Rating of
3/4
Crash (1996) review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 11/29/12
Understanding and appreciating a David Cronenberg film can either be frustrating or enjoyable. This would depend if one has seen most of his films. A psychological drama based on a novel whose main characters are James Ballard (James Spader), a film producer, and his wife, Catherine (Deborah Kara Unger), who both are in a marriage were they openly can make love to different partners. Clearly whenever they "do it" one is not fully satisfied. James has an accident and Dr. Helen Remington (Holly Hunter) is involved. Vaughan (Elias Koteas) becomes fascinated with the physical injuries of James and Gabrielle (Rosanna Arquette) will be fancied by James. The performances were solid, car crashes so authentic and pace just right. Soundtrack was descent though you would rather focus on the plot and figures.
Most would probably say this was all about crashes, sex and exchanging partners. In certain cases, one has to follow the lines to make you appreciate a film. According to Vaughn - "Reshaping of the human body by modern technology." and "fertilizing rather than a destructive event, mediating the sexuality of those who have died with an intensity that's impossible in any other form." Understanding the film in this critics perception, its also about finding that certain rush or spark to keep the marriage or a relationship going. It also emphasizes fetishes and obsessions, for Vaughn it's car crashes, Catherine satisfaction and curiosity while for James its seeing the act, or experimenting. Also, in this reviewers mind, it's all about contentment and passion for something. At first one would "see" it's all about sex and car crashes wherein fact, its a lot more when you think about it and knowing the mind of Cronenberg, which is a revolving theme in most of his films. Crash is a well made film despite it's controversies surrounding it's output.
