Bailey Porter
Editor in Chief
Nila Priyambodo
Managing Editor

“Crash” is a brave and honest look at modern day racism in Los Angeles. At times shocking and devastatingly accurate, moviegoers will find themselves holding their breath, talking to the screen and becoming thoroughly enveloped in the stories that weave throughout the film.

With issues of racial stereotyping being a dominating factor in “Crash,” one would assume the movie would be offensive. But a talented ensemble cast that showcases the problems of intolerance makes this movie a must-see film.

“Crash” begins with the discovery of a dead body on the side of the road and flashes back 24 hours before the murder, following twelve people who are connected with the killing. The twelve people include a Brentwood housewife (Sandra Bullock), her district attorney husband (Brendan Fraser), two police detectives (Don Cheadle and Jennifer Esposito), two cops (Ryan Phillippe and Matt Dillon), a television director (Terrence Dashon Howard) and his wife (Thandie Newton), two car jackers (Ludacris and Larenz Tate), a locksmith (Michael Pena) and a shop owner (Shaun Toub).

The movie does a great job at making people open their eyes to the problems of racial stereotypes without being too preachy. There were many suspenseful scenes in the movie that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seats.

An important element to any good movie is the actors’ ability to evoke the audience’s sympathy for their characters. Although “Crash” was an ensemble cast with spectacular acting, Cheadle’s role as a detective promising his drug-addicted mother that he would find his delinquent brother outshined the rest. The movie also takes Bullock out of her American Sweetheart roles, like those seen in “Miss Congeniality,” and forces her into the part of a lonely wife, who is a bigot.

However, don’t be mistaken. The other actors should not be forgotten as well.

This is by far some of the best acting by Dillon, who can be seen in movies like “There’s Something About Mary” and “Wild Things.” The remaining nine actors do not disappoint, either.

The cinematography is superb. The scenes are so beautiful that they give a kind of resonance to the violence born from racism. The audience senses from the scenes the internal struggle of the characters as they become aware of their prejudices and decide how they will act on this new realization. One scene depicts a car engulfed in flames and ashes falling like thick snow onto the shoulders of one character who finally comes to terms with his identity as an African-American.

Breaking away from the traditional movie endings, “Crash” doesn’t tie-up the movie with a nice wrapped up conclusion, allowing you to come up with your own possibilities.

Overall “Crash,” one of the best movies in recent years, is not meant for the light-hearted moviegoers. It’s a serious movie about serious problems that makes you think about the world around you. Usually this kind of topic is only tackled by small, independent films, but “Crash” proved unapologetically in command of telling the story of the real emotions and pain that is inevitable in a big, multicultural city like Los Angeles.

Unfortunately, it’s too early for Oscar buzz because “Crash” definitely deserves Academy Award nods.

We give this movie two paws up.

Bailey Porter can be reached at porterb@ulv.edu.
Nila Priyambodo can be reached at npriyambodo@ulv.edu.