Crash (2005) Rated: R for language, sexual content and some violence. Runtime: 113 mins. Director: Paul Haggis Writer: Paul Haggis (story); Paul Haggis (screenplay) Cast: Don Cheadle; Sandra Bullock; Matt Dillon; Jennifer Esposito; Brendan Fraser... complete cast Tagline: You think you know who you are. You have no idea. Genre: Drama/Crime
Memorable Quote: "In L.A. nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass"
Reel rating:
5/5
Reel commentary: ...Paul Haggis, the Academy Award Winning writer for Million Dollar Baby, connects the characters complex lives with ease. He shows how each character has their own prejudice against the other, yet explains why... full review
Crash is a film that speaks in many different languages. It has interlocking stories of different races, careers and backgrounds. People who are wealthy talk about the poor and people of one race make derogatory comments about the other. Each person in the film is a victim of a hate crime but they are also guilty of committing a crime of their own. They show feeling of anger and nobody understands why the other behaves dangerously.
A complex storyline filled with interesting characters captivates the audience from the beginning. We watch as the characters lives become unpredictable, wondering what they will do next. They stumble through their lives, each affecting the other. We watch as each one causes joy, pain or anger to the other. We feel these emotions along with the character unexpectedly.
Paul Haggis, the Academy Award Winning writer for Million Dollar Baby, connects the characters complex lives with ease. He shows how each character has their own prejudice against the other, yet explains why. In most movies, we see the negative aspect of a personality but are always neglected of reasons. In Crash, Haggis makes sure the audience understands the characters mentality. He also portrays how anger can blind a person from seeing the truth.
In the film, Sandra Bullock the wife of the district attorney believes that a locksmith, Michael Pena, is a gang member. In reality, Pena is a father of a little girl. His race and physical appearance of tattoos made Bullock assume he was a criminal. The entire film is filled with moments such as these. Don Cheadle is sleeping with a Latina woman (Jennifer Esposito) yet he does not even know what country she is from. Matt Dillon sexually abuses a woman (Thandia Newton) believing she is white because she is light skinned. Throughout the film the audience is being asked the same question. Are we really what we seem?
Watching this film on the screen feels like watching a documentary. The reality of the characters and scenes creates an environment where the audience believes they are present. The rawness of the emotion Matt Dillon's character shows is heartbreaking. We watch his behavior in the cop uniform and believe he is just a prejudiced white male. Then we are presented with a dilemma, we watch as Dillon is holding his father who is crying in pain and see the man underneath.
Many films try to reach out to audiences and say stop the anger and not many have achieved this. Crash proves that not all of us are so different. Behind our masks of fear, pain and anger we all have the same heart. This film shows that despite the cruelty this world throws at us, we can overcome this and embrace it. Even if that means opening up to the ones we hurt the most.
Amber Deggans
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Screen formats: Widescreen 1.85:1
Subtitles: English; Spanish; Closed Captioned
Language and Sound: English: Dolby Digital 5.1; English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Other Features: Color; interactive menus; scene access; trailer; director's commentary; cast and crew interview; making-of featurette..
DVD Introduction - 16 second welcome from Haggis himself.
Commentary Track - With writer/director/producer Paul Haggis, co-writer/producer Robert Moresco, and actor Don Cheadle
