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DVD Corner: ‘Crash’ delivers as a powerful drama
Mac Olsen
for Spotlight
Rated 14A by the Canadian Home Video Rating: 1 hour, 55 minutes: $12.99 for two-disc DVD edition and $20.99 for Blu-ray edition (reviewed) at www.amazon.ca
As a drama about race relations, stereotyping and prejudice, director Paul Haggis’s ‘Crash’ unapologetic- ally shows the Archie Bunker that may lie inside all of us.
The casting sheet is long. Sandra Bullock plays Jean Cabot, Brendan Fraser is District Attorney Rick Cabot, Terrance How- ard is Cameron Tha- yer, Thandie Newton is Christine Thayer, Matt Dillon is Officer John Ryan, Ryan Phillipe is Officer Tom Hansen, Michael Peña is Daniel and Shaun Toub is Farhad.
The movie takes place against the backdrop of the very multi- ethnic, multicultural Los Angeles. It opens with a vehicle collision involving Jean. She has some very choice racist remarks for the other driver and later she tells her husband, Rick, to get the locks changed on their house. She also tells him to not use someone from a certain racial background to do the work.
In another scene, Ryan pulls Cameron over, suspecting he’s driving under the influence. Then he sees Christine pull her head up in the front passenger seat and suspects she’s engaging in very lewd behaviour.
Ryan and Christine get into a dispute about her husband and things nearly get out of control. Then Ryan allows his hand to go up under her dress, making her feel violated.
Hansen witnesses the incident, making him feel uncomfortable and guilty by association. Hansen later tries to distance himself from Ryan, but he also gets involved in another incident with racial undertones, which goes tragically wrong.
At home, Christine rakes Cameron over the coals for not standing up to the police for what happened to her. Cameron retorts by telling her, maybe the police should have arrested her and then she would really understand the difficulties an African-Amer- ican like him has trying to fit into society.
However, Ryan and Christine’s paths cross again in a harrowing incident and there’s a poignant moment when they realize just how wrong they are.
Another racial incident occurs between Farhad, an Iranian- American, and Daniel, a Latino.
Farhad was the subject of racist remarks by a Caucasian male when he purchased a handgun. This incident makes Farhad bitter, which sets the stage for the next incident.
While changing the lock at Farhad’s business, Daniel tells him the door has to be replaced. This leads to a misunderstanding on Farhad’s part and he gets into a dispute with Daniel, who leaves in a rage.
Later, Farhad’s store is vandalized and he suspects Daniel. He goes to his home where the potential for a very tragic situation unfolds.
These and other incidents make ‘Crash’ a compelling drama. It appears the characters may be racist or stereotypical in their beliefs, but there are underlying factors which prove otherwise.
As such, ‘Crash’ deserves 4 ½ stars out of five for being a great and compelling drama.
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