NationStates Jolt Archive

So I was thinking about this movie in light of some of the recent events in the news, and once again I find myself trying to interpret the ending.

How do you interpret the ending to the movie? What's the message they're conveying? Is it that Derek and Danny's prior racism is justified by the murder of Danny by a black student? Does that mean Derek will go back and rejoin the DOC?

Or is the message that the cycle of violence is all-consuming and there's no escape?

Is it something more simplictic? More complex?

Personally, I'm leaning toward the message that our past can come back and bite us, and that the loss of Danny was, in some way, a sort of karmic result of Derek having previously murdered two of the thugs that were trying to steal his truck. (Remember, he only got 3 years for those crimes.)

What do you think?

hrmm finally a deep question post...I will get back to you on this....been awhile since I watched the movie so I shall watch it again now and see what I come up with

Loooove this movie. Edward Norton is a god.

The ending was weird. I think it puts to test the new convictions that Derek has, to see if he really means it or is just using it to escape his life. If he can keep it after something like that happens, then he passes the test.

Basically, karma needed proof.

The quote at the end is significant in ways I'm unable to think about right now.

I think it shows the deep racial tensions in our soceity by showing us that...

Although Derek was a shithead, he eventually saw the error in his violent ways which was shown to him by his black friend in prison and the black principal he trusted so dearly. The whole movie showed how Whites were the ones that were in the wrong, beating up, killing Blacks ect ect...until the Derek finally changes and then Danny is killed by a Black guy over Absolutely nothing, which shows that the bad and good comes from both sides.

Good on White side: Derek reforms in prison, changes Danny before he gets in too deep.

Good on Black side: We see that not all Blacks are gang-bangers, and that the [black] principal is actually the wisest, smartest one in the movie, who is actually there for Derek when Derek is at his most all time low.

Bad on White side: Most of the movie, showing the skin-head scene, the trashing of the stores, the anti-semetic rants against the teacher..ect

Bad on Black side: Uncomprehendable murder of Danny by some black punks, for smoking in the bathroom and starting at him.

It shows that the American racial problem is truley a problem on both sides, with good and bad on both sides...but is indeed, one of the biggest problems facing our country.

Loooove this movie. Edward Norton is a god.

The ending was weird. I think it puts to test the new convictions that Derek has, to see if he really means it or is just using it to escape his life. If he can keep it after something like that happens, then he passes the test.

Basically, karma needed proof.

The quote at the end is significant in ways I'm unable to think about right now.
What was the quote at the end, I don't remember?

What was the quote at the end, I don't remember?

Danny Vinyard: So I guess this is where I tell you what I learned - my conclusion, right? Well, my conclusion is: Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time. It's just not worth it. Derek says it's always good to end a paper with a quote. He says someone else has already said it best. So if you can't top it, steal from them and go out strong. So I picked a guy I thought you'd like. 'We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.'

I figured it kinda meant Life was a Bitch.
No matter how positive you feel about yourself, yoiur family and your future, Life's gonna come romping in and give a good swift hard kick in the nuts.

the message...don't be caught alone in a prison shower?

One little monkeywrench in the process is that I hear the ending originally was going to portray Derek as going back to his old ways as a result of his brother's death, but that was changed to leave it ambiguous. It's certainly plausible, but I think it would have further muddled the meaning.

Well, also Derek put that hate in his brother, that led to the confrontation with the black student. You sow what you seed.