# Crash: Did I miss something **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 25, 2006, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132 "2006-04-25T13:15:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robdavsuss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@robdavsuss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robdavsuss)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/1 "2006-04-25T13:15:01Z")
I finally saw Crash this weekend. It seemed to me that it was mostly people milling around in and out of each others lives, while making racial slurs. It was a good movie with great performances from just about everyone. But did I miss something in the story (which there didn’t really seem to be). ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/2 "2006-04-25T13:40:30Z")
You missed whether or not the daughter knew she was buying blanks. She knew. No, I don’t think you really missed anything. “People milling around in and out of each others lives, while making racial slurs” is about as apt a description of the film as any I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/3 "2006-04-25T14:16:29Z")
No, the daughter did _not_ know about the blanks. There was a quite lively and interesting thread about “Crash” within the past month. You should search for it. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/4 "2006-04-25T14:30:52Z")
she looked right at the box and said I want those, the clerk asked do you know what those are and she said yes ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/5 "2006-04-25T15:06:13Z")
Now now, children, I thought we put the “did she know they were blanks or not?” debate to bed. But since it’s been brought up, what do you think, **robdavsuss**? In answer to your question, it sounds like you got exactly what one should get out of a movie; enjoyment. If its intended message about racism touched you in any meaningful way, that’s an added bonus. If you simply dug it becasue Thandi Newton looked hot, that’ cool too. Were you expecting more because of all the hype? I know I was hoping to be blown away and when I finally saw it ( just a few weeks ago)it pretty much lived up to my expectations. Other films that have received massive acclaim (hello English Patient, you insufferable bore)didn’t do a thing for me. ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/6 "2006-04-25T15:08:14Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Now now, children, I thought we put the “did she know they were blanks or not?” debate to bed. But since it’s been brought up, what do you think, **robdavsuss**? > > In answer to your question, it sounds like you got exactly what one should get out of a movie; enjoyment. If its intended message about racism touched you in any meaningful way, that’s an added bonus. If you simply dug it becasue Thandi Newton looked hot, that’ cool too. Were you expecting more because of all the hype? I know I was hoping to be blown away and when I finally saw it ( just a few weeks ago)it pretty much lived up to my expectations. Other films that have received massive acclaim (hello English Patient, you insufferable bore)didn’t do a thing for me. Here’s the [Great Blanks Debate](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=365754&highlight=Crash) for all to enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/7 "2006-04-25T15:58:46Z")
> [@Mr. Duality](#): > > No, the daughter did _not_ know about the blanks. > > There was a quite lively and interesting thread about “Crash” within the past month. You should search for it. They’re still arguing that? Are people really so deaf to story conventions? :rolleyes: It’s 100% clear that she did, and you really have to be clueless to argue otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/8 "2006-04-25T16:00:47Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > It’s 100% clear that she did No, she didn’t! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/9 "2006-04-25T16:20:01Z")
The film is basically an overwrought and less interesting retooling of [Grand Canyon](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101969/). Save that it came in a year of mediocre films I can’t see why it deserves such reverence. Holy crap; #84 on the [IMDb.com](http://IMDb.com) Top 250 list? People are easily impressed, I guess. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/10 "2006-04-25T16:25:14Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > They’re still arguing that? Are people really so deaf to story conventions? :rolleyes: It’s 100% clear that she did, and you really have to be clueless to argue otherwise. No, it is a \*fact \* of the story that she knew they were blanks, as revealed by the director in his commentary. It is absolutely _not_ 100% _clear_that she did, or there wouldn’t be so many people that interpreted it otherwise. :rolleyes: right back at ya. How insulting do you get when you’re debating something of real importance, \*\*Reality Chuck \*\* ? ---
