Crash

There are certainly a few scenes that get under your skin and make you shudder, but as a whole it’s too contrived, too "for effect" (in this respect I experienced the same feelings at the turning point in Haggis's other film Million Dollar Baby), too many coincidences that I found hard to accept, unbelievable behaviour of some of the characters. I didn’t buy it... (29/10/2005)

A brilliantly filmed and acted mosaic of human destinies with the central motif of the problematic coexistence of different races, cultures, and value hierarchies amid a modern multi-ethnic American metropolis. The excellent, well-crafted screenplay does not present issues of racial prejudice and conflicts simplistically and straightforwardly. It does not cheaply moralize and, through characters of various social and professional backgrounds, it speaks of the fact that nothing may be as it appears on the surface and that good intentions sometimes are not enough... It speaks of social isolation between the cream of the crop of society and the ordinary "lower class," of the cynical calculations with which politicians approach public administration issues. It does not favor whites or blacks, it only records the screenwriter's observations and feelings of fear of life in an overcrowded metropolis. The screenplay attracted significant attention among the American acting elite and, despite a severely limited budget, still obtained a strong, practically star-studded cast. Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, and Matt Dillon took on roles in the film as an excellent chance to shine in an artistically demanding film, which they rightly expected to be successful. For Paul Haggis, Crash was his directorial, screenwriting, and producing debut and instantly placed him among the recognized filmmakers of today. For me, Crash was one of the greatest cinematic experiences and one of the most significant films of the last decade. Overall impression: 95%. (25/11/2007)

Crash is perhaps the most honest (and most self-critical) cinematic depiction of a country’s problems. That is probably because Paul Haggis is a sensitive Canadian and is thus able to reflect the environment in which he lives as an expat better than someone who was born there. The film takes a broader view than, for example, 21 Grams, dramatically linking the life paths of several protagonists as it follows their stories from a greater distance without connecting them to a powerful motif. However, it is still emotionally powerful with many strong moments that remain in your memory. It doesn’t judge anyone, nor does it divide the characters into good and evil, instead depicting them as vulnerable beings controlled by dark forces. “You think you know who you are?” (29/09/2005)

I'm not a big fan of movies where multiple stories intertwine. But here, I don't even mind and the individual stories seemed complete. I felt the most emotion when Thandie Newton was being pulled out of the crashed car. But I was also touched by the fates of the other characters. I was really on edge at some points. Otherwise, I was amazed by the great music and unique atmosphere for most of the film. The film lived up to my expectations, yet I won't give it 5 stars. In the beginning, some parts were a bit boring. (20/08/2011)

The mirror reflecting contemporary America is perhaps angled in a way so as to provide the most effective reflection, but the whole thing is so believable that it's hard to resent it for that. Haggis's minimalist form achieves the best effect, which is an emotional attack on the viewer. Simple camera work, no directorial gimmicks or excesses, subtle music by Mark Isham, and above all, strong content that, in its own way, lacks a unified plot but instead fragments into a complex mosaic of individual human destinies and leaves an incredibly powerful, realistic, and human impact. Moreover, the strong cast elevates the quality of the film even higher. Still, I can't help but bring up one name - Don Cheadle. He is perhaps unfairly overlooked as an actor, but he proved here that he belongs to the absolute top in his field and that he has no issues taking on any role. Coincidences may not exist, but after watching Crash, one can successfully question that notion. (02/12/2005)