Crash - dead on depiction of Los Angeles

Rating: 9/10 (5 November 2005)

I just saw this film for the first time and was completely blown away by it. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and have witnessed first hand almost every situation depicted there in. I've never seen or heard or read anything that demonstrates more clearly the difficulties of Los Angelean living. It is a profoundly diverse melting pot completed segregated by it's geography, religious and racial differences and as Don Cheadle's character points out; steel and glass. The performances are just about flawless particularly Matt Dillon, Michael Peña, Thandie Newton, Terrence Howard, Sandra Bullock and begrudgingly I have to give props to Ryan Phillipie who usually I prefer to make fun of.
Director Paul Haggis weaves the lives of some 25 different characters through two tumultuous days in L.A. As each life comes into contact with the next we watch as so many of their actions are fueled by their fear and ignorance of each other. At the same time we see how similar each character truly is regardless of race, religion, creed or color. Fear and ignorance, fear and ignorance, if only we could see how truly similar we all are. It's an emotionally charged and deeply moving depiction of a city and people that I love and highly recommend it to anyone interested in good thought provoking enthralling movie making.
DjM