**Author:** ![robdavsuss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@robdavsuss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robdavsuss)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/11 "2006-04-25T17:11:50Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Now now, children, I thought we put the “did she know they were blanks or not?” debate to bed. But since it’s been brought up, what do you think, **robdavsuss**? > > In answer to your question, it sounds like you got exactly what one should get out of a movie; enjoyment. If its intended message about racism touched you in any meaningful way, that’s an added bonus. If you simply dug it becasue Thandi Newton looked hot, that’ cool too. Were you expecting more because of all the hype? I know I was hoping to be blown away and when I finally saw it ( just a few weeks ago)it pretty much lived up to my expectations. Other films that have received massive acclaim (hello English Patient, you insufferable bore)didn’t do a thing for me. After thinking about the movie, yes, I think she knew they were blanks. She was pretty adamant about buying the red box. By the way, who played the daughter… she sure is pretty. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/12 "2006-04-25T17:19:15Z")
[Bahar Soomekh](http://imdb.com/name/nm1587232/) played the daughter who knew she was buying blanks. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/13 "2006-04-25T17:31:59Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > No, she didn’t! Yes, she did. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/14 "2006-04-25T19:43:22Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > she looked right at the box and said I want those, the clerk asked do you know what those are and she said yes - What kind of ammunition do you want? - Whatever fits. -We got a lot of kinds. We got long colts, short colts, bull heads, flat nose, hollow points, wide cutters, and a dozen more that’ll fit any size hole. Just depends upon how much bang you can handle. -I’ll take the ones in the red box. - You know what those are? - Can I have them? ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/15 "2006-04-25T20:46:46Z")
I’m pretty sure the only reason that screenwriter didn’t have the the gun shop owner explicitly say, “You know these are blanks, right? And you still want them?” was to maintain the audience’s surprise at the ending. Looked like it worked. ---
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/16 "2006-04-25T20:56:09Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > … It is absolutely _not_ 100% _clear_that she did, or there wouldn’t be so many people that interpreted it otherwise. :rolleyes: right back at ya. … Maybe **RealityChuck** meant ‘it’s 100% clear [to those listening to the director’s commentary] that she knew’ … Which may not be accurate either… It seems odd to me that once the “what did the movie-makers intend” issue is resolved, people still get so heated up over the “how did you interpret it”, or “how well was it conveyed”. (Not you, **WOOKINPANUB** , but a lot of responses in the other thread and here.) And back to the OP: Yes, you definitely missed something. Unless you never blink. –KidScruffy ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/17 "2006-04-25T21:02:19Z")
> [@KidScruffy](#): > > Maybe **RealityChuck** meant ‘it’s 100% clear [to those listening to the director’s commentary] that she knew’ … Which may not be accurate either… > > It seems odd to me that once the “what did the movie-makers intend” issue is resolved, people still get so heated up over the “how did you interpret it”, or “how well was it conveyed”. (Not you, **WOOKINPANUB** , but a lot of responses in the other thread and here.) > > And back to the OP: Yes, you definitely missed something. Unless you never blink. > > –KidScruffy I agree, there really isn’t much more to say once the director gives the definitive answer. Just thought **Reality Chuck** was being rather snarky considering how many people did not understand it the way the director intended them to. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/18 "2006-04-25T21:18:55Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I agree, there really isn’t much more to say once the director gives the definitive answer. Just thought **Reality Chuck** was being rather snarky considering how many people did not understand it the way the director intended them to. Sure, the director says X, but what he was really saying is Y. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/19 "2006-04-26T00:55:33Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I agree, there really isn’t much more to say once the director gives the definitive answer. Meh. The meaning of any work of art depends as much upon the viewer interpreting the art as it does the artist. Once an artist releases the work its meaning no longer belongs to him. Director be damned. No way she knew. 🙂 Anyway, to the op. The movie wasn’t really about anything in the sense of one consistent plotline. It was more several overlapping short stories exploring similar themes of prejudgements based on superficial features and how each of us, including the most well intentioned, do it, how we each deal with that, and how the most overt racist can have a positive side as well. Throw in a little bit of how many of use race as a clumsy way to lash out in anger, and themes of isolation within crowds, and you got a movie. A great movie? Nah. But neither was Brokeback or anything else this year. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132/20 "2006-04-26T08:24:03Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Meh. > > The meaning of any work of art depends as much upon the viewer interpreting the art as it does the artist. Once an artist releases the work its meaning no longer belongs to him. Director be damned. No way she knew. 🙂 The director messed up by not making it clear that she knew. The _point_ is that her _father_ didn’t know. The daughter really is a tertiary character: she wasn’t shown to have any racially-based predudices, nor did she face any consequences from them. My view on “ownership” of released art is that the artist retains 51% ownership. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-did-i-miss-something/354132.md?page=2)