Thoughtful and Exhilarating !

Rating: 10/10 (31 May 2005)

Will Crash get people to change their attitudes towards others? Doubtful, but it certainly makes you realize that our attitudes are often based on circumstances and few of us are perfect...or all-bad for that matter.
I'm reminded of a line by Andy Garcia's John Bubber in Hero. He said, "We're all heroes, if you catch us at the right moment." Too expand upon it, "We all make tragic mistakes and judgments" when you catch us at the wrong moment.
In Crash, these moments are captured for a racially and economically diverse array of characters over a 48 hour period. We see people shine and we see them brought low. None of the characters are exempt from their darker side, save a locksmith and his little girl. What makes them special? Could it be a faith in God that keeps them both physically and spiritually safe? This is just one of the questions that Crash presents us with to ponder.
The multi-scenario plot works well. Not since Pulp Fiction have I been so simultaneously upset at having the camera leave one story and overjoyed at having it return to another one with whose characters I have become so deeply involved with in a short period of time.
Director Haggis' first time effort is skillful and captivating. The cast contains several top-name stars who are well complemented by a group of lesser known performers, all who dig deep to deliver multi-layered performances.
Some have decried the amount of coincidences that bring the many characters together. Pay no attention. Crash is smart smart movie-making that is literary, funny, serious, and visually stunning. And that my friends is definitely not a coincidence.