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| ] wrote that "] said that one way to criticize a movie is to make another movie. ''Pariah'', a raw and unblinking look at the skinhead subculture, is a movie I'd like to show to those admirers of '']'' who have assured me of their movie's greatness." Ebert gave the film three out of four stars.<ref></ref> '']'' called the film "a volatile, edgy picture of strong visceral impact."<ref></ref>'']'' called it a "well-meaning but ridiculous revenge drama".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/pariah/134558|title=Pariah|work=]|accessdate=December 28, 2014}}</ref> Bill Gibron of ] rated it 3/5 stars and wrote that while the film is realistic, it may not entertain viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/33315/pariah/|title=Pariah|last=Gibron|first=Bill|work=]|date=May 21, 2008|accessdate=December 28, 2014}}</ref> In a negative review, Michael Atkinson of '']'' wrote, "Kret clearly has his heart in the right place: Hate Is Bad. If only being right were all you needed."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-02-15/film/skin-flick/|title=Skin Flick|last=Atkinson|first=Michael|work=]|date=February 15, 2000|accessdate=December 28, 2014}}</ref> On ] the film has a rating of 47% from seventeen reviews.<ref name=RotTom>{{Rotten Tomatoes|10000330-pariah}}</ref> | ] wrote that "] said that one way to criticize a movie is to make another movie. ''Pariah'', a raw and unblinking look at the skinhead subculture, is a movie I'd like to show to those admirers of '']'' who have assured me of their movie's greatness." Ebert gave the film three out of four stars.<ref></ref> '']'' called the film "a volatile, edgy picture of strong visceral impact."<ref></ref>'']'' called it a "well-meaning but ridiculous revenge drama".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/pariah/134558|title=Pariah|work=]|accessdate=December 28, 2014}}</ref> Bill Gibron of ] rated it 3/5 stars and wrote that while the film is realistic, it may not entertain viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/33315/pariah/|title=Pariah|last=Gibron|first=Bill|work=]|date=May 21, 2008|accessdate=December 28, 2014}}</ref> In a negative review, Michael Atkinson of '']'' wrote, "Kret clearly has his heart in the right place: Hate Is Bad. If only being right were all you needed."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-02-15/film/skin-flick/|title=Skin Flick|last=Atkinson|first=Michael|work=]|date=February 15, 2000|accessdate=December 28, 2014}}</ref> On ] the film has a rating of 47% from seventeen reviews.<ref name=RotTom>{{Rotten Tomatoes|10000330-pariah}}</ref> | ||
| The reviewer on the website ] said the following about the actors, "Pariah's finest asset is its steadfast realism. It helps that small budgets and low production values always seem to connote authenticity, but the credit must go to the performers. All of them look and sound so much like real people that you won't believe there's an actor among them. Wilson, having honed his skill in playing rapists in '']'', brings a psychotic intensity to the role of David Lee, who is so hateful that even the other skinheads don't like him. The supporting players are all solid."<ref name=AboutFilm/> The review highlighted one performer, David Oren Ward, |
The reviewer on the website ] said the following about the actors, "Pariah's finest asset is its steadfast realism. It helps that small budgets and low production values always seem to connote authenticity, but the credit must go to the performers. All of them look and sound so much like real people that you won't believe there's an actor among them. Wilson, having honed his skill in playing rapists in '']'', brings a psychotic intensity to the role of David Lee, who is so hateful that even the other skinheads don't like him. The supporting players are all solid."<ref name=AboutFilm/> The review highlighted one performer, David Oren Ward, stating, " is frighteningly effective as Crew, the most charismatic–sort of–member of the gang, and thus its informal leader."<ref name=AboutFilm/> | ||
| ] reviewer ] commented that the theme of an "ordinary, tolerant white person going undercover into a world of extreme race-hatred" was a promising one and adds that the movie opens with a ] of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warning that "racism is a sickness unto death". He compares Pariah to the 1988 Constantin Costa-Gravas film '']'' starring ] and ] which had a similar plot. He also wrote, "Racist extremism is a problem. We need movies that address it. Chances are you already agree with these propositions. All ''Pariah'' succeeds in doing is screaming them at you, at maximum volume, over and over and over."<ref name=2000NYT>{{cite web|work=]|title=Pariah (1998) FILM REVIEW; Entering The Ranks Of Racists|first=A. O.|last=Scott|date=February 18, 2000|url=http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D0CE7DD1131F93BA25751C0A9669C8B63}}</ref> | ] reviewer ] commented that the theme of an "ordinary, tolerant white person going undercover into a world of extreme race-hatred" was a promising one and adds that the movie opens with a ] of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warning that "racism is a sickness unto death". He compares Pariah to the 1988 Constantin Costa-Gravas film '']'' starring ] and ] which had a similar plot. He also wrote, "Racist extremism is a problem. We need movies that address it. Chances are you already agree with these propositions. All ''Pariah'' succeeds in doing is screaming them at you, at maximum volume, over and over and over."<ref name=2000NYT>{{cite web|work=]|title=Pariah (1998) FILM REVIEW; Entering The Ranks Of Racists|first=A. O.|last=Scott|date=February 18, 2000|url=http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D0CE7DD1131F93BA25751C0A9669C8B63}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 18:50, 22 January 2015
1998 American film| Pariah | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Randolph Kret |
| Written by | Randolph Kret |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Nils Erickson |
| Edited by | Bill DeRonde |
| Music by | Scott Grusin |
| Distributed by | Indican Pictures |
| Release date |
|
| Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Pariah is a 1998 American dramatic film written and directed by Randolph Kret and starring Damon Jones, Dave Oren Ward, and Angela Jones.
