Susan Granger’s review of “Crash” (Lions Gate Films)
Buckle up! Racial tensions explode in this bleak view of the mean streets of Los Angeles. “In any real city, you walk, you brush past people, people bump into you,” we’re told. “In L.A., nobody touches you. We’re always behind this metal-and-glass.” A black detective (Don Cheadle) and his Hispanic partner/lover (Jennifer Esposito) are rear-ended by a hysterical Asian/American woman (Alexis Rhee). A politically ambitious district attorney (Brendan Fraser) and his bitchy, bigoted wife (Sandra Bullock) have their SUV carjacked by two black thugs (rapper Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Larenz Tate) who run over an elderly Korean as they escape. A rookie cop (Ryan Phillippe) is horrified when his obnoxious, racist partner (Matt Dillon) humiliates a wealthy, innocent African/American couple (Terence Dashon Howard, Thandie Newton). An Iranian shopkeeper (Shaun Toub) whose business is robbed (Shaun Toub) blames a Mexican locksmith (Michael Pena), who just wants to protect his fearful young daughter. These turbulent, troubled characters collide, amid fender benders, stolen vehicles and divisive city corruption – and far too many angry, frustrated people have guns. For Oscar-nominated “Million Dollar Baby” writer Paul Haggis, this is an auspicious directing debut, crafting a thoughtful, quasi-realistic, if coincidence-prone, ensemble effort – with co-writer Bobby Moresco – that, structurally, evokes “Magnolia,” “Traffic,” “The Player,” “Grand Canyon” and “Short Cuts.” Reportedly, the idea started germinating 15 years ago when Haggis and his wife had their car stolen at gunpoint. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Crash” impacts with an improbable, unpredictable, unsettling 8. Depressing but worth a detour.
