CRASH

Independent film Crash has been one of the most talked about and critically acclaimed films of 2005. Dubbed as the race relations drama, the story of Crash is set in the glass house city of Los Angeles, where people won't mingle with each other until they crash onto one another. Boasting a cast comprising of not less than seventy actors: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Brendan Fraser and Thandie Newton, to name a few - Crash is the definition ensemble acting. Add to that the masterful script that was well-executed by Paul Haggis who produced, wrote and directed the Oscar-nominated film.

The story takes place on a two-day journey of the crashing and burning relationships of the races intertwining in L.A. As Graham (Don Cheadle) narrates at the beginning of the film, "It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something." As each of the many characters in the story becomes exposed, we see that each one of them would either be the victim or the victimizer at a point in time.

For those who haven't seen the film, do not worry, I will not spoil to you the entire story. I would rather have you watch the film for yourselves and feel the emotions that would emanate from the drama than put it in text where you would absolutely feel nothing. However, I will point out the scenes in the film which I consider as the most significant.

The characters and how they become webbed to one another are most essential to the film. This is crucial to prove the point that each person at one point or another would either become the victim or the victimizer. On a particular scene we would see two officers pull over a car with a black couple. Although the couple's car isn't the one the officers have been told to track down, Officer Ryan (Matt Dillon) made sure he would check everything out. With this, he mildly threatens the couple and later, he molests the black woman (Thandie Newton) as he checks for illegal weapons. Tortured by this sexual abuse, Christine picks up a fight with her husband, questioning him for not having defended her from the beast. However, later on, we would see Christine in a crashed car, right after another argument with her husband. Incidentally, it was Officer Ryan who was there to save her. As much as she didn't want to be touched once again by the officer, she had no choice but to entrust her life to the officer, considering that the gasoline is leaking and fire is relatively near. In a very tumultuous scene, the fire had penetrated through the gasoline and we see Officer Ryan being pulled off by another officer, he comes back inside the disintegrating car and saves Christine.

Another character in the story that would prove the story's theme is Officer Hanson (Ryan Philippe), Officer's Ryan former partner. After the incident with Christine and her husband Graham (Terrence Howard), Officer Hanson asked for a reassignment. His request was granted albeit costing him a humiliating "personal reason". Later on, we see an enraged Graham being held up by two black men, as one would later flee upon the arrival of cops. Racing along the narrow road, Graham and Anthony (Ludacris) become cornered by Officer Hanson and another officer. Finally bursting out his anger, Graham confronts the officers, and in turn, the other officer threatens him too. Officer Hanson, who recognizes Graham from the incident during the previous night, then makes a save to help Graham; Graham would eventually get a warning and go freely. Later that night, we see Peter, the one who was able to escape, hitch a ride from Officer Hanson. As the two conversed and when Peter laughed about something, the officer gets irritated. Peter then tried to pick something out from his pocket but wasn't given the chance to show it until he got shot by Officer Hanson.

The human situation of the characters delves into a person's epiphany, realizations people undergo; explanations that there is indeed love beyond race. In the film, Jean (Sandra Bullock) the repressed wife of a lawyer (Brendan Fraser) would say, "I am angry all the time and I don't know why." She would lambaste almost everyone at her sight - the locksmith, the black men who stole their car, their helper. But later on, when an accident takes place, she would find herself being helped by someone she had neglected - their helper Maria; despite the fact that it was her friend for 10 years who had first learned of the incident, it was Maria who took her to the hospital.Jean would later on tell her, "You're the best friend I've got". Moreover, this condition was exemplified by the character of Anthony. Anthony hates that fact that black people are always discriminated. His principle as a thief is to steal from anybody except from the black. However, when he accidentally confronts Graham in the car incident and after Graham's confrontation with Officer Hanson, meekness surrounded him as Graham tells him, "You embarrass me... You embarrass yourself." This perhaps explains his act of liberation for the Asians who were trapped in a car he stole, which in fact, if he wanted to he could have profited from.

Racism has long been an issue in our society, in our world. What is special in Crash is that it doesn't only expose issues between races, but it also gives hope of resolution as manifested by the scene of Daniel (Michael Pena) and the Iraqi who would shoot his daughter. The Iraqi would later on have an epiphany that the little Latin girl was his angel, the one who shall save him. Furthermore, Crash proves that there can be love between races.

This montage of racial relationships marks the long-delayed directorial debut of Paul Haggis, the acclaimed screenplay writer of last year's Oscar Best Picture Million Dollar Baby (he was the original director slotted for the picture before Clint Eastwood requested that he helm the film himself). Haggis' story is a clever and riveting panorama of the intertwining lives in a city like L.A. Skillfully directed and well-edited, the film was able to convey his message through the powerful acting of its great ensemble cast; take note that there are no leading roles in this film, each character is given due time to tell its story - those of its own and those it creates with others. Matt Dillon, Terrence Howard and Thandie Newton, notably gave the most outstanding performances; with great support from Sandra Bullock and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges. Its script was well carried over by the actors even of the simplest roles. Its soundtrack especially the song "In The Deep" is emotional and haunting.

As a film, Crash is thrilling, riveting and enthralling. Perhaps the best indie film since Pulp Fiction (which also boasts a great ensemble), Crash was able to break odds and say its piece. As a moral lesson, Crash is thought-provoking and hopeful. It reaches across the audience to share its theme as well as making them examine their conscience.

You only need to watch this film once to fully comprehend its story and absorb its universal message. If it doesn't change you, it would at least make you think twice about your actions towards the people that surround you in this world. Truly, Crash is the best film of 2005.