Keith rented the movie "Crash" over the weekend. He didn't know what it was about - just that it had the actor James Spader in it and he knows I like James Spader. Well, - I like his work, I obviously don't know the actor very well, well actually, not at all. And after viewing the film, I am torn as to whether or not I would really want to. (On the other hand it took real courage and talent to pull off this kind of film so maybe "Way ta' go James" would be appropriate?)
Anyway---this is a very, ahem, unusual movie. In a nutshell, it involves folks who like the thrill/emotional charge of the car crash and combine that sensation with, you ready for this? - yes, - sex. And the more gruesome the crash, the better. These folks even try to reenact some of the more "famous" Hollywood car crashes, such as those of James Dean and Jane Mansfield.
What can I say? The movie really was intriguing, but I could not, for the life of me, tell you why. It had marvelous editing and mood (not sure what type) setting photography, etc.,---but,-- that is not exactly the reason I was interested. I honestly don't know what it was that captivated a bit of me, and I sincerely hope I did not find the movie intriguing for the same reason as the players in the movie found the violence of the auto-crash intriguing. Scary thought, Journi. Very Scary Thought! Especially since I really don't understand what the movie players found appealing about flaming, ripping, twisted metal, flesh and death.
And Keith, of course, was ready to turn the movie off after the first 5 minutes of play whereas I, on the hand, persisted to the violent end. And then I felt compelled to discussed the film with several co-workers this morning and a few bosses this afternoon. There was a mixed consensus from my interviewees that had also experienced this movie. And an interesting theme emerged for the storyline as we talked more and more. Something along the line that in some way the car had become an extension of the man; that somehow, the natural, next evolutionary step for mankind would be to the mechanical, and that somehow all this was connected to the act of sex?
But then, I still don't get it! I also would not recommend it to anyone easily offended, because I almost was. I say almost because then I remembered that it had been the choice of my mate (and boy did he regret it!) to select and bring this film into our home and it had been my choice to watch it to its bitter end - Yup! No one to blame but me. And it really was a definite departure from character for me to watch such a film. Even Keith was amazed at his cowardly little wife (oh, and I use the wordlittle figuratively, sadly enough) and how she sat through a film of such content and gore.
And do you know? I wonder if maybe, something inside of me, was feeling just a little too smug, complacent and condensed in her life-style and it was that little something that pushed me to, just this once, depart so far outside of my own character. Either way, I am happy for the experience - even if it is one that I would not repeat by choice!
Well, you will have to excuse me now. I have work to do and I must get it done in time to get out of this office before the videostore runs out of the latest copy of "Beauty and the Beast" (Disney version,of course!).
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