C R A S H

The story is set in Los Angeles and follows the lives of a number of people over a 36 hour period. Amongst the characters are; racist cop Ryan (Matt Dillon) and his partner Hanson (Ryan Phillippe); two young carjackers (Larenz Tate and Chris 'Luudacris' Bridges); Rick the district attorney (Brendan Fraser) and his wife Jean (Sandra Bullock); TV director Cameron (Terrence Howard) and his wife Christine (Thandie Newton); detective Graham (Don Cheadle). Coming from different backgrounds and races, the lives of these characters are intertwined when they meet or 'Crash'.

The film's theme is racism and it shows the negative way in which people treat each other. It examines people's fears and suspicions of different races, outright hatred, preconceived ideas, ignorance, miscommunication and misunderstandings etc. More importantly it shows how attitudes to different cultures and races can cloud one's judgement and have terrible unforeseen consequences at an individual level.

Although there are several characters and interconnecting storylines the film never gets confusing and the story is extremely well told. It is brutally honest and shocking at times but this is balanced with dark humour and also some touching scenes. It also suggests that things can sometimes be turned around for the better.

Good performances all round but if I was to 'name names' it would be Matt Dillon who plays a racist LAPD patrol cop and Thandie Newton who has a couple of run-ins with him. They share a couple of dramatic scenes that are charged with emotion and these scenes will leave an impression.

Lasting Thought: We need to open ours eyes and see the 'person' not their race, colour or creed.

Bottom Line: Thought provoking drama that looks at the destruction that racism and prejudices can cause. The interconnecting stories are extremely well told and acted.

You might also be interested in watching Monster's Ball.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2005.

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS:

SANDRA BULLOCK: Miss Congeniality,  Miss Congeniality 2,  Murder By Numbers,  Two Weeks Notice.

MATT DILLON: Herbie Fully Loaded.

DON CHEADLE: The Family Man, After The Sunset,  Ocean's Twelve.

BRENDAN FRASER: Bedazzled.

Genre: Drama/Crime

Director: Paul Haggis

Certificate: Crash was rated 15A by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable for those of 15 years of age or upwards. Persons under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Violence = moderate. Drugs = mild. Sex/Nudity = moderate. Language = strong.

Official Movie Website: CRASH

~ Main Cast ~

Sandra Bullock

Don Cheadle

Matt Dillon

Jennifer Esposito

Brendan Fraser

Terrence Howard

Ryan Phillippe

Thandie Newton

Larenz Tate

Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges