The 2006 Academy Award winner for Best Motion Picture of the Year, "Crash" was a layered pastiche of Los Angeles-based racially-tinged pathos and angst, culminating in some heavy handed epiphanies for the players in director and producer Paul Haggis’ slightly overwrought existential drama.
07/24/2008 - Dennis Hopper - star of "Crash" on Starz- Arrivals - El Capitan Theater - Hollywood, CA, USA © Glenn Harris / PR Photos
Co-produced with Lionsgate, Starz is rolling out a smallscreen version of “Crash” based on the movie, and it’s strictly for the adults.
Lots of sexual tension, language, nudity and drug use to be had. The 13 episode drama series is shown exclusively on Starz and features an all-star cast that includes a particularly vile character, record mogul Ben Cendars, played by Dennis Hopper.
courtesy Starz
The first episode of the show is a rude and raucous introduction to Hopper’s Ben, who is as gross as they come and quite realistic I might add, having worked in the music industry as a young assistant during the pre-Anita Hill Clarence Thomas go-go mid-eighties. Sexual harassment and rampant office drug abuse were as common as wildfires in the L.A. fall.
"Ben" courtesy Starz
Hopper nails this currently “fallow” troll perfectly, as he threatens his female driver, and tries to unnerve a brother looking to replace her, hustler Anthony Adams (Jocko Sims).
"Crash" takes the basic ideas of the movie, but veers off into new territory. The writing staff is led by "The Shield" scribe (and producer) Glen Mazzara, and it shows in the gritty dialogue.
The original producers are here as well, Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco and Don Cheadle, but there are no further similarities to the film.
What appealed to me were the steamy side stories of the Los Angeles police officers who are all being drawn into liaisons that fly in the face of their marriages.
"Arlene and Axel" courtesy Starz
An affair for female officer Arlene (Bebe Arcel) goes against her best interests -personally and for her career. Her tainted Lieutenant lover Axel (Nick E. Tarabay) is one of the most electric and compelling bad boys to be brought to life in a script, and Tarabay's performance as Nick in this series will be the one to watch.
Arlene’s married partner Kenny, (Ross McCall) just nails the rush of pure chemical romance and lust with his sudden fierce desire for a woman he hits in traffic accidentally.
"Inez" courtesy Starz
Inez (Moran Atias) is a feisty sexual siren who is married herself and squares off in taunting this horny cop hell-bent on having her. She is no pushover and presents him a real challenge that only fuels his passion for her. Their scenes are hot.
The gang life gets an Asian twist with “K Town” ex bad boy, Korean EMT (Brian Tee) who has climbed out of the abyss only to be dragged back in against his will; a rich white couple (D.B. Sweeney and Clare Carey) face dealing with an ailing parent and living beyond their means, a common ailment in many affluent communities these days in this premiere episode.
Again, Dennis Hopper steals the scene so far in this very adult series, but Nick E. Tarabay and Ross McCall are on his heels.
Adults only. Recommended. (Friday, October 17 at 10 pm on Starz)
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