"One of us lost our frame of reference and I'm gonna go look for it."

Rating: 10/10 (12 February 2006)

Frame of reference is an important part of the experience when it comes to viewing "Crash". While difficult to separate one's own "self" from race and ethnic considerations, the power of the film directs us to challenge our preconceptions about others of different backgrounds. Though the movie relies on more than it's share of coincidence, the events proceed in a way that leave one disoriented when something doesn't occur the way we might expect. The Persian's revenge for example, becomes a life redeeming experience when his weapon fires a blank at a young girl (wearing an invisible cloak). Even the man's explanation is at odds with our mindset; an (guardian) angel saved the Persian from a life of regret, not the life of an innocent.
Name actors never threaten to overcome the story here; presented as an ensemble cast they merge with their characters to make us forget their celebrity status. Particularly convincing in this regard is Sandra Bullock, so expertly cast against type that it's almost shocking to watch. No single character dominates, as lives merge on the collision course of human frailty.
My primary interest in viewing the film was to see how it stacks up against the other Oscar contenders for 2005. With no knowledge of the movie (I don't even recall seeing a trailer), I'll be interested in seeing how it fares against it's more hyped competition. It could well be the best film of the year in a year marked by radically different themes up for Best Picture.