Product Details

• Actors: David Strathairn, Andrew Walker, Marina Orsini, Ivan Smith
• Directors: David Gow, Mark Adam
• Writers: David Gow
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Monterey Video
• DVD Release Date: September 4, 2007
• Run Time: 87 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000RN87CS
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,666 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Rage and intolerance collide with compassion

Academy-Award® nominated David Strathairn portrays Danny Dunkleman, a Jewish liberal humanist, and the court-appointed lawyer representing Mike Downey (Andrew Walker), a Neo-Nazi Skinhead on trial for the racially motivated murder of an East Indian immigrant. Steel Toes takes us into the intense and fiery relationship that develops between these two men as they explore their emotional and intellectual differences.

Steel Toes is a provocative exploration of the inescapable and insidious presence of racial and religious intolerance in our society.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful stuff - a little scary to watch!, September 1, 2007

By 

Dee J. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Steel Toes (DVD)

Steel Toes starts off with a hard-to-watch, rather terrifying scene and goes on to explore the rage inside a man many of us might like to see given the electric chair for his crime. I'm a big fan of David Strathairn and his performance here as a lawyer is nothing less than I expected. An A+ film that I would recommend to anyone (except children).

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I Hope That He Finds A Better Road To Walk", September 19, 2007

By 

H. F. Corbin "Foster Corbin" (ATLANTA, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Steel Toes (DVD)

When liberal Jewish lawyer Danny Duckelman (David Strathairn of "Good Night and Good Luck fame) is appointed to represent a neo-Nazi skinhead Michael Downey (Andrew W. Walker), to say that sparks will fly is a trite, gross understatement. The screen practically self-ignites as these two individuals have a battle of the wills in Director David Gow's (along with Mark Adam) brilliant movie adaptation "Steel Toes" of his critically acclaimed play "Cherry Docs" (the name of the Dr Marten steel-toed boots worn by skinheads). Mike is incarcerated for attacking an Indian restaurant worker-- for no apparent reason other than his nationality-- by stomping him with his steel-toed boots. The man later dies from internal bleeding but not before he foregives his attacker in one of the most heart-wrenching scenes from the movie and wishes for him that he "finds a better road to walk."

Even though some of the scenes between Danny and Mike are what we would expect from two people whose views of the world are so different, the movie never, ever becomes a cliche. Even though the director says in an interview included with the DVD version of this film that he opened up action from the two-man stage version, adding other characters and scenes of the racially diverse neighborhood where Danny lives with his wife in Montreal as well as moving scenes from a cemetery where he says that six generations of his own family are buried, the film is still essentially about Danny and Mike and the interactions between them.

Perhaps what engages the viewer most in this emotionally powerful and explosive film as the two men engage in shouting match after shouting match--"at one point, Danny screams at Mike: "it's not your eye color, sweetheart"-- is the subtle changes that come over both men. Mike in the beginning hates Danny, along with all other "Zionists" and would kill them all if he could while Danny, for his part, certainly has no love for this skinhead with multiple tattoos either. When Mike yells at Danny to hit him, he responds that "if I started hitting you, I might not be able to stop." Both actors are superb and become the characters they portray in a film that was finished-- unbelievably-- in 19 days of shooting. (The director and producer of films like "Cleopatra" should take notice.)

I would not say that this movie will entertain you. On the other hand, you'll be hard put to find one that has more to say about racial hatred and diversity. It may upset you but you will not soon forget it. It is simply one of the best things I've seen in a very long time.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superbly performed exploration of racial and religious intolerance, August 6, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Steel Toes (DVD)

Starring Academy Award nominee David Strathairn and Whistler Film Festival 'Best Actor' award winner Andrew Walker, "Steel Toes" is a film about a Jewish liberal humanist appointed by the court to defend a Neo-Nazi Skinhead on trail for the racially motivated murder of an East Indian immigrant. This is a full color, 90-minute film of intense issues and relationships between such diverse men as they explore their emotional and intellectual differences. The DVD format allows for the addition of features that include 'Meet the film's Creators (David Gow, Perri Gorrara, Michel-Paul Belisle), interviews with David Strathairn and Andrew Walker, a Theatrical Trailer, and Selected Biographies. A superbly performed exploration of racial and religious intolerance in contemporary society, "Steel Toes" is a confidently recommended addition to community library DVD collections as a film of immense social relevance, viewer engagement, and flawless performance.