Rating: 
Summary: Mesmerizing script!
Review: This film is deeply disturbing. We are in front of one of the challenging works made from the independent films. Winner of the Sundance in 2001 ; the movie deals about an outlaw from the jew religion who decides to make a breakthrough with his past traditions seeking for answers . He's a very clever man and very often he made extreme questions to his teachers.
So he makes the whole cycle and becomes Nazi as a rebelness signal , but his memories are stronger and keeps in the deep of his soul respect from the learned traditions . The dialogues are a real tour de force , and there are many disturbing questions without answers.
And since the movie has rapture moments that will remind you to Taxi Driver and American Story X, the film is far beyond from the other two, and it demands a major attention from you.
One of the most powerful cult movies from this new century!
Rating: 
Summary: Great premise, poor execution
Review: I'd heard about this film when it won the Sundance prize, and immediately thought, given the accolade and the premise, that it had to be great. I also assumed it would be ultra-disturbing, so being somewhat squeamish, I waited a long time to actually see it.
What a disappointment.
The idea that a religious Jew could become a Nazi is indeed compelling, but this film never lets the viewer in on the WHY behind the main character (Balint's) decision, so, to continue watching, you just have to take it on faith that for some reason he has his reasons for inspiring a group of fascists to begin executing Jews. This, maybe I could have lived with.
But when this anti-Semitic Jew brings his thuggish skinhead buddies into a temple and has misgivings, here is where the lack of character development really becomes a problem. I could live with the assumption that for some reason this Jew's a Nazi, but, without any insight into the character, this business of his conflict, a seeming revelation of complexity, is just plain confusing.
Then, it commits the sin so many independent films do...by believing its overlong dialogue and speech scenes are compelling enough to drive a story forward. But this is minor in comparison to the nonsensical protagonist and the un-paid-off story lines: Balint shoots a fellow Nazi, Drake, when Drake discovers that Balint is wearing a prayer shawl under his skinhead clothes (again -- WHY???) I assumed he killed Drake, but, he doesn't...shouldn't there be some resolution to this turn of events, perhaps some jeopardy for Balint? For example -- your fellow Nazis find out you shot one of their own...shouldn't there be some sense that maybe Balint's life is now in jeopardy? Also, the leaders (played by Theresa Russell and Billy Zane) find out off-screen that Balint is a Jew. Shouldn't this also be a moment of high tension?
This is a great, intriguing premise, but, the film is an extreme disappointment. I expected at some point that everything would tie together in a way that formed a cohesive, powerful, compelling, morally ambiguous narrative, but it doesn't. It's extremely unsatisfying throughout, and I really believe that its status and acclaim come from the premise alone.
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: A well educated, well spoken, Danny (Ryan Gosling, Murder By Numbers, Remember The Titans, Young Hercules) develops an anti-Semitic worldview. He hangs around typical brain-dead skinheads where he seems to be out of place. Even though he is Jewish, he preaches to everyone that he is not and aside of this, he hates the Jewish people. Through flash Danny's flashbacks, we learn that he was never really a top notch Jewish believer but more so an Orthodox Jew with ideas and questions of his own.
Danny befriends Lina (Theresa Russell) and Curtis (Billy Zane), founders of an underground fascist movement who see potential in Danny. They see his as a well educated and a well spoken young man who knows so much about the enemy, of course they have no idea that the reason why Danny knows so much is because he is Jewish. However, they do not question it, they let it be and use Danny knowledge to help their underground foundation grow bigger. Not too long after, Danny starts to battle his own demons, he is torn between what he thinks he knows and what he believes in. Throw in a mix of some weird romance with Carla (Summer Phoenix) and you've got yourself a flick called The Believer.
Many will try to compare this film with the excellent American History X, which in some cases, is similar to this film but I am dead sure that those who enjoyed American History X will not really enjoy the ending of this one because it is not quite as *explosive* as the ending of American History X was. All in all, it should be seen regardless of what I said simply because this was based on a true story and it took a quite a long time to get this movie available to the public, rent it and see why.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best films about nazi skinheads
Review: The Believer tells the story of a young jewish nazi skinhead fueld by hatred of his own religion and people. When he starts to realize that he is jewish and will always be jewish he then learns that his religion and his culture are important to him, and that deep-down inside he is proud of his jewish blood. In the end his nazi antics lead him nowhere which is exactly where he ends up...Nowhere. Being a skinhead (non-racist) myself I can relate to the violence that is depicted on this film ,as well as the political views that have to do with right wing groups all over the world. I am an anti-racist skinhead I believe that nazi skinheads are not really a part of the skinhead culture, and if I had to say they were, I would say they are the worst part of skinhead history. Nazis' are not real skinheads they are boneheads. The reason that I relate to this film so well is that all skinheads no matter what type of skinhead you are you we all have our beliefs and hold strong to them. Most skinheads will agree that this is a good film at showing the nastier side of our culture, the side that is stupid enough to judge a man by the color of his skin.
