"Hate is baggage, Life's too short to be p***ed off all the time"

Rating: Null/10 (3 August 2004)

I saw this movie for the first time in 1999 and was simply amazed. It's probably the one movie I've seen in my life that's still tattooed on my brain. Reason for this you ask? *SPOILER* The scene at the kerb outside Derek(Edward Norton) Vinyards house. Oh My God!!! I will never forget that scene in my life! OK, it's not the most violent scene in a movie but it certainly is one of the most realistic and brutal. Anywaaays, other than that *END OF SPOILER* this movie is amazingly well done. The characters were all played brilliantly (noteably Nortons) and the scenes work well from colour(present day) to black and white(past)in a Tarantino kind of way.**SPOILER AGAIN** We have Derek Vinyard, a guy torn by the death of his father Dennis (William Russ)who was shot by some black kids as he was working as a fireman. Before this happened, Derek was a superb student who was very interested in cultural studies until he told his father at the breakfast table that his teacher, Dr Sweeney (Avery Brooks) was teaching Affirmative Action in his studies. This is where you learn how Dereks mind is changed in terms of race as his father tells a story of a black man succeeding to get work before a white man, who was more qualified, in getting a job in the fire department where he worked due to said Affirmative Action. As his younger brother Danny(Edward Furlong) looks on at their conversation you can see how he also becomes caught up in their racial views. From this conversation and the circumstances of the two boys' fathers death they become caught up in a web of racial gang fights, causing carnage to anyone who isn't white American. These rampages become more and more heated until 3 black guys go to Dereks house and try to break into his fathers truck. Danny hears this happening and informs Derek who rushes downstairs from his bedroom to greet the youths with a loaded gun. As two get away he grabs the one remaining(after shooting him in the leg) and tells him to "put your f***ing head on the kerb".This is the scene I was referring to earlier and will inevitably shock even the most hard-core movie goer. After Derek kills the black guy he is sent to prison (for six years as his brother didn't testify against him) where his views on racism are changed again. I must stop here as I will give the movie away lol. To Put it in short, this is a must see for everyone (over 18, that kerb scene ooooh) as it deals with racism in a very intelligent way and is superbly directed, riveting and well cast. One of my favourite movies of all time 10 1/2 out of 10. P.s. watch out for the scene with Elliot Gould and Edward Norton conversing at the table.