Crash (2004)
This was an Oscar winner, so obviously it got lots of attention. I wanted to review it also; this movie was extremely well done in a very subtle way. The interconnected stories are all meshed together in some way or another. This makes the story dynamic in different ways, so you have to see and read between the lines of what is there.
The movie was directed by Paul Haggis who has talent growing out of his shoulders, even though the man has lost his hair. You might know that he also won for his writing of the screenplay for Million Dollar Baby (2004) which was directed by Clint Eastwood.
This means only since 1950 he is the only screenwriter who has won two back to back best film awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. That’s quite an achievement. He directed this film also.
You will see a lot of familiar faces in this one, including Sandra Bullock playing Jean Cabot who is a rich woman without any real friends in life, until she wakes up to realize who is important to her.
The unique Don Cheadle plays Det. Graham Waters who is a partial centerpiece for the film. You will also see Tony Danza in this as Fred and Brendan Fraser as Rick Cabot. Keith David is Lt. Dixon, Loretta Devine is playing Shaniqua Johnson, Matt Dillon is Officer John Ryan, Jennifer Esposito is Ria.
Also, Terrence Howard is in this playing the role of Cameron Thayer and his wife is played by Thandie Newton. The actor Michael Peña also gives a great performance. There are others of course, but you will have to see this yourself.
The performances given in this were excellent. The movie shines light on racial tensions, and takes place throughout various locations in Los Angeles. The open setting of the story takes place with several people involved in multiple car crashes, the movie flashes back to the daily lives of each of the central characters and from there we get a sense of what really happened and how things unfolded.
I highly recommend this, and it will be put on my best picks list. The tagline for this film was: “You think you know who you are. You have no idea”.
