Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Loosely based on a real person, Ryan Gosling plays a right-wing Nazi who is actually Jewish. While he spends his time hating Jews and joining a Jew-hating group, he struggles his internal conflict. On the one hand he has a lot of respect to his religion and culture, on the other hand he hates it and his people. While many of the people in the group are just ignorant thugs, he is obviously one of the most intellectual people in the group.Very interesting subject (even more when you know it's actually (loosely) based on a real person) which raises some interesting questions.Ryan Gosling is very good in one of the earliest roles. While the movie is interesting, it shows the lack of budget and lack of experience by a first time director. The script itself could have also use some polishing and I didn't like the cinematography which uses close-ups way too often.Still, it's an interesting story with good points, good questions and good acting by Gosling - and the fact that I saw it at least 3 times by now proves something too.

Inspired by the true life story of Daniel Burros, The Believer is a thought provoking, hard-hitting, powerfully disturbing yet profoundly moving tale starring Ryan Gosling in one of his earliest & most electrifying roles and despite its provocative subject manner, is a heartbreaking experience at the same time.Set in New York City, the story of The Believer concerns Daniel Balint; a Neo-Nazi skinhead with very strong anti-Semitic feelings despite having a Jewish background himself. The plot presents him as a morally confused individual who constantly finds himself torn between his beliefs & his heritage before being exposed by a journalist.Finely directed & nicely written, the film is unflinching with its content & is often a tough sit at times but a rewarding experience nonetheless. The technical aspects don't add much to the story for the entire narrative is mainly driven by Ryan Gosling's explosive performance as the self- hating Jew & still remains one of his best works to date.On an overall scale, covering the themes of religion, hate & self-loathing, The Believer is a fiercely crafted & steadily paced drama that's much worthy of a wider audience, is a fascinating but somewhat underdeveloped study of a troubled character, and benefits greatly from Gosling's commanding screen presence & show-stealing performance.

The Believer is a drama that stars Ryan Gosling as Daniel Balint, an Orthodox Jew who becomes a Neo-Nazi. Billy Zane,Theresa Russell and Summer Phoenix co-stars.The film is loosely based on the true story of Daniel Burros, a member of the American Nazi Party and the New York branch of the United Klans of America who committed suicide after being exposed by a New York Times reporter to be Jewish.It was written by Mark Jacobson and Henry Bean,also the film's director.Danny Balint is a member of a gang of racist skinheads that espouses a vile but well-articulated philosophy of anti-Semitism. He also has a secret: he is a Jew and was a top student in Hebrew school before he began to ask too many questions about the deeper implications of the teachings in the Torah and the Old Testament.Then he got expelled. Angry and confused, he began to explore the philosophies of the neo-Nazi movement, which he soon came to embrace through a mixture of anger over the tragic history of the Jewish people, bitterness over his experiences in Hebrew school, and a loathing of himself. He soon becomes a key member of a skinhead sect led by Curtis and Lina but while they believe that the desire for cultural assimilation by many American Jews will lead to their self-destruction, Danny advocates a more direct and violent approach in dealing with the "enemy".As Danny gains the admiration of his fellow skinheads for his intelligence and commitment, he wins the affection of Carlaand a group member with severe masochistic tendencies. But in time Danny's beliefs begin to shift once again, just as the truth about his background becomes known to his comrades.The Believer is a reminder of the power of film to move us and to make us examine our values.It is also one of the most thought-provoking and hard-hitting films ever released.Also,its underlying premise is simple and understandable to any one of us who have grown indifferent to many of the teachings we accepted with such naiveté, such open hopeful hearts throughout our early education.Finally,what really makes it effective is Ryan Gosling,who commands the screen with a raw, electrifying performance for he is a powerful actor.

Somewhat unbelievable story of a Jewish rebel. The portrayal of the protagonist as a Neo-Nazi is unconvincing in parts, mostly in his, what seems artificial, love of Torah and the religion he seems to respect but not embrace and intellectually can not submit.These affectionate displays and attachment to the doctrine and dogma are delivered in a rather teleprompter mode as if he is reciting and not truly reflecting on the religious teaching. What is convincing is his disdain and hatred for the pious and superior PEOPLE who practice the rituals and refuse to take a demonstrable stand against its own suffering.What is needed here for the film to be totally successful is the believability of both sides of his inner conflict. His respect for the artifacts and tradition come across as lip service, but his overwhelming overtures and monologues against the Jews come from a deep place and the superficial submission he witnesses from his his fellow clansman are riveting.