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
Don Cheadle
Det. Graham Waters
Sandra Bullock
Jean Cabot
Brendan Fraser
Rick Cabot
Matt Dillon
Officer John Ryan
Jennifer Esposito
Ria
Michael Peña
Daniel Ruiz
Terrence Howard
Cameron Thayer
Thandiwe Newton
Christine Thayer
Ludacris
Anthony
Larenz Tate
Peter
Ryan Phillippe
Officer Tom Hansen
Shaun Toub
Farhad
Bahar Soomekh
Dorri
Ashlyn Sanchez
Lara Ruiz
Karina Arroyave
Elizabeth Ruiz
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.
US
