What 2011 American crime thriller film, starring Brittany Snow and Evan Ross, chronicles a 96-minute-long story of four main characters whose lives tragically intertwine over a single night?

The 2011 American crime thriller film described, starring Brittany Snow and Evan Ross, is titled 96 Minutes. This name is a direct reference to the intense, real-time duration of the central carjacking incident that tragically intertwines the lives of four young individuals over the course of a single night. The film explores the ripple effects of this violent event, showcasing how their disparate backgrounds and choices lead them to this catastrophic moment.

Directed by Aimée Lagos, the film employs a non-linear narrative, skillfully intercutting between the harrowing 96-minute carjacking and the separate events leading up to it for each of the characters. Brittany Snow plays Karley, a college student with law school aspirations, while Evan Ross portrays Dre, a young man trying to escape a life of crime. Their lives, along with Dre's troubled friend Kevin and Karley's friend Lena, collide (Review) in a shocking act of violence that has profound and lasting consequences for everyone involved.

"96 Minutes" was inspired by experiences of the director's college friends (Review) and delves into themes of race, class, and the complexities of urban crime and its aftermath. Evan Ross, in particular, received acclaim for his performance, earning the Breakthrough Performance Award at the SXSW Film Festival where the movie premiered. The film aims to deliver an authentic and sincere portrayal of its subject matter, offering a tense and dramatic look at how one night can irrevocably alter multiple destinies.