Good Movie

Rating: 8/10 (24 August 2000)

I will give this movie an 8/10. It did a good job of tackling and explaining tough issues. It also showed how little incidents just become excuse for venting built up anger. It also showed the power of love, especially power of mother's love, love between two brothers, and love of a teacher to rescue students, perfectly. Mother's character and the scene where the argument turns into a fight was just too powerful. When mother is shown battling poverty as well by sacrificing comfort for her kids, it moved me to tears. Also it shows that sometimes one good person, like the black guy in prison who becomes a friend to the main character, his niceness and attitude changed that man's life and saved him. Just imagine if that character had his own problems and rage then what would have happened. It also showed how foolish and shallow people associated with hate-groups really are and how it is an expression of their other problems.
Despite all those power, moving, and terrifying moments, the liberal director and writers missed the point of their own movie. The movie that is supposed to be warning to those who hate and is supposed to show power of love and ability to overcome rage, and as a matter of facts wants to be a guide for people struggling with those issues, itself engages in demonization and unfair characterization, which will hurt the feelings of those who are being labeled and cause a rage to built up in them, a result opposite of what this movie should have and hopes to have.
Is it really fair to describe opposition to Affirmative Action as a first step towards becoming a skin-head? That's what movie seems to be suggesting. Good people can agree on the issue and on ideas how to help those who need help but demonization of the extremely large portion of the population is hardly useful. Also the skin head is shown to use the words 'Democrat' and 'Liberal' as curse words. Yeah, that's fair, and that should really bring people together.
It is sad that those who made the movie about overcoming anger and rage could not control their own negative feelings and had to demonize innocent people.
In any case see this movie, if for nothing else, to see a mother's love and sacrifice.