A Burning Mess with a Touch of Beauty

Rating: 6/10 (8 August 2007)

"Crash" is a movie that has one character crashing into another. Several questions arise watching the film. I ask, is everyone in the world spewing hate-mongering statements 24/7 and looking at people who are of a different race and nationality as criminals, terrorists, or thugs? The film deals with far too prevalent acts of racism. These acts are not nearly as prevalent as they were 40 and 50 years ago in America, which is probably when this film should take place, but even then there would be one too many racists in this film. Not every person is filled with hate, but we get the impression that we are. "Crash" wants to be bold and outgoing on a touchy subject and does a good job in doing that with the actions of the characters, but ultimately it never gets to where it wants to be.
The only person that you get a feel for being 100% racist is Matt Dillon's character. After an inspiring act of humanity and selflessness from Officer Ryan it reaches its climax right then and there, half way through the film, and unfortunately never recovers until the final moments. This will be the first of many occasions where we see some good show through an evil character or some bad show through a good character. Veteran Police Officer Jon Ryan played by Matt Dillon gives an Oscar worthy performance. His performance ends up getting lost in the shuffle of the swinging door of one racist character after another and how we see them redeem themselves. His story along with the black couple that he comes to know on a personal basis like no other relationship you could ever imagine is truly some of the greatest work I have ever seen in film. We see the most volatile in man in one traffic stop from Officer Ryan then we see the most humane, noble, and heroic in an incredibly inspiring, emotional, and beautifully crafted rescue scene.
Each and every character goes through a transformation which is preceded by a crazy and unrealistic event that happens in their lives that gives them a new outlook on life and a new outlook on the people around them. The bad end up good and the good end up bad.
The film really misses on it racial slurs, but hits on all cylinders with its racial actions. The problem is that they didn't take it all that far. In all reality it's really lightweight stuff when you really listen to what they're saying with what they should or could be saying. Watch a Martin Scorsese film and then talk about racism. This movie tries to go all the way, but fails at the end of the day with the tone of the film not matching what we hear. It doesn't match what the characters are saying with what they're doing. They're supposed to be racist, but they speak in politically correct racism. Racism is no holds barred and this film is trapped in a 6X10 steel cage just waiting to explode.
There is just one too many people changing for the good. And one too many people changing for the bad. To symbolize this, it snows at the end (In LA) to show that people can change and that it's possible. That anything is possible; when in these cases virtually none of it is possible. If you can get past all this over the top stuff that really brings the film down you can see what the filmmaker is trying to portray; you realize this film is not about racism like I thought it was after the first time I watched it. It has much more to offer.
The second time I watched this film, the final images really jumped out at me. Maybe I had a better understanding, maybe I was watching closer, but we see all the characters looking out their windows, or out into the dark night, or out upon the city lights. We first see this with the newly resurrected Officer Ryan who is a changed man as he looks at a brightly lit Christmas tree in the city possibly resembling his future, but he still has a look of grief and sorrow for his actions on that same street that could make anyone sick. Then we see Daniel (Michael Pena) looking out his window after he nearly looses a loved one. We see him looking at the beautiful world in which he inhabits and the ugliness that he has seen as he wonders if that bullet from his past is still following him. He appreciates all that he could have lost and fears what he could lose.
We see the DA (Brendan Fraser) looking out his door just after he comes home. He looks out his window wondering if he's safe and questioning his purpose in life. Prior to this scene we see that he has more than just a working relationship with his black secretary, Karen, which his wife(Sandra Bullock) would surly oppose. Finally we see the city of LA as we just witness Anthony (Ludacris) change into a hero and Shaniqua get rear-ended by someone of a different background. She then spews a toned down racial epithet. Here we see the beautiful images of LA where mankind's most vile and heinous acts have been occurring, but we also see its great acts of heroism and humanity. We see that people can change. We also see that people are good hearted and everyone has good and bad buried in them. They just need to examine themselves, step back, take it all in, and just let go. The final message is that, maybe tomorrow everyone can find their way. The final shot reassures us that maybe there is hope amidst all these despicable acts because of all the great acts of humanity that we see from the despicable.
There's a lot to like, but it's just too heavy handed.