A rating, a technical question and a plot query

Rating: 10/10 (4 July 2005)

1) The best written film I have seen this year. It was a complete piece. The writing, the cinematography, acting, editing, sound, music all supported the flow of the story. I think it was flawless from that standpoint.
It always amazes me that a "small film" can be so perfectly done (as "In America" Jim Sheridans miniature masterpiece) when movies with probably 5 times the budget can be so poorly conceived and executed.
Paul Haggis has accomplished the kind of movie making Springsteen spoke of during his Academy Award acceptance speech - something that resonates in your life after you leave the theater.
2) Does anyone know if it was it shot on film or was it digital?
3) Re. the black cop who was shot by the white undercover cop . . . what was the difficulty in deciding who had shot first? If the black cop was fatally wounded and only 2 shots were fired it seems that he must have fired first? If he had been shot first and then fired, why fire only once?