Good Movie. Worth Seeing.

Rating: 8/10 (31 October 2010)

Crash takes you through a two day in the lives of multiple characters in a way which shows different stereotypical and racist views that each character has towards another. Their lives are intertwined in a way that makes each question and possibly change their viewpoint towards another ethnic group. The movie stars Don Cheadle (Detective Graham Waters), Matt Dillon (Officer John Ryan), Ryan Phillippe (Officer Tom Hansen), and Sandra Bullock (Jean Cabot). In each "Crash" moment a character learns something about themselves and how they would react in a given situation. The movie is set in the City of Los Angeles and places each character in situations that are familiar to the area. Because of the racial tensions that have taken place in the Los Angeles area, it is a perfect setting for a movie that deals with stereotypes and racial diversity. The movie places each character into a racially driven predicament, and allows you to see how each responds. The setting of Los Angeles allows this to be believable due to the diversity of the area and allows the viewer to have an understanding of what life is like in the city. The lighting and filming techniques of Crash put the viewer into what the situation would be like if you were in it yourself. The director utilizes natural lighting to put you right into the view that the person in the scene they were really faced with that dilemma. The use of subjective and objective filming techniques helps to paint a picture for the viewer. In the objectively filmed scenes, you are allowed to see the environment and put it into its proper context. As you are thrown into the subjective view, you get the feeling of the drama that the character is experiencing and thus are given a rush of emotion that makes you, the viewer; feel as though you are in the scene. Like American History X, the theme of the movie is racially toned and shows similar stereotypes that people may view towards other races. Crash takes you through all the emotions that you may feel if placed in similar situations, but unlike American History X you are left wondering how you would respond if placed in a "Crash" situation. Will you have the same responses as the characters in the movie or would you respond differently. The only way to know is to be put into your own "Crash" and see what you would do.