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Kush~
That 'Montgomery Brogan' monologue was truly funny ; but the ironic twist in the final line is the clincher... isn't it.

Love,
Makera

"Edgy" ? That comment would make me think it's a British film . I'm not familiar with the main character ~ fictitious or real? It sounds like an excellent film, and his monologue sure holds a lot of truths! Thanks for taking the time to put it here, Kush.....and yes, reading it as being the words of a person about to spend 7 years in a penitentiary, puts it into perspective, even if you didn't see/agree with what some see as the truths. What was his crime?

~ Elizabeth

It's a fictitious character. The movie is directed by Spike Lee....the best known African-american filmmaker. Montgomery Brogan was a small-time drug pusher who was cutting loose and starting a new life when he couldnt resist one last deal and got caught.
Edward Norton is an extremely gifted actor who always takes on complex and challenging roles. he is even better I thought in the movie American History X...where he plays the role of a neo-nazi who goes to prison for beating to death (or nearly to death) a black person. In prison he is forced into friendship with a black man which changes his whole outlook and he is totally reformed. But when he comes out of prison he finds that not only is he a legend among neo-nazis but also a hero to his younger brother - a wannabe neo-nazi. So he has to deal with these issues.

Kush~
Although I haven't seen the movie with the Montgomery Brogan character, I have seen American History X which is excellent. There was some cafuffle with the director, I heard, where Norton took/had too much power regarding the final cut, thus 'destroying' what the director intended. This is apparently why the 'protest' name for pissed-off directors is used in the credits: "Alan Smithee" (if I remember correctly?).

Whatever the original idea of the director was, for American History X, it still turned out to be an extraordinarily effective, and affective, film. Edward Norton plays a*h*s so believably, doesn't he, (like in The Score)!

~Makera

Thanks, Kush! When I saw it was Spike Lee, I wasn't surprized. I went to see him speak when he came to Gainesville [the University], and he's very cutting-edge impressive in his filmmaking. Both movies sound excellent! I'll look for them. I like the complexity you describe regarding "American History X" and I'm anxious to become acquainted with Edward Norton. These kinds of films are great.

Makera ~ Maybe I'm overlooking the obvious somewhere, but what is "a*h*s"? And what is "The Score" about?

~ Lizzy

Oh, geez, Liz...I've gotta spell it out I guess (& I thought I was being so 'genteel' ). OK, that's 'asshole' in American; 'arsehole' in English. I usually use the initials 'AH'; sometimes there's just no substitute description for that particular behavioural condition. Wouldn't you agree?

'The Score' (often repeated on the Showtime Network) is an excellent film, and example of Norton's acting talents, starring Robert de Niro and Marlon Brando. The de Niro character is about to retire from a very successful career as a professional cat-burglar, when his fence/'job' procurer (Marlon Brando) talks him into one last 'score'. Norton is the one the always-solo de Niro is reluctantly pushed into working 'with'. You'll see Edward Norton at his absolute best in this!

~Makera

PS. I do think it was quite gratuitous of Americans to make an arse of a donkey, a lovely animal. Or did they mean a donkey's 'hole'....now I'm confused!

'a*h*s' is an unknown form of alphabetically reconstituted verbiage in my neck of the woods. If someone wants to call a spade a spade, then for pity's sake, call the blasted spade a spade.

Actually, where I come from, we call a "spade" a 'bloody shovel'

Makera I have noticed that.

I hope I wasn't being 'nit-picky' ???

Makera...I must've missed the The Score (a rare event)...is it out on DVD?
I didnt know about the controversy re' American History X....Ed Norton is really believable in that...he really is a scary dude at the start. 25th Hour starts off with a really tender scene with an injured animal. And yes...first and foremost the monologue is really funny but there is much truth in it...Brogan speaks with the absolute mental freedom of a man who has lost all physical freedom.

p.s. A quick check reveals that The Score is indeed out on DVD.

Thank you, Paula. I shall take that as a compliment.

Kush~
I did get your point, re 'the Brogan monologue'; didn't you notice I said 'truly funny'?

~Makera