Crash (DVD, 2005, Widescreen)

Issues of race and gender cause a group of strangers in Los Angeles to physically and emotionally collide in this drama from director and screenwriter Paul Haggis. Graham (Don Cheadle) is a police detective whose brother is a street criminal, and it hurts him to know his mother cares more about his ne'er-do-well brother than him. Graham's partner is Ria (Jennifer Esposito), who is also his girlfriend, though she has begun to bristle at his emotional distance, as well as his occasional insensitivity over the fact he's African-American and she's Hispanic. Rick (Brendan Fraser) is an L.A. district attorney whose wife, Jean (Sandra Bullock), makes little secret of her fear and hatred of people unlike herself. Jean's worst imaginings about people of color are confirmed when her SUV is carjacked by two African-American men -- Anthony (Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris), who dislikes white people as much as Jean hates blacks, and Peter (Larenz Tate), who is more open minded. Cameron (Terrence Howard) is a well-to-do African-American television producer with a beautiful wife, Christine (Thandie Newton). While coming home from a party, Cameron and Christine are pulled over by Officer Ryan (Matt Dillon), who subjects them to a humiliating interrogation (and her to an inappropriate search) while his new partner, Officer Hansen (Ryan Phillippe), looks on. Daniel (Michael Pena) is a hard-working locksmith and dedicated father who discovers that his looks don't lead many of his customers to trust him. And Farhad (Shaun Toub) is a Middle Eastern shopkeeper who is so constantly threatened in the wake of the 9/11 attacks that he decided he needs a gun to defend his family. Crash was the first directorial project for award-winning television and film writer Haggis. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Running Time: 122 mins
Complete Cast:
Sandra Bullock - Jean
Matt Dillon - Jack Ryan
Shaun Toub - Farhad
Terrence Howard - Cameron Thayer
Thandie Newton - Christine Thayer
Ryan Phillippe - Officer Tom Hanson
Michael Pena - Daniel
Tony Danza - Fred
Dato Bakhtadze - Lucien
James Haggis - Lara's Friend
Billy Gallo - Officer Hill
Beverly Todd - Graham's Mother
Loretta Devine - Shaniqua
Don Cheadle - Graham Waters
Jennifer Esposito - Ria
Brendan Fraser - Rick
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges - Anthony
William Fichtner - Flanagan
Larenz Tate - Peter
Art Chudabala - Ken Ho
Nona Gaye - Karen
Marina Sirtis - Shereen
Sean Cory - Motorcycle Cop
Karina Arroyave - Elizabeth
Keith David - Lt. Dixon
Ken Garito - Bruce

Director(s):Paul Haggis
MPAA Rating: R(Not For Children, Violence, Profanity, Sexual Situations)
Writer(s):Robert Moresco, Bobby Moresco, Paul Haggis
Producer(s):Bobby Moresco, Cathy Schulman, Paul Haggis
Technical Details:
Studio:Lions Gate
Genre:
Drama