2008 Woodie Awards
Bill of Rights
The Art of the Car Crash
Bill Rhein
Issue date: 3/18/08 Section: Entertainment
Recently in films, there is a loss of skills when it comes to portraying a car crash. No longer do filmmakers use this device in an artful way. In current US films, crashes involve expensive vehicles slamming into each other in ways that create a disproportionate amount of flames and explosives, such as in "XXX" and "The Fast and the Furious."
There was once a time in Hollywood where the vehicle meant something. Films such as "Bullitt" and "The French Connection" respected cars and created exciting chases. Nowadays, cars simply slam into each other and blow up or have giant robots run right through them. Even a movie titled "Crash" did not have exciting car accidents. Based on a number of movies and their accidents, foreign filmmakers are superior in this skill.
The first example comes from the year 2000 in Alejandro González Iñárritu's film "Amores Perros." The story is broken into three arcs all surrounding a horrific car accident. This Hispanic film is in itself a wonderful movie, but the car crash that links the events is spectacularly raw.
It opens following Gael Garcia Bernal's character as he is trying to get his dog to the hospital. For the sake of not spoiling the film, I will not reveal more. However, the coming crash jolts viewers. It comes come out of nowhere and can cause those watching to shout "Oi!," because it is so vicious. It is painful to watch, but it is not predictable and happens so realistically that the movie forcefully draws in viewers. This is a perfect example of what a car crash should be like.
The next artful car crash comes from the Danish film "Elsker dig for evigt," which translates to "Open Hearts." This film comes from the year 2002 and is an example of a Dogme film, which is an avant-garde or purist style of filmmaking. To receive credit as a Dogme film, directors must follow a strict set of rules that ensure the film is realistic by restricting the resources the director has.
Susanne Bier, the unaccredited director, slightly broke the rule concerning the prohibiting of spectacular events when she put a car accident in this movie. However, this incident is crucial to the film and is the moment that shakes the viewer.
There was once a time in Hollywood where the vehicle meant something. Films such as "Bullitt" and "The French Connection" respected cars and created exciting chases. Nowadays, cars simply slam into each other and blow up or have giant robots run right through them. Even a movie titled "Crash" did not have exciting car accidents. Based on a number of movies and their accidents, foreign filmmakers are superior in this skill.
The first example comes from the year 2000 in Alejandro González Iñárritu's film "Amores Perros." The story is broken into three arcs all surrounding a horrific car accident. This Hispanic film is in itself a wonderful movie, but the car crash that links the events is spectacularly raw.
It opens following Gael Garcia Bernal's character as he is trying to get his dog to the hospital. For the sake of not spoiling the film, I will not reveal more. However, the coming crash jolts viewers. It comes come out of nowhere and can cause those watching to shout "Oi!," because it is so vicious. It is painful to watch, but it is not predictable and happens so realistically that the movie forcefully draws in viewers. This is a perfect example of what a car crash should be like.
The next artful car crash comes from the Danish film "Elsker dig for evigt," which translates to "Open Hearts." This film comes from the year 2002 and is an example of a Dogme film, which is an avant-garde or purist style of filmmaking. To receive credit as a Dogme film, directors must follow a strict set of rules that ensure the film is realistic by restricting the resources the director has.
Susanne Bier, the unaccredited director, slightly broke the rule concerning the prohibiting of spectacular events when she put a car accident in this movie. However, this incident is crucial to the film and is the moment that shakes the viewer.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
JT$
posted 3/18/08 @ 9:24 PM PST
I think Hollywood car crashes are unique in their own aspect. America is all about the white picket fence, and that thing parked behind it...umm a car, and typically a really nice one. (Continued…)
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