Avengers: Age of Ultron

The Avengers: Age of Ultron; Darker and less fun than one. Excellent character moments seek deeper emotional depths but make mood dour; A-

Crash

Directed by:  David Cronenberg
Starring:  James Spader, Deborah Kara Unger, Elias Koteas, Holly Hunter
Running Time:  1h 37min

It's unfortunate that this film was the center of so much controversy for all the wrong reasons.  The sex scenes, which there are plenty, aren't what should be censored or argued over.  They are actually done in good taste, very intricate and alluring in their  harshness and realism.  This is no soft porn.  This is a film that has a deep underlying meaning.  As to what it is, I'm not sure after one viewing.  I can see conflictions between man and machine, love and danger, death and passion.  The place of excitement and orgasm within all of that.  The concepts of power and control and survival.  It's all there.  But putting it together is a task which the movie, though beautifully shot and acted, still seems muddy on first view.  But a good one at that.

Grade: B-