Rating: 
Summary: This Movie Makes You Think
Review: How could you say this movie is pretentious? Okay, so the intellectual side of the film is a little heavy for anyone not familiar with Jewish history, but it is smarter and more compelling than American History X. I like both films, but whereas X is much more cinema and Hollywood, with popular actors, the Believer is questioning and mentally stimulating. You don't just sit back and say, "yeah I hate those racist bastards," you get some personal insight into the reasons behind Jewish persecution and hatred through the eyes of a confused young man.
Maybe Ryan Goesling should have just took off his shirt and curb stomped somebody, it probably would have gotten some more stars from certain folks. But if you want an unsettling, smart movie about Neo-Nazism this one is it. Overall it seemed more like a European film to me.
Rating:
Summary: See it for one reason: RYAN GOSLING
Review: This is one of the most amazing acting performances EVER. Gosling instills commanding attention to the screen with his bristling energy. I've never seen anything quite like it. Amazing. THIS should have at least garnered an OSCAR nomination.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting and Powerful
Review: Reasons to see this movie: It's an amazing film, pure and simple. Ryan Gosling nails his role as a Jewish neo-Nazi struggling with doubts about...well, everything. The content may be too much for some, but it remains an intriguing character study. Though not as good as American History X (in my opinion), those who enjoyed that should definitely try this on for size. A scene in which the main character goes to sensitivity training to talk with Holocaust survivors and the film's conclusion were brilliant.
Reasons not to see this movie: If you're unable to handle some disturbing content, stay away from this one.
Overall: This powerful movie will is one of those that stays with you.
Rating:
Summary: Fact or Fiction!
Review: I remember the neo-Nazi, white supremacist young man who was outed as a Jew in the New York Times many years ago, and he killed himself when the article was published. There was outrage from some people that this was obviously a mentally challenged individual and the Times in essence killed him. It appears that this movie is a take-off on that incident, although it is hard to imagine anyone developing sympathy for the guy based on the picture of him portrayed here. There are certain norms that one must adhere to in order to be a functioning member of society and Danny just didn't meet them. He argued with everyone, from his fellow students, his teachers, his religion, his god, even his fellow skinheads and the neo-fascists society he wound up in. What did he want . . what would satisfy him . . it appears that the answer to this is NOTHING . . he was not able to find any place, any corner, where he would be able to fit in. He found that his pretensions to hate were not satisfactory either. I don't know how much of this movie was based on fact, but it is not difficult to imagine a Danny out there, particularly today with all the hate and killing one reads of in the newspapers.
Rating:
Summary: Can't take your eyes away from the screen
Review: this movie was amazing, i literally couldn't take my eyes away from it. Ryan Gosling does an amazing job this movie proves that he is truely is a great actor. the entire cast was great and the director made the movie very believeable and makes it look almost like their following a real life story happening at that very time. all i can say is that the movie was amazing along with the cast but mainly Ryan Gosling!!!
Rating:
Summary: ..........there's nothing up there, Danny...........
Review: The story of Danny Balint, a young and intelligent neo-nazi that is recruited by an ambitious neo-fascist organization. The only problem lies within Danny's paradoxical secret: he's jewish.Danny is just one of many intelligent thinkers that end up renouncing their religion in the spirit of "free-thinking". In Danny's case, he begins to hate Judaism so much that the only alternative for him seems to join the ranks amongst the opposing side. But even surrounded by those with similar opinions, Danny cannot seem to escape the ignorance that he feels plagues society. Immersed in idiotic nazi philosophy, he begins to despise his new peers as much as his heritage. Danny's problem is that he just hates everyone, especially himself. Never really belonging in the world and plagued by his own consciousness, is there no redemption for the troubled young man? Superb acting from Ryan Gosling (Murder by Numbers) as Danny Balint. The scene in the coffee shop.......one take focused on Danny as he spits his rhetoric....brilliant.
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