Synopsis
The gang-rape by a group of neo-Nazis of an African American woman, Sam (Elexa Williams), triggers her suicide. Her caucasian boyfriend Steve (Damon Jones) finds the legal system lacking, plots revenge, and decides to infiltrate the gang. As a member he gains insight into the factors behind the neo-Nazi movement, but he is eventually confronted with the choice of committing a murder to prove his loyalty or reveal his cover.
Cast
3Production
Randolph Kret wrote and directed the film which is based on an incident from the life of a friend. For most of the cast, this film was their only acting credit. The Scott Grusin score includes songs by anti-racist hardcore bands Minor Threat, Social Unrest, and the Wives, with additional music by Anthony St. Sinclair.
Reception and review
Roger Ebert wrote that "Godard said that one way to criticize a movie is to make another movie. Pariah, a raw and unblinking look at the skinhead subculture, is a movie I'd like to show to those admirers of Fight Club who have assured me of their movie's greatness." Ebert gave the film three out of four stars. The Los Angeles Times called the film "a volatile, edgy picture of strong visceral impact."TV Guide called it a "well-meaning but ridiculous revenge drama". Bill Gibron of DVD Talk rated it 3/5 stars and wrote that while the film is realistic, it may not entertain viewers. In a negative review, Michael Atkinson of The Village Voice wrote, "Kret clearly has his heart in the right place: Hate Is Bad. If only being right were all you needed." On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a rating of 47% from seventeen reviews.
The reviewer on the website Aboutfilm.com said the following about the actors, "Pariah's finest asset is its steadfast realism. It helps that small budgets and low production values always seem to connote authenticity, but the credit must go to the performers. All of them look and sound so much like real people that you won't believe there's an actor among them. Wilson, having honed his skill in playing rapists in Leaving Las Vegas, brings a psychotic intensity to the role of David Lee, who is so hateful that even the other skinheads don't like him. The supporting players are all solid." The review highlighted one performer, David Oren Ward, stating, " is frighteningly effective as Crew, the most charismatic–sort of–member of the gang, and thus its informal leader."
New York Times reviewer A. O. Scott commented that the theme of an "ordinary, tolerant white person going undercover into a world of extreme race-hatred" was a promising one and adds that the movie opens with a voiceover of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warning that "racism is a sickness unto death". He compares Pariah to the 1988 Constantin Costa-Gravas film Betrayed starring Debra Winger and Tom Berenger which had a similar plot. He also wrote, "Racist extremism is a problem. We need movies that address it. Chances are you already agree with these propositions. All Pariah succeeds in doing is screaming them at you, at maximum volume, over and over and over."
Release
The Randolph Kret written and directed film was screened at the 1998 Slamdance Film Festival before a limited theater release.
References
- ^ "Pariah (1998)". AboutFilm.com. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- Pariah at IMDb
- ^ Pariah at Rotten Tomatoes
- ^ Scott, A. O. (February 18, 2000). "Pariah (1998) FILM REVIEW; Entering The Ranks Of Racists". The New York Times.
- The Chicago-Sun Times
- The Los Angeles Times
- "Pariah". TV Guide. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
- Gibron, Bill (May 21, 2008). "Pariah". DVD Talk. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
- Atkinson, Michael (February 15, 2000). "Skin Flick". The Village Voice. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
External links
Categories:- 1998 films
- 1990s drama films
- American films
- American drama films
- American independent films
- English-language films
- Directorial debut films
- Films about dysfunctional families
- Films about race and ethnicity
- Films about racism
- Films set in Los Angeles, California
- Films shot in Los Angeles, California
- Gang films
- Nazism in fiction