When Worlds Collide

“Crash” is a story that focuses on racism and how all cultures are intertwined with one another. The movie is filled with diverse characters: Blacks, whites, latinos, asians, the rich and the poor. Directed by Paul Haggis, who won an Academy Award for “Million Dollar Baby,” the film brought to life the issues of racial tolerance in today’s American society.

This movie is unique and riveting and calls the audience to think and challenge themselves when it comes to judging people. Beyond the issue of race and color, we’re all the same. We’re all human. “Crash” brilliantly brings these diverse characters together in a powerful way. It is unpredictable, unlike any other movie. It’s captivating and leaves you at the edge of your seat for the whole 100 minutes.

The movie starts with a crime scene and the scenes to follow are of the day before that lead up to it. A racist cop, Matt Dillon, mistakes a black woman for a white woman and demeans her in the process as her husband, Terrence Howard, watches powerless. After the D.A.’s wife, Sandra Bullock, gets robbed she changes all the locks at her house, but then decides to change them again after she thinks that the locksmith will have his “homies” come and break in later. Little does she know, that locksmith has a family of his own and moved to a safer neighborhood to better his children. All these characters are connected in one way or the other. Racial stereotypes fly all over the place in this movie and one can’t help but nod in agreement at some point or another.

Haggis makes you care for these characters. You are emotionally drawn to them. “Crash” is reality. The sad truth is that things that happen in the movie, probably really do happen in real life. We are asked to question ourselves when it comes to racism. This movie made me question my own belief system.

“Crash” is beautifully written and directed. The all-star cast of actors and actresses deliver top-notch performances. “Crash” shows the power of racism and consequences. A great movie makes you question yourself and your assumptions and to open your eyes. And this movie did it 100%.

How do YOU consume music?

Music is everywhere. It went from vinyl records and 8-tracks to cassette tapes and CDs. Nowadays they’re MP3s. It’s easily accessible online. I used to buy CDs all the time. If they were my favorite artists, I would buy the CD the day it came out. But with MP3s, it’s alot more convenient. I think the last CD I bought was Justin Timberkake’s “Future Sex/Love Sounds” in 2006. I used to download music through Limewire, but after hearing about a friend who had to go to court and pay fines for downloading music, I’ve significantly cut back using Limewire. Occassionaly I will download songs for free but I usually just ask my friends to make CDs for me or I’ll transfer their music to my computer with a flash drive. I’ll listen to music on Myspace and Youtube as well. Some artists allow you to download their music right off of their Myspace page. And iTunes allows you to purchase music for as little as $0.99 a song. I listen to the radio alot more now also. I like to hear new music coming out. Wild94.9 let’s you listen to it live online. Which, I do at work. =P

With the way technology is going, I don’t think CDs will be as successful as they were before. People will continue to buy CDs, like my mom who only buys them because the CD player in her car won’t read burned CDs. But most people, like the newer generations, will stick to their iPods and other MP3 players. Online music is easily accessible and convenient, whereas CDs, you need a CD player. My friends aren’t even using their CD players in their cars. They’re using auxiliary cords to connect their iPods to the player. Even where CD players are available, it’s not being used. It’s going to be a sad day for the music industry when MP3s take over completely.