Ebert gave four stars and named it the best film of 2005, believing it could increase sympathy for others.
The discussion speculates that Ebert’s interracial marriage may have made its everyone-has-bias argument resonate; this is conjecture about his motive.
Ebert’s defense preferred Crash to Brokeback and praised challenging self-congratulating liberals and minority viewers.
Coates’s 2009 worst-film-of-the-decade critique is presented as the opposing view.

Whitaker; Cusack; Ledger

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:11:51Read transcript

Whitaker reportedly withdrew after delays; whether he was to play Howard’s or Cheadle’s role is disputed.
Ledger was reportedly meant for Phillippe’s role and would improve it, though the character still needs a transitional scene.
Cusack reportedly withdrew from Dillon’s role; the discussion sees this as a potentially major improvement because the role would be unusual for him.
Josh Hartnett is suggested for the young cop.

Damon; Affleck; Maguire; Hartnett; Tarantino or Spike Lee

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:15:38Read transcript

Matt Damon is proposed for Phillippe’s role; the same-age comparison rebuts an age concern. — Joanna Robinson
Tobey Maguire and Casey Affleck are alternatives; Hartnett is supported, then challenged as not yet a strong enough actor.
Tarantino directing is imagined as a much longer, more profane version.
Spike Lee directing is imagined with crane shots, jazz and a Fraser/Gaye sex scene.
Relocating the film to Boston is jokingly anticipated and shut down.

Blu-ray; heart attack; Oscar redo; protective underwear

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:17:11Read transcript

Crash reportedly became the first Best Picture winner released on Blu-ray in June 2006.
Haggis reportedly suffered a heart attack late in filming and missed a week.
A 2015 Oscar-voter redo reportedly favored Brokeback Mountain.
Newton reportedly wore protective underwear for the assault scene; the discussion questions its protection and speculates about the absence of an intimacy coordinator.

Coincidences; police behavior; public racism; trafficking expertise

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:25:08Read transcript

Picking Nits all-of-them joke/Bill top10intro but no formal ten-item ranked list: Bullock shouting racist locksmith claims within earshot, implausible recurring encounters across giant LA—Dillon/Newton, Phillippe/Howard then Cheadle brother.
Interconnected vignette films rarely work, Magnolia and Playing by Heart defended; latter cast/architecture monologue appreciation.
Nit Dillon might let assault witness die to avoid lawsuit/job loss; darker cigarette-drop murder imagined as better movie.
Nit carjacking aftermath cops fail search car for slouching Ludacris; discussion distinguishes neutralizing advancing Howard first versus searching once controlled, no full agreement on procedural timing.
Nit Cheadle collision where brother killed coincidence, rebuttal he may have been responding to scene.
Nit van keys left12hours untouched, chop-shop operator instant expertise selling trafficked people despite earlier blood-spatter caution; joking chop shops most evil.

Black director’s reception; defeating Brokeback Mountain

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:32:57Read transcript

Unanswerable same exact film by Black director predicted no Oscars and career-damaging criticism, not rewrite.
Unanswerable why beat Brokeback: country/olderwhiteAcademy not ready for unapologetic gay affection, despite Ang Lee director win and heavy-favorite status; other nominees Munich/Capote/Good Night and Good Luck, last criticized, weak-year claim disputed briefly.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:36:02Read transcript

Double features Joanna25th Hour for better racial-rant treatment; Grand Canyon emphatically accepted, American History X initial alternative displaced. Grand Canyon baby-finding absurdity debated affectionately.

Horrible and unsubtle; worse than low expectations

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:36:59Read transcript

The first-time viewer briefly jokes that it is the best film in ten years, then retracts that and calls it horrible, unsubtle and lacking nuance.
A claim that its Facebook-like sentiment could still find an audience is disputed; Sound of Freedom is offered as an analogy, with disagreement over what drove its attendance.
The trafficking plot finally exhausted the reviewer’s tolerance.
The shopkeeper’s redemption is disputed: removing the gun versus failing to reckon with attempted murder.
First-watch danger to the child and other characters loses force on rewatch when their survival is known.