Review of The Believer (2001) by Rob L — 23 Jan 2013

A compelling early role for Ryan Gosling that draws comparison with American History X and Romper Stomper in featuring a skinhead fascist underworld but depicts things in subtler shades than those movies. The lead is certainly compelling - an insistent, contradictory performance and equally as memorable a one as some of his later, more famous roles.

That said, preposterousness is never far from the surface and it doesn't always ring true that Gosling can be so in touch with his Jewish background while clearly hating it. A cabal of educated fascists does provide a different, more sinister twist than the usual cliched portraits of suedeheads in DMs and Billy Zane is suitably suave - I'd give it 4 stars because it is terrifically watchable and really gets you thinking but it perhaps tries too hard to be ambiguous.