Crash Reviews

A must see.............

It's hard to describe Crash without it sounding earnest. But while this provocative drama tackles racism, class and looking beyond appearances, it's anything but worthy or dull. Following several lives as they, yes, crash together during one day in LA, it's fuelled by powerhouse performances from an outstanding cast. Sandra Bullock is startling as a bitchy housewife, Don Cheadle brings beaten-down grace to the role of a weary detective and, as a racist cop, Matt Dillon's steely presence holds everything together.

Some critics have criticised Crash for its reliance on coincidence. Which, given it's a deliberately structured modern parable, is a bit like damning War Of The Worlds for having aliens. Writer/director Paul Haggis (who scripted Clint Eastwood's Oscar-winner Million Dollar Baby) sets out to address difficult issues: why middle-class whites are afraid of working-class blacks, why being racist doesn't necessarily mean being inhuman, and how politics confuses the truth ('What are you, the ****ing defender of all things white?' yells William Fichtner's scheming internal affairs officer at Cheadle).

'FEW FILMS ARE AS DARING'

It perhaps isn't as accomplished Magnolia (a great film, which revels in its absurdity) or Short Cuts (another LA story dominated by a twisted cop). But Crash's problems (a self-important score and overwrought finale) pale next to its emotional impact. Few films feature scenes as powerful as the contrasting car clashes between Dillon and Thandie Newton (both moments heart-in-mouth horrifying in different ways ). Few films are as daring. Few films this year are as deserving of your attention.

Racist, gripping, excellent

I watch a lot of films, some good, some bad, some very bad. Crash is none of the above. It is a superb film. It's an astoundingly ambitious film which manages to take a subject as raw and sensitive as racism and racial identity and find a clear voice. It portrayed the inner turmoil that is often at work within all of us. It says the things we dare not for fear of being called a racist. This film doesn't make racism ok. It doesn't say it's alright to have those thoughts. All is says is that people do have these thoughts. It says the world is a strange difficult confusing place to get your head around at the best of times. It has a ‘Short Cuts’ feel to it in terms of all the people being linked. It's a beautifully filmed movie with a stellar cast of actors. The script is excellent and manages to capture the essence of many a misunderstood conversation. Miss it at your peril!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Professional and Well Crafted

This is an intricate and intelligent film which explores the effect that people have on one another as they come into contact in different situations in everyday life.

In particular the film portrays what happens when people stereotype one another in terms of race or when people go out of their way not to stereotype.

The film portrays an imperfect and complex world that doesn't always work the way we expect or want it to.

The characters are not all nice or all nasty, they face difficult choices and the consequences of their choices.

I was worried the film was going to be depressing but I found it left me with hope for people being able to do good.

A professional and well crafted film.

You NEED to see this film.

Fallen Angels, and Demons redeemed.

This film shows how short life can be, and how we can ALL be so horrible and caring to each other.

BUT - this is a feel good movie. It gives you a peek into the precipice, and ensures you never want to go there.

Couldn't tear my eyes from it. A masterpiece.

[Highly rated reviewer]

One of the best of 2005

Quite a hyped film and I think it says more about people not being able to see quality films rather than this being the best thing since sliced bread. This is a very good film but I thought it was a bit hyped up nevertheless it is still one of the best ten films to come out this year. Following the stories of a few individuals in Los Angeles, the film touches upon the issue of racism, although not in so much detail as to make it a film solely about that. What I did get out of the film was this underlying feeling of tension, pressure and anger within Los Angeles and how that contributes to issues like racism. The film had some great scenes in it, from horrifying to heartwarming, but at the end I came out wondering whether the US is beyond salvation, which is probably not what the film wants to portray but it's what I got from it.

crash

very thought provoking film about the prejudices we feel towards people that are different, ...ive looked at people before and assumed things which if we are honest is true of most people.

Its a very honest film in terms of the way we categorise people, it shows the frustrations of being jugded by the way we look and anyone that has experienced this will know exactly where this film is coming from.

As Heavy Handed as Andre the Giant hitting you with a copy of War and Peace

After 13 minutes had elapsed, I knew exactly what I was in store for. 100 more minutes of heavy handed, didatic and patronising lesson on racial politics in the 21st Century.

I think that Paul Haggis' writing on this topic has seen a considerable down turn in quality since his time scribing on Diff'rent Strokes, where the conflict between white foster dad Phillip and black foster child Arnold Jackson was far more powerful and believable. For those of you too young to remember Diff'rent Strokes was a Situation Comedy. Crash is a serious 'Oscar Winng'??!!?? Drama.

This film enraged me so much. Self important and preaching dialogue - people don't really talk like this. Over long scenes with music to build tension, but there is nothing tense occuring to warrant the soundtrack.

The characters are cliches and stereotpyes, the actors do the best they can, but the script never allows for them to become fully formed emphatic beings. As a result I never felt any emotinal connection with them or cared about their situations.

It is not that I lack intelligence or that I do not enjoy films of this genre. I usually do, arthouse drama is my genre of choice.

Self important and utterly patronising rubbish.

Haggis attempts to objectify the issue of racism in LA but fails miserably bringing a paint-by-numbers arthouse drama with a script worthy of Sesame Street.

[Highly rated reviewer]

only in America

Sickeningly sentimental, paint-by-numbers claptrap to a soundtrack by Enya: this is insultingly poor filmmaking, no cliché is left unturned, no obvious twist left unexplored. That this actually won Best Film Oscar over Brokeback Mountain says everything you've ever suspected about the triviality of Hollywood.

Compelling

I saw this at the cinema and people were transfixed - I looked around at one point and there was literally no popcorn rustling going on at all! This is a gripping film with some truly tense moments, ok so not all of the subplots work (noticeably the one involving Brendan Fraser and Sandra Bullock), but as a whole this is powerful and entertaining film making -one of the best this year.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Thought-provoking in the most positive way.

A very good movie indeed and one of my favourite dramas. Worth a look if only to see Matt Dillon's best performance in a very long while.