One of the rare films that forces you to think

Rating: Null/10 (27 October 2000)

This film is brilliant, not because of it's amazing plot or special effects or casting or anything like that, but because the issues that it raises are so ambiguous that it forces the viewer to reevaluate everything he thinks. The weakest points in the film are when it becomes preachy, like when it ties rational conservative thoughts to Nazi irrational hate. Also, the characters quickly destroy themselves because they change so quickly. I thought the worst part was the generally implied idea that having strong feelings is wrong, because those lead to conflict and it's pointless. Believing in something strongly but rationally is not bad, it's good, many good things have come from strong beliefs backed by reason. The real message I took from my thoughts stemming from this movie would be a reaffirmation in my mind of reason. There is a line between rational argument and irrational hate and derogatory name calling. The movie attempts to blur this line. The strongest point in the film is the fact that there is still a racial conflict in America. People are still racist, for a multitude of reasons, some old and some new. Affirmative action is a topic under intense debate, and there are no clear answers to the problems with black crime and poverty. The film is full of strong images, especially in the beginning. Derek is the strongest character, until he changes his mind in the end, he gives an intense and complete portrayal of a racist. Immediately after seeing this movie I would have given it a perfect 10, but upon reflection, this movie deserves a 9, while it did show black as well as white hate objectively, the principle and modern liberal thought was shown unobjectively. The plot had serious holes, the essay format was strained at times and the end was rushed and incomplete. By all means watch this movie and think about what it means, but remember that you are the same as Derek, that biased views can brainwash people and turn them into copies of the biased idea.