Average, although grossly over-rated

Rating: 6/10 (31 January 2004)

I have seen this twice now, the first time was shortly after it's release. I thought highly of it when first released, Edward Norton was convincing in his role and the gritty violence portrayed in the film left an impression with me.
Having seen it again and cast a far more critical eye upon it I would find it difficult to give it much more than a 6/10. The acting is above par but the story seems poor paced and the characters shallow.
The basketball scene was one that I really didn't appreciate. Norton is elbowed early on by a black player (can you really blame him after Norton proudly displays his swastika tattoo), this is supposedly to make him the victim/hero of the scene. The crass triumphal music is supposed to raise us up with him as he and his white supremacist stooges triumph over the local 'monkeys'. Awful.
Some proclaim Norton to be one of the finest contemporary film actors, personally I think they need to expand their frame of reference....