For me, Paul Haggis is one of the most exciting filmmakers around and it was back in 2005 when he delivered the fantastic Crash - yes it really was a decade ago when this film first got heaped in praise.
Crash
Crash was only the second feature film for Haggis and came twelve years after he made his debut with Red Hot in 1993 - needless to say, Crash was the movie that really helped put Haggis on the map. As well as being in the director's chair, Haggis also teamed up with Robert Moresco to pen the screenplay.
Bringing together a great ensemble cast that includes Sandra Bullock, Brendan Fraser, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Michael Pena, Thandie Newton and Jennifer Esposito, the movie is set in Los Angeles and follow the vastly the different lives of the city's citizens interweaving stories of race, loss and redemption.
I really do like movies that interweave stories lines and characters as it really does make for a complex and interesting narrative - and that is exactly what we have got with Crash.
Haggis has a lot of plates to keep spinning from the opening scene to the closing credits and he keeps everything working perfectly from start to finish.
For me, I found Crash to be an intelligent and smartly observed movie as it explored the theme of racism; show that we are all guilty of that and the judgment of people in one form or another.
It really is a terrific study of racism and intolerance and it really does pack and awfully powerful punch. This is a film that grabs you emotionally and pulls you in - keeping you hooked from beginning to end.
Crash boasted one of the most impressive ensemble casts of the year and all of the performances are terrific; with some standout turns from the likes of Bullock, Newton, and Dillon.
It is the interlocked stories that really makes Crash what it is as he builds a complex web of characters, life, troubled relationships, hard times and love. The storyline is unpredictable and packed with twists, turns, and unexpected meetings; beautifully reflecting real life and the fact you never know what is around the corner.
Crash was met will by the critics upon release and went on to feature heavily during the awards season that year. The film was nominated for six Oscars; winning Best Picture, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Screenplay. Haggis was also nominated for Best Director and Matt Dillon picked up a Best Supporting Actor nomination; they lost out to Ang Lee and George Clooney for Brokeback Mountain and Syriana.
Crash went head to head with Brokeback Mountain for the Best Picture and it was the latter that was expected to triumph. However, both films explored interesting, provocative, and powerful themes with Crash being a very worthy winner.
Since the release of Crash, Haggis has gone on to direct In The Valley of Elah and The Next Three Days but it is this film that remains his greatest directing achievement to date.
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