Crash

I'm not a big fan of movies where multiple stories intertwine. But here, I don't even mind and the individual stories seemed complete. I felt the most emotion when Thandie Newton was being pulled out of the crashed car. But I was also touched by the fates of the other characters. I was really on edge at some points. Otherwise, I was amazed by the great music and unique atmosphere for most of the film. The film lived up to my expectations, yet I won't give it 5 stars. In the beginning, some parts were a bit boring. (20/08/2011)

A brilliantly filmed and acted mosaic of human destinies with the central motif of the problematic coexistence of different races, cultures, and value hierarchies amid a modern multi-ethnic American metropolis. The excellent, well-crafted screenplay does not present issues of racial prejudice and conflicts simplistically and straightforwardly. It does not cheaply moralize and, through characters of various social and professional backgrounds, it speaks of the fact that nothing may be as it appears on the surface and that good intentions sometimes are not enough... It speaks of social isolation between the cream of the crop of society and the ordinary "lower class," of the cynical calculations with which politicians approach public administration issues. It does not favor whites or blacks, it only records the screenwriter's observations and feelings of fear of life in an overcrowded metropolis. The screenplay attracted significant attention among the American acting elite and, despite a severely limited budget, still obtained a strong, practically star-studded cast. Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, and Matt Dillon took on roles in the film as an excellent chance to shine in an artistically demanding film, which they rightly expected to be successful. For Paul Haggis, Crash was his directorial, screenwriting, and producing debut and instantly placed him among the recognized filmmakers of today. For me, Crash was one of the greatest cinematic experiences and one of the most significant films of the last decade. Overall impression: 95%. (25/11/2007)

There are two free seats on the bus, one of them is next to a white guy, the other is next to someone with brown skin. Where would you sit? This film answers this and similar questions, hinting at the circumstances that lead to them. Is it racism or avoiding a risk from fears based on previous negative experiences? An often unnecessary but quite logical price of mixing nations together. (08/04/2009)

The mirror reflecting contemporary America is perhaps angled in a way so as to provide the most effective reflection, but the whole thing is so believable that it's hard to resent it for that. Haggis's minimalist form achieves the best effect, which is an emotional attack on the viewer. Simple camera work, no directorial gimmicks or excesses, subtle music by Mark Isham, and above all, strong content that, in its own way, lacks a unified plot but instead fragments into a complex mosaic of individual human destinies and leaves an incredibly powerful, realistic, and human impact. Moreover, the strong cast elevates the quality of the film even higher. Still, I can't help but bring up one name - Don Cheadle. He is perhaps unfairly overlooked as an actor, but he proved here that he belongs to the absolute top in his field and that he has no issues taking on any role. Coincidences may not exist, but after watching Crash, one can successfully question that notion. (02/12/2005)

Not long ago, I wrote about American History X, mentioning racism as a global issue—and here I am again. Crash is another film that makes you think: is it the nature of individuals or the weight of prejudice? Hard to say which has more influence, and maybe it doesn’t matter. This drama is proof that things aren’t always what they seem at first glance. 90%. (02/05/2009)