Directed by:
Paul HaggisCinematography:
J. Michael MuroComposer:
Mark IshamCast:
Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Ludacris, Thandiwe Newton, Ryan Phillippe (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
Crash uses a sophisticated, layered structure to tell the stories of a multi-racial group of characters in contemporary LA. As their lives inter-connect through a sequence of events around a car accident, we see their prejudices, tensions and hopes...and how tough yet uplifting life in the 'melting pot' can be. (Pathé Distribution UK)
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Reviews (11)
A brilliantly filmed and acted mosaic of human destinies with the central motif of the problematic coexistence of different races, cultures, and value hierarchies amid a modern multi-ethnic American metropolis. The excellent, well-crafted screenplay does not present issues of racial prejudice and conflicts simplistically and straightforwardly. It does not cheaply moralize and, through characters of various social and professional backgrounds, it speaks of the fact that nothing may be as it appears on the surface and that good intentions sometimes are not enough... It speaks of social isolation between the cream of the crop of society and the ordinary "lower class," of the cynical calculations with which politicians approach public administration issues. It does not favor whites or blacks, it only records the screenwriter's observations and feelings of fear of life in an overcrowded metropolis. The screenplay attracted significant attention among the American acting elite and, despite a severely limited budget, still obtained a strong, practically star-studded cast. Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, and Matt Dillon took on roles in the film as an excellent chance to shine in an artistically demanding film, which they rightly expected to be successful. For Paul Haggis, Crash was his directorial, screenwriting, and producing debut and instantly placed him among the recognized filmmakers of today. For me, Crash was one of the greatest cinematic experiences and one of the most significant films of the last decade. Overall impression: 95%.
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I'm not a big fan of movies where multiple stories intertwine. But here, I don't even mind and the individual stories seemed complete. I felt the most emotion when Thandie Newton was being pulled out of the crashed car. But I was also touched by the fates of the other characters. I was really on edge at some points. Otherwise, I was amazed by the great music and unique atmosphere for most of the film. The film lived up to my expectations, yet I won't give it 5 stars. In the beginning, some parts were a bit boring.
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Racism and xenophobia in all possible forms in cosmopolitan Los Angeles in the period leading up to Christmas. The storytelling style is similar to Magnolia, especially as far as how the separate stories end up interweaving with each other. Primarily toward the end we get a couple of really powerful moments, effectively supported by excellent music... Despite everything, I couldn’t get over the feeling that it was all too superficial and intended only for effect, which is a shame.
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I've seen this movie a couple of times and I’m sure I'll see it a few more times because I simply enjoy it. The atmosphere and the story are nice, but what gets me the most are the characters. No one is just black or white (I mean character), everyone has been given an interesting mixture of traits, which is what makes this movie so great. I don’t think a movie like this would get away with it today, though. It does revolve around racial prejudice, but the only ones whose lives matter don't come off as complete good guys, which is where the problem lies. There were plenty of emotionally charged scenes. Thankfully, I didn't feel like someone was trying to forcefully jerk tears out of me.
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Find strength, courage, and a clear mind. And let yourself get caught up in the clash. It's harder than it seems, because you might have to overcome some prejudices. Not necessarily the racial ones that Paul Haggis talks about, but purely cinematic ones. It requires rising above contrivance, incredibility, or potential calculation. This creative team certainly isn't aiming for that. There were times when I couldn't find a single wrong word to say about Crash, thanks to its sincerity and persuasiveness, and even though I now understand that everything fits together perhaps a bit too easily and not all the storylines are masterfully told, even ten years after its sensational Oscar triumph, it remains painfully relevant and timeless. The actors, the script, the perfectly captivating yet unobtrusive music, and one of the most flawless scenes I have ever seen, "I'll protect you", are responsible for that. And it's a scene that nobody who has seen the film will forget.
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