Crash

Crash is the best film I’ve seen so far this year. Like Grand Canyon, Short Cuts and Magnolia, the L.A.-based drama tells a series of interlocking stories. The common link between the various characters involves displays of racial bigotry, but the screenplay does not browbeat the audience. Director Paul Haggis, who co-wrote the script with Bobby Moresco, is careful to show the human side of his characters, even the ones that say or do the vilest things. Though the film deals with some grim themes, it is consistently entertaining and sometimes even funny, with lots of fine performances from its big cast.

Officer Ryan (Matt Dillon)

Haggis, an L.A. resident for 25 years, came up with the story after leaving a video store one night and getting car-jacked at gunpoint. After the incident, which he said “forced me out of my complacency,” he examined the circumstances from all sides. Realizing that in the car-culture of L.A., various racial and ethnic groups generally remain isolated from each other, he came up with the idea of “crashing” together a group of people of various races, classes and castes. To do so, the storyline uses coincidence for all its worth.

Good thing it works.

When a film this full of characters and stories clocks in at less than two hours, viewers are introduced to a large number of faces in a short period of time. To make it a bit easier to ease into the viewing experience, I offer the following.

SPOILER-FREE CRASH CHEAT SHEET:

Graham Waters (Don Cheadle) is a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. He and his partner, Ria (Jennifer Esposito), are dating each other on the side.

Shop owner Farhad (Shaun Toub) fears for the safety of Iran-Americans in this time of mistrust. Despite the warnings of his TV director daughter, Dorri (Bahar Soomekh), he gets a gun for protection.

Daniel (Michael Pena) is a locksmith and family man. He tries to always be helpful, even when that means going a bit above and beyond his job description to try and appease an upset shop owner.

Cameron (Terrence Howard) and his wife Christine (Thandie Newton) live comfortable lives. They are upstanding citizens who give trouble to no one and certainly do not expect to receive any, especially from the local police.

L.A. County District Attorney Rick (Brendan Fraser) and his wife Jean (Sandra Bullock) glide from one social event to the next. Unfortunately, street crime can happen to anyone, even the influential and well-to-do, Peter (Larenz Tate) and Anthony (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges) are buddies who are quite aware of the stereotypes that people apply when they see two young black men walking down the street. One of the guys, by the way, is Detective Graham’s brother.

Officer Ryan (Matt Dillon) is a very angry 17-year veteran of the LAPD. His partner, Officer Hansen (Ryan Phillippe), is very concerned about Ryan’s temperament and actions; concerned enough to talk with his superior, Lt. Dixon (scene stealer Keith David).

Those of you that skipped the above should rest assured that the film is so well-written that you will get acclimated to the characters and situations quickly (though not as quickly as the wise souls who chose to read the cheat sheet). If you are like me, once you learn how everything turns out, you will want to see the film again to put things into context.

I won’t go into the performances here because to focus on one is to give short shrift to another and everyone is wonderful. That said, it was very nice to be reminded that Sandra Bullock has talent beyond slapstick comedy. And I hope that Larenz Tate and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges gave Haggis a big thank you for providing their street buddy characters with the juiciest dialogue in the movie.

Crash isn’t perfect: It’s too short (try to think of the last time I complained about that). I wonder if a film this rich and entertaining, a bracing work that offers no easy answers, will reach the audience it deserves.

The ball is in your court.