Crash (2004 film)

From ArticleWorld

The story is comprised of various re-circulating vignettes, whose characters intersect with each other at different points through out the story. It is an examination of social and racial values within the American microcosm of Los Angeles. The events are sparked by the metaphor of the crash of cars as personalities that slam into each other. It takes a hard look at the bitter attitudes that people have about race.

Plot

1. A white woman, Jean(Sandra Bullock) and her LA District Attorney husband, Rick(Brendan Fraser) have been carjacked, and later her house is robbed. She believes that the locksmith who comes to her house, an hispanic(Michael Peria)is behind it. He’s not. Rick is seeking re-election. We can’t be certain about his racial views.

2. Anthony & Peter are two black thugs who have committed the carjacking. Peter(Larenz Tate)is the brother of Graham(Don Cheadle) an LAPD detective and his partner is Anthony(Ludacris). They dress well, but are into the frivolous pursuit of street crime.

3. Graham has very negative attitudes about hispanics, however he’s in a relationship with a female cop and he’s not sure(and neither is the audience)about whether she is hispanic. She has an hispanic look, but she never states for sure.

4. A black TV director(Terrence Dashon Howard)and his wife(Thandie Newton)are driving home from an affair and are getting frisky in their car. A white cop, officer Ryan(Matt Dillon)and his partner(Ryan Phillipe)get suspicious. They stop they car. Ryan thinks he’s with a white woman. She’s a light-skinned black woman. He proceeds to give her a full-body search, molesting her in the process. Her husband has to stand there and watch it. He’s repressing his anger.

Later, the same director, at work, is being forced to change the lines of a black actor in a scene because the white producer thinks that the lines are not “black enough.” He is powerless. 2.

Resolution

1. Officer Ryan is a witness to a huge car crash on the highway. He stops to handle the situation. The woman trapped underneath is the director’s wife, the woman he molested. He wants to help. She screams in abject fear of him. She is almost more afraid of him than the burning car that is about to explode on top of her. She accepts his help and lives.

2. Her husband, the director, his carjacked by Anthony. As they drive, the director is so angry, he loses it. He steps out of the car and is confronted by two cops, an hispanic and the Officer Ryan’s former partner, who couldn’t stand to be with Ryan, anymore.

3. A hostile situation because the director can’t take it. He’s told to get back in his car by the cops. The former partner recognizes him and understands his bitterness, his frustration. The hispanic cop is ready to shoot him. The situation is diffused. The director is totally disgusted with Anthony.

4. Graham, the detective, wants to investigate the death killing of his brother, Peter, who was shot by the partner...Ryan Phillip’s character. He’s offered a promotion by his superiors, if he drops his investigation of bad cops.

5. Jean and Rick are devastated by the carjacking, but her maid, an hispanic, is the only one who shows her love and understanding.

6. Anthony has to confront who and what he is...and where he will take his life after the death of his friend, Peter.

Production facts

1. Six Oscar nominations--won in three categories:Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay & Best Editing.

2. Two Golden Globe nominations:Best Supporting Actor & Best Screenplay.

3. SAG--Best Ensemble Cast Award.

4. BAFTA(British)--Two Awards:Best Original Screenplay & Best Supporting Actress(Thandie Newton). 5. Critics Choice Awards:Best Writer

6. NAACP Image Awards:Outstanding Motion Picture and Outstanding Supporting Actor(Terrence Howard)

7. Budget: $6.5 million. A meager sum for an Best Picture Oscar film.

8. The film grossed $53.4 million in 2005.