It may seem strange that after winning the Oscar for Best Picture, writer/director Paul Haggis should release a Director's Cut of Crash. However, as he reveals in a new commentary to accompany the film, this is actually the premiere version shown to audiences at the Toronto Film Festival in 2004. The differences are minor, but freer exchanges of dialogue subtly underline the "powerhouse performances" that impressed audiences the first time around.

Sifting Through The Wreckage

Eight deleted scenes are, again, slightly extended versions of what exists in the theatrical cut. Nothing new is revealed except a connection between Jennifer Esposito's character and the housemaid who works for Sandra Bullock (as the highly-strung Jean). Haggis doesn't say much in his optional commentary, but thankfully star Don Cheadle and producer Bobby Moresco coax him out of his shell for the main feature. In this updated track, he talks about wanting to let certain moments "breathe", and later reflects on the challenges of working on a low budget (using his own house as a set), the vicissitudes of life in LA and the nightmares about a car jacking he suffered that spurred him to write the script.

Behind Metal And Glass offers a more detailed look at the Making Of the film, picking up on points raised in the first DVD edition and fleshing them out. Producer Mark Harris drops a bombshell when he says that HBO - ostensibly America's most cutting-edge network - turned down Crash as a TV series because it was "too controversial". Cast and crew then go on to talk about how the project evolved into a film and the day-to-day reality of shooting it in and around the city. For instance the cinematographer talks about working with steadicam for freedom of movement and using streetlights for the night scenes.

Jumping The Barriers

The spotlight stays on LA for a featurette looking at the city's troubled history, from unrest in the 60s to the 1992 riots sparked by the infamously brutal arrest of Rodney King. This featurette makes much of the contrast between the image of Los Angeles as a dream factory and the reality of blood on the streets. Another featurette, Unspoken, examines the rift created by racism on a much wider scale, provoking questions about the way we perceive ourselves and whether the scourge of political correctness has actually papered over a deep-rooted problem instead of solving it. "If you see this film and you don't see yourself," says Bullock, "you're a liar."

The last featurette hears Paul Haggis talk about his epic struggle to make it as a filmmaker in Hollywood, retracing his roots as a writer for "really bad sitcoms" to his finest hour as the director of Crash. Completing the package is Bird York's haunting music video for In The Deep.

If you've already invested in the original version of Crash, rest assured you're not missing much with this Director's Cut. However, for those who've yet to pick it up, this two-disc edition is sure to make an impact.

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