Crash: A diamond in the rough

Crash; 1:40, R, for language, sexual content and violence; Grade: A-

The best movie in our local theater right now is also the least likely that anybody has even heard of. Crash, a thought-provoking examination of race relations in the United States, snuck under the radars last week, with barely any previews or ads promoting it. Normally, I don’t like to review a movie a week late. I figure if I can’t review it when it opens, I’ll just have to write it off as a missed opportunity. I’m going to have to break that rule for Crash because this movie deserves to be heard of.

Written and directed by Paul Haggis (screenwriter for Million Dollar Baby), Crash possesses a level of intelligence rarely seen at the multiplex, and outstanding performances from its ensemble cast. Surprisingly, it’s often just as funny as it is provocative, and at times both tender, heart-breaking, and even a little warm and fuzzy.

In Crash, a number of lives cross paths, through a series of terribly unfortunate (and fortunate) coincidences. Taking place in Los Angeles, Crash explores the ways in which racism invades the daily lives of modern day urbanites.

The ensemble cast is too large for me to mention every one of them. Though Haggis is able to get good performances from virtually his entire cast (even from people we never knew could act, like Sandra Bullock and Brendan Fraser), a few people stand out. Don Cheadle, fresh off a Best Actor Oscar nomination for Hotel Rwanda, may very well end up nominated for his work in Crash, as well. Best of all, however, is Thandie Newton (The Chronicles of Riddick, Mission Impossible 2). This is the first “serious” role she’s played since Beloved, and she soars higher than we’ve ever seen her before.

There seems to be a lot of debate about just what Haggis is trying to say in Crash. Is there an underlying theme or intended message? Is he trying to make a point about racism, and what is it?

My take on it is that he’s not trying to say anything at all. I see Crash not as a message-movie, but as a prod in our sides. In an age dominated by political correctness, it’s become almost taboo to talk about race, without fear of being accused of racism. I think the whole point of Crash is to get people thinking and talking, and nothing could be more healthy than that.

For that reason alone, Crash is worth watching. The fact that it is also wonderfully entertaining makes it a must-see.