Much better when it was called "Grand Canyon"

Rating: 1/10 (30 January 2015)

I had an Interpersonal Communication professor that loved the hell out of "Crash". It was brought up while we were discussing perception in class, and I really liked that guy. One of the best teachers I've ever had.
But he and I woefully disagree on this movie.
Yeah, I guess you can say it deals with perception. And race. And cosmic coincidence. But it goes about it in the most sensationalized and calculating way possible. Characters just come at each other, blindly wielding epithets because . . . well, they're supposed to, I guess. There's no organic reasoning for it. The situations aren't well-composed, and those contrivances are like red flags; you can see most of these tragic events coming from a mile away. Misfortune arises simply because these people are dicks. There's no sympathy. That's a shame, because this is a good ensemble cast.
The car accident scene is (almost) the worst. Matt Dillon's been a raging prick this entire time, but a sudden burning-car rescue constitutes redemption? It's not like he called Thandie Newton a bad name earlier on, he molested her with police authority. But now, the music swells, he performs a daring feat and it's okay, it's fine. He's just a guy trying to make it in the world. Let's all feel for this guy.
No.
But the worst scene, when the film sinks to its lowest, is the impenetrable cloak scene. You know the one I'm talking about. Michael Peña's being held at gunpoint and his five year-old daughter runs into harm's way, BLAM! - Peña screams at the heavens, clutching his baby girl . . . but no, she's okay! She was wearing her impenetrable cloak. But wait - no, it's just that the gunman had blanks. This shows you the levels of manipulation that Paul Haggis is ready to reach, and I don't think I've ever seen such a duplicitous scene in cinema. Haggis lets the scene of horror unfold, we know where this is going, cue the emotional music! Nah, everything's okay. No harm done, all is forgiven. All wrapped up with a pretty little bow. And maybe that scene wasn't supposed to be realistic (what other reason could there be?). But then, why would such a trick be pulled in a movie dealing about an effing social crisis? "Crash" is a movie that supposedly tackles a hard subject, one that's still pervasive for a great many people, but it doesn't do so with any seriousness. It's just theatrics. Something to make people feel like they just dealt with someone real, and can pat themselves on the back for doing so.
This is disgusting.
1/10