very well done

Rating: Null/10 (24 May 2006)

This was one of the most powerful movies I have seen in a long time. It basically explores the prejudices just about everyone has and has a message-no one is immune. It starts off with a car accident involving two people of different ethnic backgrounds, then shifts to two black guys complaining to each other that they did not get sufficient service in a restaurant due to their skin color and then carjack Sandra Bullock's car, and then proceeds from there, never letting up and pickup up steam as it examines each character's various fears and prejudices. One such example of where no one is immune is when Ryan Philippe's character complains to his superior that his partner (Matt Dillon) is a racist, and then later finds himself in a racial situation which he handles the wrong way. Dillon's character also contradicts himself when he pulls over a black couple for no reason and feels up the wife during the interrogation. Later, he has to rescue her from a burning car. A Persian man who owns a shop also goes after a Hispanic locksmith who tries to fix his door after his store is vandalized and tries to blame him for it, leading to near-tragic circumstances.
No character is underdeveloped in this brilliant movie. I found myself thinking about my own life and reevaluating my values after watching it. I think it deserved the Oscar for best picture.
*** 1/2 out of ****