over-stylised and far too simplistic

Rating: Null/10 (17 July 1999)

despite a fantastic lead performance from edward norton this film failed to convince on every conceivable level. it's view on urban racism was far too simplified - are we to believe that derek, a straight A student, would become a nazi due to an ignorant, bigoted comment from his father? similarly, are we to believe he would then renounce his white supremacist views upon meeting a nice, friendly black man in prison? are we to accept his redemption because of this, conveniently forgetting his two brutal murders earlier? absolute tosh. the ending was not in the least bit shocking either as it was horribly contrived and, in fitting with the rest of this gibberish, an unconvincing cop out.
at best this movie is implausible but sadly, in the main, it's just unbelievable and insulting nonsense. it was completely lacking in any depth or understanding behind the problem at hand, opting instead for rhetoric and style (did we really need to see so many slow-motion shower scenes? you half expected derek to turn to the camera and say, "take two bottles into the shower?") instead of any real insight.
two good lead performances and shocking scenes of brutality do not a good film make, as saving private ryan will also testify.