The Believer (2001)
Directed by Henry Bean
A hardcore US racist skinhead who, because of his intelligence, leads a gang dedicated to fighting the enemy: the supposed American-Jewish conspiracy for domination. However, he's hiding a secret: he's Jewish-born, a brilliant scholar whose questioning of the tenets of his faith has left him angry and confused, turning against those who he thinks have a tragic history of their own making.
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8 films that influenced The Believer
What critics say influenced The Believer
As Danny, Ryan Gosling (“Remember The Titans”) gives an intense performance easily comparable to Tim Roth's in “Made In Britain” and Edward Norton's in “American History X.”
Like its controversial predecessors, the Australian "Romper Stomper," a film that thrust Russell Crowe into the limelight, and "American History X," which solidified Edward Norton's career, "The Believer" deals with neo-Nazism and anti-Semitic issues.
But, the religious angle aside, there's little to distinguish The Believer from the likes of American History X and Romper Stomper.
And like Edward Norton�s brownshirt in the less ambitious American History X, he�s as formidable verbally as he is physically.
As Danny, Ryan Gosling (“Remember The Titans”) gives an intense performance easily comparable to Tim Roth's in “Made In Britain” and Edward Norton's in “American History X.”
Like its controversial predecessors, the Australian "Romper Stomper," a film that thrust Russell Crowe into the limelight, and "American History X," which solidified Edward Norton's career, "The Believer" deals with neo-Nazism and anti-Semitic issues.
In "The Believer," he reminds us of Edward Norton in " American History X ," another movie about a bright, twisted kid who is attracted to the transgressive sickness of racism.
Several times, while watching "The Believer," another skinhead flick, "American History X," came to mind.
For a fascinating look at fascism, check out the early Russell Crowe-vehicle Romper Stomper; for an honest look at faith, look to Robert Duvall's The Apostle; for this picture's debate handled with searing intelligence and humour, see Roth's Operation: Shylock.
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When Danny waxes ironic at a froufrou shindig amongst high-rolling haters (a gathering that would have been at home in outrageous schlock like The Boys From Brazil and is as inflammatory and ridiculous as a belief that Jews gather in a luxury cave to fix world events), The Believer sacrifices itself to contrivance and head-slapping improbabilities.
The award-winning novelist had previously written the screenplays to such movies as "Internal Affairs" and the fantastic "Deep Cover."
The nervy, adrenaline-fueled opening minutes of Sundance success “The Believer” suggest that Henry Bean, a proven screenwriter on “Internal Affairs” and “Enemy of the State,” also has an accomplished directorial style all of his own.
"The Believer," written and directed by Henry Bean (writer of "Enemy of the State" and "Internal Affairs"), is the antithesis of usual Hollywood fare.
Danny Balient is a Swastika-wearing skinhead who gets the attention of intellectuals Curtis Zampf (Billy Zane, "Titanic") and Lina Moebius (Theresa Russell), leaders of a sophisticated NYC white supremacist group, with his revolutionary plans that begin with the murder of a prominent Jewish liberal.
The nervy, adrenaline-fueled opening minutes of Sundance success “The Believer” suggest that Henry Bean, a proven screenwriter on “Internal Affairs” and “Enemy of the State,” also has an accomplished directorial style all of his own.
I'm often asked to do that," he says, referring to his work script-doctoring movies like Enemy of the State and Murder by Numbers.
"The Believer," written and directed by Henry Bean (writer of "Enemy of the State" and "Internal Affairs"), is the antithesis of usual Hollywood fare.