Crash (2004) Movie Review
“Unless I'm really uneasy with what I'm writing, I lose interest very quickly. I like to write about things about which I have no answers, questions that trouble me. These things trouble me. You want to dig in and find out what something means to you. And if you do that, I think you have to take risks.”
- Paul Haggis
Writer/Producer/Director – Crash
Crash Movie (2004) Poster
This documentary style experimental film concentrates on the lives of 8 different characters during 36 hours in the culturally diversified Los Angeles City. There is no linear story and the prominent themes are racial discrimination, unreasonable fear of the people about other racial groups etc. It can be treated as a contemporary social commentary and the director Paul Haggis is the man who co-wrote screenplay for Million Dollar Baby (2004).
The story begins when several people are involved in a multi-car accident on the outskirts of Los Angeles. From there, we are taken back to the day before the crash, seeing the lives of several characters, and the problems each encounters during that day. Detective Graham (Don Cheadle), who is struggling with his drug addicted mother and missing brother, is assigned to investigate a racially motivated killing. An LAPD cop, Jack Ryan (Matt Dillon) is trying to get medical help for his father, but he is having problems with a black clerk and in turn, he gets involved in a racially discriminatory act against a black couple, Cameron (Terrence Howard) and Christine (Thandie Newton). District Attorney, Rick (Brendan Fraser) and his wife Jean (Sandra Bullock) become crime victims when two black teenagers steal their car at gunpoint. Jean passes out her anger on a Mexican locksmith who is working in their home. Later that night, the locksmith is again humiliated by a Persian storeowner and it appears that the so called melting pot of various cultures, the ever-growing Los Angeles City, is boiling internally with the onslaught of clashes between the various ethnic groups…
Nominated for 6 categories, ‘Crash’ won 3 Oscars.
The strength of this movie lies in its unpredictability factor. Many of the characters switch from being bad-person-to-hero in ways that may surprise you. The principal subject matter is various forms of racial discriminations and how it erupts due to the illogical fear and intolerances.
The makers of the ‘Crash’ are dared to be different – an admirable willingness to risk the safest ‘success formula’ in the pursuit of creating a genuine movie. Beyond the usual black vs. white racial unrest, this movie focuses on black vs. Latino, Latino vs. Asian etc.
Scenes like the reformed white cop, Jack Ryan tries to save a black woman Christine, who was humiliated by the same man, is moving.
While analyzing the racially prejudiced common folks, the film tells that People are born with good hearts, but they grow with prejudices.
{“A good film makes you ask questions of yourself as you leave the theatre”}
- Paul Haggis
‘Crash’ sets itself apart with its innovative way of storytelling, where the viewers are forced to consider the true causes of racism rather than its after-effects.
By
Srini