Convoluted but compelling

Rating: 9/10 (31 August 2005)

One of the most impressive films to come out of America so far this year, Paul Haggis's 'Crash' is a great drama, presenting a series of interconnecting stories in Los Angeles that explore the social repercussions of racial bigotry and stereotyping. Heading the impressive cast is Matt Dillon playing a racist cop with a nigh on terrifying authenticity. Watching him molest a black woman while her husband looks on helplessly in one of the early scenes leaves no questions in your mind that this man is an unimaginable bastard. Yet Dillon never plays it up, never pandering to the camera and instead breathing life into his character in a very natural, ordinary way. In a highly distinguished cast, his is the standout role.
It is not the only one to recommend the movie however as the rest of the actors put in terrific performances. Sandra Bullock for instance takes a step away from her 'Miss Congeniality' image as a deeply angry woman making venomous racist attacks to mask her own depression. Watching her tear into Spanish family man Michael Pena while he is fixing her lock, it is difficult to imagine her as the sweet, girl-next-door type she built her early career on. Then there is Don Cheadle, a man who brings great dignity to his role as an Internal affairs detective investigating a shooting between two police officers that may have been racially motivated who comes to realise that his own ethnic background will have political repercussions on the case.
What may put some off this movie though is it's subject matter. Racism has forever been a serious issue in today's melting pot culture and one of the main points put across is that for all our protests, we are each of us, racist in some form or another. Like it or not, racial stereotyping still exists among all of us and the director pulls no punches in driving this point home.
Even so, for all those put off by the above statement, bear in mind that this is still an utterly terrific film. There may be many story lines crossing over with one another, but it is not difficult to follow and each of them remains compelling viewing. In fact, given the breadth of stories covered, it's surprising it isn't longer than it is, Dillon's hatred and racism and eventual redemption for example could have been a movie in its own right. Highly recommended.