Steel Toes

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.

Steel Toes is basically a play that has been filmed - not usually my cup of tea - but the filmmakers have provided enough visual action to change it from a dry play put before a motionless camera into an engrossing character study driven by two extraordinary actors.

The story of one of brutality and redemption revolving around self-examinations by the two major characters.

Mike is a hateful neo-Nazi who beats an Indian man so badly that he eventually dies. The attack was basically unprovoked which caused it to be even more horrendous. Because of his skinhead ties, it has been necessary for the authorities to place him in isolation while awaiting trial.

Enter Danny who will be serving as Mike's defense attorney. Danny is a middle-aged Jewish man who somehow sees something beyond hate in his young client, and he makes it his goal to reach the human being buried deep within indoctrination and prejudice.

The interplay between the actors playing these two men - actually a man and a boy - is the meat of this film, and their time on screen is a luxury to the viewer.

David Strathairn portrays Danny. He is a consummate actor and, as Danny, he entitles us a view of a good, strong-willed man who, through his interaction with a young man lost to society, is able to reexamine his own life and goals. He is such a strong performer that the viewer never doubts the accomplishment of his gargantuan task of bringing about the reformation of a man filled with hate.

Andrew W. Walker plays Mike. Most of his credits are in television and in programs that are of no interest to me, so I did not recognize him. Actually, I think this heightened my enjoyment of his portrayal. He is astounding as a raw young man completely given over to hate, prejudice, and testosterone - a deadly combination.

There is a third extremely moving performance given in the film, and that is the one given by Ivan Smith as the Indian man beaten to death by Mike. The scene is that of Smith's character giving his victim impact statement in the hospital before his death. It is heartbreaking.

This film, in spite of its subject matter, actually has somewhat of an upbeat ending in which the triumph of knowledge and character overcome baser human emotions. Steel Toes is a delicacy for anyone who enjoys a film saturated with superior acting.

OK, I really wanted to rate this a 10, just because I saw how underrated this movie was in its reviews by a small group of people whom I believe tainted its rating unfairly.I do believe that this movie was a solid 9, however, and if more people watched it, it would be ranked up there where it rightfully belongs.

This movie doesn't sugar coat how certain groups indoctrinate and are fueled by hatred, and how others, who are hated, can choose to respond apart from that ignorance. That, in itself, was a courageous endeavor that ended up truly moving. The best part, though, were the phenomenal performances and believability of the actors in the key roles...my hat off to you all for such very fine work, above and beyond, in an ongoing crisis of wills that has lasted way too long in our beautifully diverse world. This is a truly stunning performance and tribute to a richly ancient people who have represented God's heart and will in the midst of adversity. I sure hope to see more of these films, more of these actors, and hope more of the viewers who choose to watch and be as moved as I was, and my company, choose to vote and review this movie into the top where it belongs... good watching to you all!

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.