Released in 1998, it has taken me 11 years to get around to watching this movie. Starring one of the greatest actors of our time, Edward Norton in the main role of Derek Vinyard, the movie is gritty reaslism at it's best.

It approaches the delicate but relevant subject of racism and hatred, Derek Vinyard is a Neo-nazi skinhead who gets 3 years in prison for the murder of two black guys who try to steal his truck. Whilst in prison his white neo-nazi friends turn against him and he finds an unlikely friend and ally in a young black prisoner who keeps him out of trouble.
On his release he is a changed man, only to go home and find his younger brother following the same path as he did. To protect his brother he tells him everything that happened to him in jail and vows to get them away from their current situation. Will he succeed or will it be to late for him and his family.

The film is well shot, with flashbacks in black and white to show what happened before Derek got put in jail. It is brilliantly acted with some quite graffic scenes. It really brings home a few messages regarding upbringing and culture as well the obvious ones about seeing the good in everyone and that there are good and bad people in all cultures and races.

The film is quite long but seems to go quite fast as it is a real interesting movie. It is emotional in parts but not so much that you feel drained from watching it.