Norton, Furlong... nothing can go wrong

Rating: Null/10 (3 January 2003)

I had heard about this film since it was released in 1998, but I never got around to seeing it until last year (2002). What the hell could I have been doing that was more important than watching the fantastic Edward Norton in the most astonishing role of his entire career...?
*******WARNING: SPOILERS!*********
The way that the entire film is based mainly on Norton's character's flash backs of his time in prison builds the tension and suspense even more. Why has he changed his beliefs? How did he change as a person? What really happened in prison? Instead of just taking us through him getting sent to prison and showing us what happened, we are told the story through Derek and Danny together.
While I had heard how powerful this film was for years, what I had heard most about was 'the bit where he kicks the guys head against the curb.' And so I watched it - not just for that, but because it was a film I HAD to see. I literally winced at that part - just the sound of it is enough!
Only ever seeing Edward Furlong in 'Terminator 2' and hearing that he had since then become a junkie, I was pleasantly surprised by his perfomance in this film. The young anti-black rebel following in his older brother's footsteps is a role I never thought I would see him in.
I don't think I even need to praise Edward Norton, but I will anyway. He was obviously dedicated to this role - gaing 30lbs in muscle and shaving his head to play a part in a film shows determination, which just adds to his outstanding and powerful performance. Having only just seen him in 'Fight Club' it was unreal to see him stray from a funny, wimpy part to one such as this. I don't know if he won any awards for this film, but if he didn't, then I would just have to say that those voters really are delusional if they don't recognise a fantastic actor when they see one.