This film will make you think!!!!

Rating: 9/10 (13 May 2001)

This is a film that uses imagery to make its statements, it is not a subtle view of racism in America. The focus of the film has to do with what effect hate can have on a family.Edward Norton's performance is as powerful a performance as I have ever seen. His character is not presented as a monster, but as an intelligent kid that is smart enough to know that what he preaches is wrong, but circumstances in his life fill him with anger and hate.The movie does want to hammer home its anti racism message, to some it may seem as manipulative, but the images are so well done that it is hard not to feel a reaction. The movie would have been well served if the other characters were as fleshed out as Norton's character Derek. Norton's brother is played by Edward Furlong, his performance is good, but he is really more important as the film's narrator. The skinheads in the film are by and large shown as mindless racist drones. But I think that it is the film's point that intelligent kids like Derek is what these organizations need for recruitment.
The film is not subtle, it WANTS to get under our skin. Derek's eventual change of heart is dealt with too superficially though, it would have been good to focus on that a little more. Though the film is not perfect it is undeniably powerful, its best trait is that whether one likes it or not, it is a film that will cause discussion, some of the images will stay with you long after the film ends.