graphic, powerful, compelling, and thought provoking

Rating: 10/10 (27 November 1998)

In the age of three hour movies I wish this had been. In the just two hours the film did not develop some of its most im- portant story lines. I wanted to see more development of Derek's move away from Neo- Nazi ideals and Danny's move towards. This may have served to give more meaning to the final scenes and made them seem less contrived and routine. It may seem I did not like this film, but, in fact, I wanted to see more--more character develop ment, more dialogue between the main char- acters, more transitional scenes--just more! On the positive side this is probably the most important movie of the year and is a "must see". I particularly liked the cinematography. The black and white flashbacks and the great number of close-up face shots were great. They set the mood for the film as both dark and intense. The honest presentation of political and social problems that face the country in the late 20th Century is laudable. Mr. Norton portrays a convincing, sometimes loathsome but sometimes very human even likable skinhead. His journey to and from these ideals and the relationship with his younger brother, Mr. Furlong, make this a most compelling story. Mr. Norton's performance is worthy of best actor consideration in his successful portrayal of this complex character. I would emphasize that this film is not for the squeamish or faint of heart, but it is brutally (in all senses of the word) honest, and if you don't leave the theater thinking and/or talking then I suggest a brain scan. Once again thanks to Mr. Norton for an outstanding performance. Four stars for his performance and the topic even though it could have used a more (see above)