Crash

Racism and xenophobia in all possible forms in cosmopolitan Los Angeles in the period leading up to Christmas. The storytelling style is similar to Magnolia, especially as far as how the separate stories end up interweaving with each other. Primarily toward the end we get a couple of really powerful moments, effectively supported by excellent music... Despite everything, I couldn’t get over the feeling that it was all too superficial and intended only for effect, which is a shame. (05/11/2005)

There are certainly a few scenes that get under your skin and make you shudder, but as a whole it’s too contrived, too "for effect" (in this respect I experienced the same feelings at the turning point in Haggis's other film Million Dollar Baby), too many coincidences that I found hard to accept, unbelievable behaviour of some of the characters. I didn’t buy it... (29/10/2005)

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)

Find strength, courage, and a clear mind. And let yourself get caught up in the clash. It's harder than it seems, because you might have to overcome some prejudices. Not necessarily the racial ones that Paul Haggis talks about, but purely cinematic ones. It requires rising above contrivance, incredibility, or potential calculation. This creative team certainly isn't aiming for that. There were times when I couldn't find a single wrong word to say about Crash, thanks to its sincerity and persuasiveness, and even though I now understand that everything fits together perhaps a bit too easily and not all the storylines are masterfully told, even ten years after its sensational Oscar triumph, it remains painfully relevant and timeless. The actors, the script, the perfectly captivating yet unobtrusive music, and one of the most flawless scenes I have ever seen, "I'll protect you", are responsible for that. And it's a scene that nobody who has seen the film will forget. (28/10/2005)

Overall, pretty ordinary stories of ordinary people (read typical Yanks of all three races), but they are presented with quite good directorial skill and interesting work and narrative style, making Crash an engaging film that can grab and not let go. There is only one point and fairly simple, there is more or less no story, but the A-list cast and the director's clear goal of showing the viewer an ordinary American day, along with the clearly established rules between whites and blacks, make for an enjoyable two hour film that makes you sweat at times. (15/09/2022)