and succesful director/producer? I understand the politics that whiteman=superior, and therefore anyone who is not nonwhite must succomb to whatever. But it's just the fact that Terrance agreed to change the storyline without a struggle at all! He simply did it, without question. I found that quite irritating.
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Doberman23
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 207
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 09, 2006 - 12:40 pm: |
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BB
if you understand the politics then you understand that you have to play the game or cash out. everyone has a boss, do you think the writers wanted "J.J." to holler out dynamite every episode. obviously this was terrances boss in the movie, it is hollywood... when your not willing to play the game then there are 50 people ready to take your spot ...so that's why you didn't see his character put up that much of a fight, sometimes you have to suck it up and drive on. if his character had more pull then it would've been a different story, not to mention ... some people aren't fighters they avoid confrontation until they are down to their last nerve... watch the movie again ... this was how that character was portrayed, he did an excellent job in the film. |
Jenn
Newbie Poster
Username: Jenn
Post Number: 12
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 03:28 pm: |
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"Also, if anything they should have given beautiful Nona Gaye's character more lines."
Wasn't about to happen. You can't have a powerful white man in love with - or even sleeping with - a beautiful, intelligent black woman, ESPECIALLY with a white wife at home. That's why "Crash" rang so false to me. We're talking race relations here, and we're supposed to be so honest and deep, but Haggis is too scared to show what's going on between the D.A. of Los Angeles and his assistant? He KNEW that straw would've broken the camel's back. Haggis must be kicking himself now to see what an opportunity he squandered. On the DVD commentary, he commented on how surprised he was that so many people were question Rick's affair with Karen. |
Doberman23
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 279
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 03:33 pm: |
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shut up jenn your named after alcohol! just kidding, but the movie deserved to win it's award and if u thought another movie was better then .... maybe next year. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4293
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 08:47 pm: |
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Dobernman: "shut up jenn your named after alcohol!"
Cynique: ROTFLOL. I know you think I'm jockin you, Doberman, but I find your little remarks sooo funny. BTW, I'll finally be checkin "Crash" out tonight, because it's now availabe for free on "On Demand" cable. |
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