fine, not certainly not best of the year.

Rating: 7/10 (8 June 2005)

i think ron howard is a gifted filmmaker. and i think russel crowe is a very good actor (he really does need to calm the hell down off camera, though -- sheesh) but this was not a *10* or even a *9* in my book. i think the primary reason for it is that i never quite believed any of the characters. somehow no one got under the skin of the story. i don't know whether it was the screenwriter's fault or howard's, but i never felt really committed to any of the characters -- ever.
certainly, there were rousing moments - especially the last title bout. but the labored lead-in was painful. and the oft mentioned powerful emotional interludes fell 70% flat for me.
Crowe is an incredibly charming presence - but that alone can't carry a film.
for my money, if you're looking at moderate to big budget Hollywood movies this summer, CRASH was head and shoulders above Cinderalla Man