It’s hard to see a movie after it’s reached the level of hype and acclaim that comes with being named Best Picture. Crash couldn’t (and didn’t) match up to such expectations. Some vignettes stand out, but the weaving of different lives into a single message (race is still an issue in America, with no easy answers) left me erraticly impressed.
I’ve now seen three of the five 2005 Best Picture nominees. I’d like to see Capote, but I think I’ll read In Cold Blood first. Munich, by contrast, doesn’t interest me very much. I never heard a single person talk about it. How can a film of such assumed brilliance not even make a single ripple in my network? I’m not strongly dialed in on entertainment, of course, but all the others warranted at least a comment from a colleague or friend. Spielberg + serious topic = nomination?
Crash’s Metacritic score of 69 is lower than I would expect for a Best Picture winner. You need an 82 to reach the top 200 ever, which is (to my eye) a mixed list. (Face/Off at #199?) Million Dollar Baby (2004 Best Picture) earned an 86, and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003 Best Picture) notched a 94, tied for third in that top 200 list.