Starz
(Season 1, Episode 1 – Series Premiere)
You know a show is something when you can remember certain images or scenes long after the show is over. That’s not the case with a lot of shows I watch (and forget about the next day or, worse, right after I watch them).
I watched the premiere of Crash a week ago, and what’s stuck with me is the image of Dennis Hopper‘s character, Ben Cendars — so wild and unpredictable and verging on psychotic. This role is the perfect vehicle for his craziness, whether he’s smoking a cigar while staring out the window of his limo or pulling a knife on a business associate.
Ben’s relationship with his driver, Anthony, seems like a good basis for the show. You’ve got the rich, white record producer and the struggling black driver from South Central, both of whom need each other for various reasons. Maybe Ben will help Anthony get ahead in the world. Maybe Anthony will keep Ben from jumping off a cliff.
Or who knows? Maybe their relationship will implode before it gets that far. It’s probably a good metaphor for life in L.A., where a mix of races and ethnicities blend together in a simmering cauldron ready to explode at a moment’s notice. Or maybe that’s not the case at all. I’m from the Midwest, so what do I know?
While the overall theme of Crash the TV series is similar to Crash the 2004 movie, I don’t know that many, if any, of the original characters return for the TV series. Anthony, maybe? But some are definitely similar. For example, Kenny, played by Ross McCall in the TV show, is similar to Matt Dillon‘s character, John Ryan, in the movie. I’ll have to go back and watch the movie again to refresh my memory.
I’ll definitely keep watching Crash on Starz. Who knows if the other characters will grab me like Dennis Hopper’s, but he’s definitely worth tuning in for. For more on the show, check out my preview here. And for a peek inside the making of the show, check out the production blog on Starz.
Anyone else watching Crash? Any thoughts? Has my infatuation with Dennis Hopper blinded me to the show’s quality (or lack thereof)?
Clacked by Jane Boursaw 
on Oct 18, 2008 @ 19:00 EST5EDT
The relationship between Ben and Doc was particularly interesting…. are they gay, or just co-dependent? I am interested to find out.
*POST AUTHOR*
Derek – That’s a great point. Because one minute, they were kind of squabbling and practically killing each other (or rather, Ben was ready to kill Doc), and then the next minute, they’re taking care of each other.
And at one point, didn’t Ben say something to Anthony that he *wasn’t gay? So maybe he’s either lying or in denial. It’ll be interesting to see where that goes.
Cool show, I liked it. It’s great to see more stories come out of such a great movie. Also, who was the actress who played the female limo driver that quit?
*POST AUTHOR*
xnifex – I believe the actress who played Ben’s female limo driver is Emily Foxler. Recent movies include Grizzly Park, The Lost Tribe, and Killer Pad. Upcoming movies include The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and 16 to Life.
She’s also had parts in How I Met Your Mother, Burn Notice, and CSI:NY.
Her IMDB Page:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2032150/
Crash is going to be good. The clips I have seen look great and Dennis Hopper looks really good in it. I just got his voice for my GPS from Navtones.com. I forgot how cool he was and I can’t wait to watch Crash week in week out!