Friday afternoon, before escaping for the nerd baccinal that is CONvergence, I went to the movies with the incomparable Kristi Bruno.

     First, there were the cheesy biscuits and seafood of Red Lobster, then, stuffed with cheesy comfort-food goodness we went to see “Crash”.

     I hadn’t even heard of this movie.  How could I not have heard of this movie?  I can’t tell you anything about the craft of movie making as it applies to this movie.  I didn’t notice.  I was too busy getting sucked into the characters and the stories.

     The story telling framework is somewhat similar to “Love, Actually”; and somewhat like “Sin City” in that there is no one main character or protagonist.  Everyone is in their own little story, and the various people’s stories dovetail back and forth throughout the movie.

     I experienced every human emotion during the course of this movie.  At some point in this movie I despised every single character, and at some point in the movie I found myself identifying with each and every character.  They are all truly human.  Their stories are believable, engaging, compelling, and exhausting.  A “feel good movie” this aint…although you will feel good sometimes.

     The movie has good pacing.  Just slow enough for suspense when it’s called for…just fast enough to pull you in when needed…perfect.

     I don’t know about art direction or camera angles or lighting or anything like that.  All of the movie artistry was eclipsed by the sheer poetry of the characters and their very human lives.

     Brendan Frazier did a great job in a role you would never envision him in (although his shirt stayed on the whole time…what’s up with that?)  Sandra Bullock, also very cool in a role that will transition her nicely into a wider range of roles than you are used to seeing her in.  Tony Danza in a cameo that will leave you wondering what deity HE pissed off in the course of his life, where he quite obviously has not been taking proper care of himself.  Don Cheadle rocks as always…Matt Dillon in probably the most demanding role of the film as he has to move from viewing him as hateful and sub-human to feeling true compassion, to hating him again and then finally seeing him in his transcendent moment as the best person he can be.  Mirina Sirtis in a role about as far as you can imagine from her role as resident emotive T&A on Star Trek: The Next Generation…

     …wonderful cast.  Tons of great actors and you just can’t name them all, and they all do a superb job.

     It’s just a really good movie.  I highly recommend it.