The Believer

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The Believer

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The Believer

A.D. Miles, Billy Zane, Garret Dillahunt, Glenn Fitzgerald, Joel Garland

The story of Danny Balint, who transformed himself from Jewish religious student to a rising star in the Neo-Fascist political movement. In a surprising series of twists and turns, Danny exhibits all ...( read more  read more... )the passion of the converted as he browses militia-movement web sites, utters hate-filled but articulate discourses on Judaism and its teachings, and promotes its ultimate destruction. At a neo-fascist organizing meeting at the home of Lina Moebius 22-year-old Danny impresses people with his articulate violence, especially Lina's bright and complicated daughter, Carla, who is more interested in Danny's mind and passion then in her mother's politics. When his own suppressed identity seems likely to be revealed, he flees to an upstate training enclave, further galvanizing his desire to act out the vicious vilification subscribed to by him and his compatriots. But as events ensue and striking contradictions multiply, something in Danny's soul prompts a complex and incredible resolution.

Id: 10365824

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The Believer Recent Reviews
  • organgrinder136
    October 7, 2009
    organgrinder136
    great performance from ryan gosling
  • mistershinobi
    June 21, 2009
    mistershinobi
    It must be a bitch to live under the shadow of something like American History X, which I consider an extraordinary piece of acting and filmmaking. It's a pity, because this movie, by itself, without dumb comparisons between similar-subject-matter movies, is a punch...( read more) in the stomach: but one I enjoyed with a shocked grin on my face.

    Instead of taking the obvious route of shocking the audience with a parade of nazi monsters on screen just for the sake of being shocking, the movie is, from start to finish, a deep, explicit, moving character study, masterfully commanded by a tour-de-force, explosive performance by Gosling.

    It's not about faith or race or politics: it's about fear, anger and confusion. Daniel Balint is one of the most intelligent characters ever portrayed on film. He asks too many questions and has too many doubts to the point when God (or Judaism) doesn't have answers for him. He is, by itself, a beautiful, troubled, charming character, who lures you to his deepest thoughts and the pain in his soul.

    This isn't a movie about Neo Nazis. It's about a powerful mind, searching for answers in all the wrong places.

    The ending is absolutely golden.
  • limoradalloway
    July 1, 2008
    limoradalloway
    Excellent, intelligent, heart-breaking.
  • pier007
    June 23, 2008
    pier007
    Ryan Gosling does a surprisingly good job here. The film is a little odd, especially the ending, but that doesn't hurt it too much. aggressively direct and thought provoking.
  • dooritor1
    April 19, 2008
    dooritor1
    Boom. This is awesome.
  • SarahTheMovieLover
    December 17, 2009
    SarahTheMovieLover
    Ryan Gosling is amazing. He truly is a gifted actor. I enjoyed this film. It had a lot of interesting sides to it and it was intiguing. However, I'm sorry to say that I didnt totally understand the ending. And that frustrates me to no end. I honestly dont get it...

    What did th...( read more)is movie teach me? The only way to destroy someone is to love them when you are expected to hate them....hmm not sure if i completely agree with that but its worth considering
  • RadarHead
    December 7, 2009
    RadarHead
    From the first frame, until about two thirds of the way through, this seems a rather captivating character study. However, as the film progresses and the central character's actions become more and more self-contradictory, the film lures us onward with the promise that soon, som...( read more)e new piece of information will make his motivations clear. With increasing speed, the film shifts away from its power as a character study toward the mystery end of the spectrum. Why is this (as it turns out, somewhat observant) Jewish kid acting like a Nazi? Why does he seem so calm and collected in this role one moment, only to appear irate and tear-eyed the very next? Why does he talk of killing Jews with such articulate conviction, only to suddenly start speaking of loving them as the ultimate way to cause them harm? Why does he at one point start wearing a Tzitzit underneath his swastika shirt at a Nazi retreat? All of this is presented in a way that flat-out hinges on an ultimate revelation of some specific motivating factor. But alas, this promise remains unfulfilled in my view. Strong as the film appears to be at first, a character study where the empathy link between the person on screen and the one watching is promised but never delivered, such a film defeats its own purpose. It seems that the creator of this story wanted very much to present us with emotionally charged, baffling scenarios and just wouldn't let an utter inability to back these scenarios up with context get in the way.
  • thereverendtholomewplague
    December 3, 2009
    thereverendtholomewplague
    Pretty damned weird...
    Even weirder music soundtrack.

    Interesting to watch nontheless but this movie really fucked with my brain.
    Was quite odd. Okay movie I guess..
    A lot of twists.
  • christiano717
    November 9, 2009
    christiano717
    Amazing. A must see movie.
  • youthagainstfascism1
    October 21, 2009
    youthagainstfascism1
    superb Ryan Gosling's perfomance is something else.
    the move will linger in your mind for a good week.
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