Grade: B- | Genre: Drama Summary: This is not a lighthearted movie for the weary. You walk out of the theatre a little guilty for all the thoughts that have run through your mind about other people of color. Even the most self-righteous advocate of civil rights has a subconscious collection of stereotypes organized by race, color, sex and financial status. We won't admit it, but we are all guilty of it. Though the racial climate today is much different from that of the civil rights era and beyond, it's still a noticeable blemish that flaws human nature. Nowadays, racial tensions are more whispered and masked than spoken out loud. It seems to have become an easier topic to joke about rather than having to deal with it. Crash is a film that takes what we are all thinking and broadcasts it for all to hear. Watching the film, you're shocked by the blunt dialogue the characters use against one another, but don't question what is being said. Could it be so true in our own minds that we are comfortable enough to laugh it? It says a lot about the times we live in and magnifies what we don't want to see in ourselves.

Crash is a story that weaves multiple lives together and the brief encounters they have with each other. It's a film focused on human emotions steered by racial injustice and leaves quite an impression on you the audience.

One such encounter involves Officer Ryan (Matt Dillon) and Officer Hanson (Ryan Phillipe), two beat cops with little in common. Ryan is quick to spit racial slurs while an inexperienced and timid Hanson stands idle. They pull over Cameron (Terrence Dashon Howard) and Christine (Thandie Newton), a married black couple who are engaged in activities not suitable for driving. Ryan takes things to the extreme with an invasive body search on Christine as Cameron is left helpless and can only stand by and watch. You see rage come over Cameron's face, as well as your own in disbelief of how passive he is being. But what can he do? The cops have guns and any actions against them will be pointless. Can a black man being persecuted win favor over a white police officer pushing him down? We've seen it happen historically, but we know it's not a common occurrence. In this situation, though we have lost all respect for Cameron as he allows his wife to be subjected to such humiliation, we can kind of see his point. This is about Officer Ryan getting off in his own bigoted way as he exerts power over a black man and his light skinned wife. A belittled Cameron is now forced to apologize to Ryan (Cameron is apologizing to Officer Ryan!) in order to be dismissed with a warning. By now, Ryan has succeeded in abusing a race he feels is beneath him and sends them on their way. His sense of control and empowerment is satisfied and our hatred for him has us griding our teeth.

Crash Starring: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Dashon Howard, Ludacris, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe, Larenz Tate Director: Paul Haggis Buy Crash Today! You may also like... American History X Higher Learning

Crash is an ambitious work by Paul Haggis that strives to open your eyes to what you normally may not see. Racial injustice happens all the time and grows increasingly subtle everyday. It's less obvious and usually can be found in sarcastic jokes that the speaker himself probably believes are true, even though he claims to be just joking.

It's a film that redeems in the most unexpected places. It's difficult to understand the point of the movie when a racist is made out to be a hero. You wonder why you are led to believe one thing but then to have it thrown in your face. I guess my problem with Crash is that it tries too hard to smooth over tense situations for no good reason. The impact is lessened and you go away more confused than enlightened. The first two acts of the film are powerful and have you re-examining yourself and the feelings you may harbor about races outside of your own. However, the third tries to find resolutions and redemption in things that don't necessary warrant nor deserve it.

This is not a lighthearted movie for the weary. You walk out of the theatre feeling a little guilty for all the thoughts that have run through your mind about people of color. Crash hopes that you are a better person for watching it or at least moved enough to let go of the stereotypes you've labeled people with for so long. If the film would have stuck to the honesty and bluntness of the first two acts, I think Crash's strong impact could have been extended into a much more provoking commentary on race relations today.

Original Post Date: May 10, 2005