ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

LOS ANGELES is a city without a soul. It is a sprawling mass of humanity in which everyone is a stranger, nobody dares to walk the streets and prejudice permeates every aspect of the culture.

That’s the impression you glean from Crash, a passionate, provocative exploration of a city and the racial tensions that have almost come to define it. Screenwriter Paul Haggis is probably best known for his work on the Clint Eastwood films ‘Mystic River’ and ‘Million Dollar Baby’.

Here, he also turns director for a thought-provoking, exceptionally well acted ensemble drama that may be a little preachy at times but is also incredibly moving. Working back from the scene of a crime, the film spreads over thirty-six hours, and follows detective Graham Walters (Don Cheadle) as he copes with family problems and professional compromises.

District Attorney Rick (Brendan Fraser) and his wife Jean (Sandra Bullock) are carjacked by two young black men, Anthony (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges) and Peter (Larenz Tate), who are then responsible for knocking down a Korean man.

Black television director Cameron (Terrence Howard) and his wife Christine (Thandie Newton) are humiliated by racist LAPD cop Ryan (Matt Dillon) whilst his rookie partner Thomas (Ryan Phillippe) looks on angry but unable to intervene. Mexican locksmith Daniel (Michael Pena) works all the hours to provide for his wife and daughter. Persian shopkeeper Farhad (Shaun Toub) buys a gun to protect himself.

Over the course of the film we learn how all these seemingly random lives intersect. The story is filled with surprises, always undermines your expectations and finds the humanity in even the most reprehensible of characters. It is one of the best American films in a Summer where they have been noticeably thin on the ground.

General release, selected cinemas
Director: Paul Haggis
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Brendan Fraser, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe
Screenwriter: Paul Haggis
Certificate: 15
Running time: 112 mins
Country: US
Year: 2004

© Allan Hunter, 2005