Steel Toes

David Gow wrote it first as a play between a Canadian Jewish attorney, Danny Dunckelman and a Canadian white nationalist skinhead, Michael Downey. The actors were played by David Straithairn and Andrew Walker. They did a terrific job. Straithairn played the role on stage in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When the director and screenwriter, David Gow, made the movie. Straithairn jumped at the chance to play the role onscreen. It's a powerful movie even if it's not evident. Andrew Walker did a terrific job as the remorseless racist skinhead.

Little film with giant acting especially by Andrew W. Walker and David too off course!

The movie is fairly well acted and produced, however the movie lacks originality, warmth, and anything that would make the tale necessary to tell.

Forgiveness is the primary theme, but never fully explored. The interesting plot points, such as the Lawyer's family shunning him for defending the skinhead, are left unfinished.

The ending leaves you feeling downhearted rather than uplifted. The skinhead's change of heart is hard to take seriously.

The character's motivations needed to be explored more. This seems like an empty "After School Special."

Powerful, moving... I am so VERY impressed and humbled. From what I saw on your first cut into what I watched tonight, this movie which forced my attention time and again back to watch and refocus on the screen, had such a wonderful progressive movement from that movie into this one.

I've jotted down thoughts as I was watching it... most all of these notes are therefore in sequential order but just quick thoughts: Great grab at the beginning, one thinks it's an action movie. The slow effects- spot on- good! Entering into the cell first time -- the grid work shadowing -- wonderful Overall: Music -- oboe, cello, violin, piano....touches a persons heart strings.

Sound effects... really hammer home many things; hard, cold, etc. of the prison environment.

The first St. Viatteur scene with Muslim and orthodox Jew was good transition.

Really well cut re: close in and full shots... especially first meeting and last (e.g., chair breaking) scene. Yes, the tub scene worked with Danial, finally I understood what he was thinking and then he focused on the "Victim Impact Statement".

Showing the passing of time... worked well... good angles of the prison- stark, cold.

Interior prison scenes: really worked, bars, blocks, sun off the wall.

It was very clear at the beginning... the dialog which meant to convey 'try me for me, not for what I believe', etc.

Danny and mike "what happened with you today" worked great... it wasn't necessary to know what and why.... leaves the minutiae up to the audience... yet, the frustration is clearly seen... based on prior scenes and what was going on in that one.

The window-washing scene... so clearly showed Danny's frustration at so many things but then framed against a "random act of kindness"

Very clearly you were able to capture the home and work responses to his work on this case with very little air time.

The title grew on me... as it's significance was played up during the course of the movie. ALL scenes carried a very nice juxtapositions between Dan/mike Great scenes to close with... jail vs. free ... yet both were in their own prisons.

And the end provided hope for them and for us. Wonderful Work.

This was an 8/10 until the final 20 minutes. Then it got very, very stupid.

I suggest you watch it. It is worth watching, but ugh, the end blows hard. It progresses from an insightful, touching movie to...ugh.

Watch it. You'll see.