Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Lions Gate Movie •••½ Picture/Sound ••• Extras ••½

Co-writer/director Paul Haggis's movie recalls the ambitious sweep and fine ensemble acting of Magnolia and Short Cuts, but its intersecting storylines coalesce into a central theme more easily. The theme here is prejudice, and Crash is daring and inquisitive enough to explore the roots of contemporary racism while reminding us that we're all connected. Colors are rich and well defined, with lots of detail in the shadows. However, some images have an unfortunate amount of digital noise, particularly in several slow-motion scenes. And the 5.1-channel mix has a surprisingly narrow soundstage and very little going on in the surround channels. Extras include an introduction by Haggis, a commentary, a featurette, and a music video. [R] English, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Surround; letterboxed (2.35:1) and anamorphic widescreen; dual layer..