Crash

Set over the course of two days in post-September 11th Los Angles, in Crash director Paul Haggis brings together an ensemble of personalities and a bucket load of racial tension. The first half hour of the film is spent setting up a medley of characters from varying backgrounds, skin colours, experiences and attitudes - an honest black cop with an emotional mother and a bad boy younger brother, two astute black car thieves, a district attorney with a political agenda and an uptight wife, a fearful Persian shop owner and many more. This motley crew are bundled and jumbled altogether, while the tight and fluid narratives gel and work around them - illustrating that everyone is prejudiced, but also that there is a distinct difference between racist tendencies and stereotypical characteristics and out and out hatred and racism. This is a film of many narratives, and subsequently not all the stories get the same depth of treatment that they deserve. However, Haggis has an extensive background in writing for TV shows - Love Boat, Different Strokes, thirtysomething - and is obviously an accomplished writer of multiple characters and storylines. And while not as substantial as it could be, the over all themes of blatant discrimination and subtle inferred prejudices are given a bold and thoughtful forum. The performances are both interesting and powerful in many places, although the soundtrack could be substantially improved. Haggis seems to be saying that while the World has become a multi-national melting pot, people's minds haven't, as adjustment takes longer. Well worth the (increasing) rental cost.