The Believer

A frank and frightful portrayal of an angry young Jew who hates his own heritage so much he becomes a neo-Nazi, this intense examination of faith has been misunderstood by filmgoers who can't stomach being inside the head of Danny Balint (Ryan Gosling)--an understandable response, given that it's an ugly place full of intolerance and self-loathing. But once you take a good look around in Danny's psyche, you discover--along with the character himself--that his vicious animosity is really a complex, patchwork dogma of simultaneous hate and almost Hasidic devotion. Co-written and directed by Henry Bean, a self-described conservative Jew who based the story on a real-life Jewish neo-Nazi who killed himself when he was exposed, The Believer hits a few false notes, although none of them are from Gosling's remarkable performance of boiling inner turmoil. Still, while it's a hard movie to watch and may very well be misinterpreted by neo-Nazi sympathizing hate-mongers (assuming they even bother to see it), it's ultimately a penetrating, potent exploration of sanctimony, self-awareness, self-hatred, and self-determination. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Henry Bean and producer Christopher Roberts, a 16-minute interview with Bean (who touches on the real-life story that inspired the film), the 28-minute Sundance Channel production “Anatomy of a Scene,” a trailer and weblinks. Bottom line: A very good extras package for one of 2002's most controversial films.] (R. Blackwelder)