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.

Serious flaws in the script,and pacing in this movie. I had enough of the movie halfway in,was extremely slow and going too and from,and backwards,and forwards.... Boring overall!

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.

It is a movie that should be required viewing in schools. I was privileged to see it at the Woodstock Film Festival this past year. Unfortunately, films of this caliber that have a vital message rather than providing moviegoers with a thrill a minute "entertainment" too often do not receive sufficient funding get them into the local movie houses. The plot is timely and the acting is superb and realistic. I felt that, possibly in order to cut expenses the story was cut short. The "interplay" between Danny and his wife, Anna, and Danny and his brother could have been given more attention. Hopefully, the fact that David Strahairn is starring will provide the necessary backing to give the public an opportunity to see Steel Toes.

Mike Downey (Andrew Walker) is a white supremacist skinhead. He is arrested for beating up an immigrant as a hate crime. Liberal Jew Danny Dunkelman (David Strathairn) is assigned as his defense lawyer. Mike is a young angry man. Danny is confronted by family and friends. Both struggle to come to terms with their beliefs.

This is mostly a two person play. Strathairn is a class act and his greatness is expected. Andrew Walker is equally amazing. As for the play, some parts of it is poignant while other parts feel overwrought. It's walking on a knife's edge. The movie has both types of moments. It can be powerful one moment and fake the next. It's definitely pushing its agenda very hard and it can feel preachy. Some of it feel fake and rubs me the wrong way.