One of the extremely few moral installments in recent Hollywood history.

Rating: 9/10 (24 August 1999)

This was a movie receiving much controversy here in Europe and possibly in the US as well.
I watched it mainly because I love Edward Norton as an actor - especially in Primal Fear! - and knew he would be exceptional in his role, though I knew very little about the story's plot.
Edward Furlong is an incredible aspiring young actor (born in August, 1977 - he was 20 while filming this yet appears to be much younger, I think).
I must say I was impressed beyond words by this films boldness and ability to stand forth with it's message.
What is it's message?
It teaches us that things aren't always what we're brought up to believe - Not always to believe the hype and circumstance that the paraphernalia around us so vividly offers. That we can make a difference in this world. That we are in complete control of our lives and can change the direction our life is going if we have the guts and tenacity.
Mainly, I guess, I loved that Derek Vinyard saw the errors in his (and his brother Danny's) direction and was responsible enough to do something to change it. That he cared enough for his brother to lovingly help him to completely change the way he thought and, as a roll-model in Danny's life, to show him the example necessary to turn him around.
I usually don't like movies with excessive violence and especially foul language, but in this case I think they were both necessary to show the extremely hateful world the white-supremests live in. I think it made it's point well. (Just be sure not to allow younger children near the screen while watching this. It definitely deserves it's 18+ (R) rating.)
Though not without flaws I believe this movie to be one of the greater moral additions to Hollywood's disturbingly bland and irresponsible canon.