Excellent Movie!!

Rating: 8/10 (1 September 2005)

I had no idea, this movie had so much buzz around it. Of course not in a big commercial way. More like, this is one darn good movie. The main reason I watched this movie was because of the cast. So many good actors. But the clincher was the subject of the movie. This movie is based on RACISM!! I don't know or remember if many movies have addressed this issue. But, this movie will always remain with me. Not just because of its content, but also because of the way it was handled.
The tag line, 'you think you know who you are, you have no idea' says it all. I mean, how many of us who think we are not racists (or homophobes, this applies to many general issues) really aren't??? Deep down, we will always have a stigma. We may not know it or notice it. But my guess is, we will always have a nagging corner in the mind about a certain controversial issue. In this case racism.
This movie tries to deal with that aspect. HATS OFF to all the people who made this movie. Just to throw something at our faces like that!! I believe in the 'live and let live' policy. BUT, the question is, does that mean I'm not a racist?? I never got the whites and black dilemma. Maybe, that's 'cos I don't have so many colors to deal wit where I come from.
The movie has its clichés or bad moments. But the excellence of the entirety of the movie more than compensates for it. It deals with a random number of people in LA who deal with racism in their own way.
A white cop who looks like an outright racist, partnered with a rookie cop who thinks the other guy is being mean to blacks.
The DA, who looks like an all round good guy, but uses any angle he can get for good publicity. His wife, thinks she has to justify her fear of other races, or is she just afraid of her perfect life getting messed up??? A possible Ex-con with a family, trying to make his way in an untrusting world. A Persian family, who has to deal with what every other Muslim in the world has to?? Being labeled Osama!! The rich and famous black couple whose lives are not so easy just because they are rich and famous.
Then there's the cop, who's trying to make peace with his mother and try and bring her other wayward son back.
The wayward brother has no qualms about racism and hangs about with an extremely racist guy (gangbanger).
All in all, a perfect ensemble cast. With great acting. I could go on forever. This is by far the best movie of 2005!! Many think that its copying from Magnolia (anothe fantastic movie). Even if it does, who cares, this is one of the best movies ever. Every story involved has a twist.
On a side note, you get to see Jennifer Esposito's Boobs.
Do you really need any other reason to watch the movie?