A commentary on LA that can apply to any cosmopolitan city in the US in 21st Century

Rating: 10/10 (29 January 2006)

This movie is excellent! It gives an insightful view of the complex society that America has become and how our prejudices need to be overcome! The direction and writing are exemplary. You need to pay close attention since it jumps from place to place. In the end the parts all weave together a tapestry that is LA, but can probably be a true representation of any mid to large city in the US. The cast all give marvelous performances, but this is a movie whose message comes so many many story lines that no one actor has much screen time. So if you plan to see this film for a particular actor be prepared for that individual to be on screen for a limited amount of time. It should be required viewing for all High School seniors in the US. (I had my 2 daughters in high school, a junior and a sophomore, watch it.) There are many scenes with high tension when the language earns the R rating along with one scene with sexual foreplay that shows a breast as well as a scene that shows the effects of drugs. These scenes are all integral to the movie and paint a gritty and honest portrait of life. Paul Haggis has made a masterpiece. He must have known this because he finished it despite having a heart attack during the filming!