Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
In post-Sept. 11 Los Angeles, tensions erupt when the lives of a Brentwood housewife, her district attorney husband, a Persian shopkeeper, two cops, a pair of carjackers and a Korean couple converge during a 36-hour period.
Crash won the Best Picture Oscar but has since become somewhat controversial in its reputation. Its ensemble cast is genuinely strong—Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Terrence Howard, and Sandra Bullock all deliver committed performances that elevate the material. The interwoven storylines structure was effective for its time, though Altman had done it better. The plot leans heavily on coincidence and sometimes heavy-handed symbolism to make its racial politics points, which can feel manipulative rather than authentic. Cinematography is competent LA-noir but not especially distinctive. The film was reasonably novel in its mainstream treatment of race relations post-9/11, but its 'everyone is racist' thesis feels schematic. The ending, with its various character resolutions, is emotionally effective but somewhat tidy given the complexity of the issues raised.