Half of a good movie

Rating: 5/10 (13 October 2005)

At first, this movie is intriguing. It's forward about race issues in a way that few films in America (that aren't by Spike Lee) are. It gives the illusion of being cleverly written, luring you in with the opening sequence and its haunted musing on why the people in L.A. crash into each other.
*spoiler(s)*
There are several scenes that stand out in a positive light as they stretch towards the climax of the film. Ludicrous playing a carjacker that sees rap as the "oppressor's music" is amusing as an out-of-context irony. I like the scene with the attorney's wife (Sandra Bullock) ranting about the Mexican locksmith (Michael Pena) because it showcases more than one kind of prejudice. Not only is race an issue at this point, because of Ludicrous' carjacking, but any race that isn't white has become a threat. What if a white person had jacked her car? In addition, the personal/cultural choice of tattoos has affected her impression of the locksmith. What if a white person with tattoos was her locksmith?
The storyline focusing on Michael Pena's Daniel character remains the best throughout the film. The scenes concerning the "impenetrable cloak" are priceless. Daniel's daughter, Lara - played by Ashlyn Sanchez, is the ultimate reminder that our decisions about race/culture issues don't merely affect our individual selves, they also inevitably affect our children. The relief I felt at realizing the gun was filled with blanks remains my strongest emotion attached to the film. Additionally, the race and culture conflicts between a Hispanic American and a Persian American work well because they aren't over-analyzed as, say, the issues between black and white.
I also appreciated Matt Dillon's character and his interactions with just about everyone, but most obviously and especially Christine (Thandie Newton) and Shaniqua (Loretta Devine).
Unfortunately, Haggis' obsession with coincidence forces the film to eat itself throughout the denouement, abandoning whatever promise the first half held for us. Officer Hanson's (Ryan Phillipe) scene with Peter (Larenz Tate) is completely contrived and forced. It's just a convenient mish-mash of all the conversations Peter had with Anthony (Ludacris) earlier in the film, from country music to the mini-statue of the saint. The feeling that things were being brought "full-circle" in terms of character connection ended up being a huge letdown. It's icing on the crap-cake that Phillipe is completely unbelievable as a fan of country music.
Finally, Anthony freeing all of the illegal immigrants in the middle of the city is just laughable. Not only is it unlikely from the perspective of character motivation, but the sheer thoughtlessness it would take to set them loose in the street like that is inconsistent with the kindness at the base of the gesture. It almost would have been better to see some of them get caught. Better still would have been avoiding this scene altogether, and at all costs.
In addition, as of March 8th, I feel the need to add that this film never ever should have won the Oscar for Best Picture... especially not in a field considering Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Good Night and Good Luck, and Munich.