

In post-Sept. 11 Los Angeles, tensions erupt when the lives of a Brentwood housewife, her district attorney husband, a Persian shopkeeper, two cops, a pair of carjackers and a Korean couple converge during a 36-hour period.
Acting
Matt Dillon's cop you love to hate.
Editing
Crash-cut timelines that age poorly.
Writing
Dialogue that thinks it's deeper than it is.

Director
Paul Haggis
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Paul Haggis wrote this after his Porsche was carjacked in 1991; the film sat unfunded until after 9/11 made its themes suddenly marketable.
This film's Best Picture win over Brokeback Mountain remains one of the Academy's most mocked decisions, symbolizing Hollywood's preference for comfortable racial narratives over queer stories.