Lives up to the hype and then some...

Rating: 10/10 (8 October 2005)

Recently bought this on DVD, having heard a lot of rave reviews for this film. It far surpassed any expectations i had. Crash is a brilliant ensemble piece about racism centering around a shooting by a white cop of a black cop, a car-jacking, and a racist cop pulling over an innocent black movie director and his wife. Director Paul Haggis has created a powerful, moving, and sometimes hard to watch masterpiece which only falters with the occasional cheesy line or gimmick (like one character's imitation of country music). But such things are easily forgiven or overlooked in the grand scheme of the film. The soundtrack is simple yet haunting, and the cinematography is absolutely top-notch, making the actions of the characters seem like real things done by real people, and not actors. The REAL reason this film is so good, however, is the acting. EVERY actor and actress in Crash is at the top of their game, and by the time the credits roll, viewers will have both favorite characters whom they connected and sympathized with, and characters who they will loathe for their actions. Though its hard to pick a favorite actor, i have to say that Ludicrous, Michael Pena, and especially Terrence Howard (who after this went on to star in the highly touted Hustle & Flow, with Ludicrous in a supporting role)gave riveting performances that stick with you after the film ends. Howard's climatic confrontation with certain characters towards the end of the film is by far one of the most dramatic, well-acted, and tense scenes i've witnessed in any movie in a long, lonnnng time. Watch this film. BELIEVE the hype. It will keep you talking and arguing with your friends hours after it ends.