Going to pieces
by Mark Caldwell Jones
Not every crash is an accident. The movie Crash proves it. This film is masterfully choreographed and is destined to careen right down the red carpet at next year's Oscars.
Paul Haggis wrote Crash with his friend Bobby Moresco back in 2000 when he was putting the finishing touches on the script for Clint Eastwood's 2004 Oscar winner, Million Dollar Baby. This is Haggis' first theatrical film even though he has a long history of writing and directing in the television world. With Crash, he proves he's ready for the big screen. The film presents us with a fascinating set of multiple story lines that Haggis weaves together with creative precision. The result is a compelling tapestry of modern life in Los Angeles.
Graham (played by Don Cheadle) is a L.A. detective on his way up the LAPD career ladder, weighed down by his heroin-addicted mother and the disappearance of his prodigal brother. Rick (Brendan Fraser) is a savvy district attorney juggling an all-too-political career with the needs of a very unhappy wife (Sandra Bullock). Too bad he's more interested in polishing his rising star than filling the emotional vacancy of his marriage. Hanson (Ryan Phillippe) is a rookie police officer partnered with an angry racist cop (Matt Dillon) who enjoys hassling a beautiful woman (Thandie Newton) and her African-American husband (Terrence Dashon Howard). Chris "Ludacris" Bridges shows his surprisingly strong acting abilities as Anthony, an intellectual, angst-ridden carjacker who justifies his career by riffing on the plight of the young African-American man pinned under the wreck of racism and poverty.
Crash shows us how desperation and rage fuel racial tension. Exposing the insidious nature of racism is one of the film's dominant themes, but Haggis doesn't preach. He helps us experience racism from every angle; we learn how easy it is for even the most well-intentioned person to commit petty acts of sadism that dehumanizes others and keeps prejudice alive.
When Officer Ryan (Matt Dillon) visits Shaniqua's (Loretta Devine) HMO office and begs for better medical care for his ill father, we hope Shaniqua's compassion will overrule her need to take revenge for Ryan's previous insults. No such luck; she denies his claim again and chooses to keep the cycle of hatred alive in spite of her power to end the suffering of Ryan's father. There are many intersections like that throughout the film. As soon as we are ready to hate a character, Haggis shines a light on his or her redemptive qualities and our judgment is turned upside down. This is where the writing really shines. Stereotypes give way to a set of characters with real depth and enough dimension that we can see ourselves reflected in their stories.
Crash is an emotional roller coaster worth riding. The film is edited with finesse, and each of the actors gives a nuanced performance. A few unnecessary curves seem out of place but the overall power of the film makes up for those mistakes.
Crash shows us that tragedy and redemption live side by side in a city of broken people. Most of all, it reminds us how we all need the hand of grace to pull us from the wreckage of our bad choices.
Mark Caldwell Jones is a life coach and counselor living in Littleton, Colorado.
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