Sadly Over-hyped

Powerful

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

For some reason then I never got around to watching "Crash" until now, after I was strongly recommended it by a teacher. So I got the chance and sat down to watch it, and it turned out that I had actually missed out on a rather unique movie experience.While the storyline in the movie might seem a bit sporadic and all over the place at first, then I can only urge you to stick with it, because it all comes full circle and comes together in a very impressive manner.Director and writer Paul Haggis managed to put together a good story that was voven together by many different storylines. But it all worked out quite well when pieced together.The cast in "Crash" was just spectacular and they really had some talented actors and actresses on the cast list. You will be blown away by the collection of talents that are present in this movie.But not only the cast was fantastic here. The characters that the actors and actresses were portraying was equally fantastic. The characters were so well-nuanced and individually adding something unique to the storyline.The pacing in the movie was quite good, and there wasn't really a dull moment throughout the course of the movie."Crash" is definitely a movie that is well worth taking the time to sit down and watch.

CrashIt is admirable to pull off a feature with no definite characterization bit the script itself that just depicts few incidents and still somehow manages to connect with the audience. Paul Haggis; the co-writer and director, is convincingly good in his job on executing the high pitched dramatic sequences. On performance level, there isn't much range provided to the actors to factor in but Don Cheadle and Michael Pena are still brilliant in it. Crash is a gripping tale told over multiple incidents that speaks louder on terms of character's perspective but as soon as one cracks the equation, the sub-plots goes repetitive and mundane.

Crash, directed by Paul Haggis, is a collection of intertwining stories set in Los Angeles. We follow a pair of cops, for example, who in turn pull over a vehicle, the driver of which we then follow around for a while, and so on. Kind of like Pulp Fiction, but with the emphasis on theme rather than style.That theme in this case being that of prejudice. These characters are victims and perpetrators of racism, bigotry and hate. Or, as the movie want you to realize, they're often both at the same time depending on the circumstances. Being a victim of racial slurs and worse doesn't keep you from throwing similar slurs around in a different setting. Those who are bullied often become bullies themselves to seize back some of the power that was taken from them. And that's a vicious cycle.It's a poignant message, and what I appreciate about this film is its neutrality. It doesn't take sides, and if it condemns, it condemns us all as equals. Very few characters in this film are completely without a blame, which rings true to me as a viewer.The acting is also topnotch, as it should be for a film of this substance. Matt Dillon's Academy Award nominated performance is one of the best in the film easily, though I also like Shaun Toub and Michael Peña a lot. But truly there are no bad performances in this film.Crash is one of the best films about race, racism and bigotry I've seen. And it earns that through engaging storytelling, good characters and steadfast neutrality. Great watch.

............................................................from Pasto,Colombia...Via: L.A. CA., CALI, COLOMBIA and ORLANDO, FL After seeing CRASH for the first time, in September, 2005, I said " WOW!...Why haven't I found out about this movie before?" (Well, maybe it's because it was released in the U.S. just a week before going to Colombia on vacation, on May 14, 2005.) This is the kind of film that you often dream about seeing, but are really lucky if just one of its caliber is released in a year! Scenes from the Movie seem to have kept swirling around in my brain for weeks! Below, I'm going to explain why: CRASH impacts not so much for its action as, perhaps, its title might imply, nor fantastic scenes utilizing dazzling "CGI" effects, but by the undeniable quality and human warmth of the story it tells. Time and again, CRASH shows us people, whom, at first, seem so easy to decipher, so black and white, and then, in a matter of seconds, disorients us with a chilling dose of unadulterated, hard reality: People are not at all one-dimensional, like in the comics. We are flesh and blood, replete with clandestine simmering passions, occult emotional scars, irrational internal conflict, and oftentimes victims of relentless, implacable, merciless fate! In stark contrast to its title, CRASH impacts for the subtlety that it displays from beginning to end. Boasting a truly majestic cast, CRASH is directed, orchestrated and integrated with inspiration by Paul Haggis, who also demonstrates here his creative genius in the capacity of writer, producer and composer. There is absolutely none of the "formula", which so infects almost all Hollywood films, in this independent Lions Gate Films production.CRASH takes place in my hometown of Los Angeles, which serves, in this case, as a microcosm representative of the entire United States. (Which is really not all that far removed from reality.) That there have been films in the past that have focused on racism or racial prejudice is undeniable. The vast majority of these pontificate on racism as the worst of evils, in a repetitive manner, without any real in-depth perspective. In addition, they almost always focus on one particular ethnic group. (Prejudice against blacks, Jews, Mexicans, etc.) More often than not, in these films the oppressed are all saints and the oppressors are all demons! There is a certain disconnect with reality. In contrast, there is multiracial interaction in CRASH. Whites with blacks, blacks with Asians, Orientals with Latinos, Asians with whites, Arabs with whites, blacks with Latinos, etc.In its notes about the production, IMDb lists a figure of just 6.5 million as the total cost of production. Absolutely amazing, considering that within the cast there are several actors who probably typically charge 5 to 10 million to perform in just one movie! Sandra Bullock (GRAVITY), Don Cheadle (Ocean 's Twelve, Hotel Rwanda), Matt Dillon (Something About Mary), Brendan Fraser (The Mummy, George of the Jungle) and Ryan Philippe (Cruel Intentions), all in roles that are in stark contrast to the type of role that made them famous, and each portrays a resonating, multi-faceted character who is very credible. CRASH makes it easy to identify with many of its characters, regardless of race, ethnicity or country of origin.There are no sex scenes or graphic violence in CRASH, but as there are many issues that are aimed at adults, consequently, it doesn't seem that CRASH would be of much interest to those under 12 years of age. Of over 100,000 movies on IMDb, CRASH is ranked at Number 334 and rated a 7.9!...ENJOY/DISFRUTELA! Any comments, questions or observations, in English o en Español, are most welcome!