Beautifully shot, well directed, acted, and written

Rating: 10/10 (1 February 2007)

This is one of the most powerful fascinating movies made. Even though it's independent, you can't really see it.
The camera work is great. There are some black and white scenes, but if there was ever a movie to convince you that black and white could be beautiful it's this movie.(Rereading that last sentence I realize it's kind of an ironic statement being the movies material) The black and white scenes are well shot especially the basketball scene. The color scenes are just as breathtaking.
The direction tells the story very smoothly, we don't find out what Edward Norton character entirely did to get in prison until about forty five minutes into the movie and when you do you have to decide if he can ever be forgiven. The scene in the party, the costumes, the posters, the way you know people who live this way.
I know everybody says this but it's true. Edward Norton IS the man of the hour in this film. Five minutes into his character, Derek Vineyard I said, "Wait, THATS Edward Norton!" The small mentally handicapped kid from Primal Fear, the weak looking narrator from Fight Club. Now he looks like a guy if you saw him walking towards you, you would want to walk on the sidewalk on the other side of the street. He gained 30 pounds of muscle for this role and actually looks like a militaristic skin head. Oh yeah, his acting, he never misses a beat, he sounds like he means everything he says and then some. Watching this movie a dumb person might assume he really is the role he plays. Edward Norton is the Marlon Brando of our day. The role itself is well written, but being the character, I'd say less than five percent of Hollywood would have agreed to the role.
The writing is quite something. The story feels real and I've heard it was. The only people who hate the dialogue are people who just can't listen to it. The dinner scene had amazing conversations and is actually one of the best scenes of the movie. People say it's the violence that gets to them, I think it's the nature of the writing that makes them uncomfortable, it even makes myself uncomfortable during my first watch. The character Derek Vinyard isn't a simple one, he isn't the ignorant redneck racist we're all used to. He's intelligent capable and has what it takes to be a leader.
Even though you've seen racism movies before, it's a mistake too pass this one up. It has plenty to offer, plenty of things you haven't seen or heard before. In the end it's worth it and you are glad you saw it.