I love this movie. My only criticism is the excessive language. If It wasn't for that, this movie could be used by parents and educators to teach a new generation about racism and how one influential man was able to make a complete turn around. The main character (Derek) learned how to see past the color of someone's skin and came home to help his family discover the same. The movie has a very sad ending, but unfortunately an all to common reality.

I have seen this movie about 5 times and like it more and more whenever I watch it. I bought this movie as a gift for my girlfriend(nothing says I love you more than American History X =P)because she as well liked the movie so I figured it would be a good gift. Anyways, all I have to say is that it is a good movie focusing on a person who committed a hate crime and tells his tale from beginning to end. If you have not seen it, go either rent or buy it. You will not be disappointed.

American History X doesn't use the same broad elements that many films of this kind often do. It doesn't "preach to the converted". It goes into some of the main reasons for prejudice. It doesn't ignore the fact that affirmative action has given us some bad side-effects. It doesn't ignore that black people too, can be racist. It doesn't ignore statistics. It puts all these points out there, but still points out that racism is wrong. I will leave it at that. I don't want to give away any plot points.

penso che questo sia il più bel film che io abbia mai visto. recitato meravigliosamente, diretto bene, fotografia bellissima... insomma il massimo! edward norton poi il miglior attore in circolazione oggi. è amato e apprezzato anche in Italia.

American History X is a powerful film about a controversial and disturbing subject: racism in America. Edward Norton plays the part of Derek Vinyard, who is an intelligent young man who falls into the skinhead neo Nazi lifestyle in Venice Beach, California. Stacey Keach plays Cameron Alexander, a white supremacist based on Tom Metzger, and Avery Brooks plays Dr. Bob Sweeney, a black high school teacher who reaches out to his students, both Black and White, to try to get them to turn away from gangs, hatred, and violence.

Edward Furlong plays Daniel Vinyard, the younger brother of Derek, who also gets involved in the neo Nazi skinhead lifestyle once his brother Derek is sent to prison. Derek shoots and murders some Black car jackers who are stealing his truck, but goes over the line in his zealotry, and is sent to prison. While in prison, he rejects racism, and when he gets out, he tries to prevent his younger brother Danny from making the same mistakes as he. But it is not that easy, it is not like a Country Club that you can just quit and walk away from.

Finally, director Tony Kaye wanted his name removed and sued the film company for damages. Edward Norton edited the film, and gave himself a bigger role, according to Kaye, and they fell out over artistic differences. I think that the final product was very good, and I don't see why Tony Kaye didn't want to be associated with it. The film I saw was well directed and covered a very controversial subject remarkably well. I guess it is just that the subject creates very strong feelings, and it is difficult to come to an agreement about how best to convey the proper politically correct line. It was almost one of those "directed by Alan Smithee' situations, but one of the stipulations of using that pseudonym is that you don't discuss your dissatisfaction with the project in public, and Tony Kaye had already taken out ads in Variety that aired his dirty laundry and complaints.

FILMS AND ROLES OF EDWARD NORTON

Frida (2002) .... Nelson Rockefeller
Death to Smoochy (Widescreen Edition) (2002) .... Sheldon Mopes / Smoochy the Rhino
Fight Club (1999) .... The Narrator
The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) .... Alan Isaac


FILMS AND ROLES OF EDWARD FURLONG

Pecker (1998) .... Pecker
Detroit Rock City (New Line Platinum Series) (1999) .... Hawk
The Grass Harp (1995) .... Collin Fenwick
American Heart (1992) .... Nick Kelson

FILMS AND ROLES OF ETHAN SUPLEE

Blow (Infinifilm Edition) (2001) .... Tuna
Chasing Amy - Criterion Collection (1997) .... Fan

(...)

I really don't know what to tell you except I bought this show for a friend. She said it is about a guy that goes to prison and turns his life around. When I seen it it didn't seem like my kind of movie so I didn't watch it. She liked it thru. You might need to go off other reviews b/c I can't give a true review since I never seen it.

This movie would not have been as believable if Edward Norton was not in it. His almost maniacal performance is simply astounding. You can see it in his eyes, he takes this role 100% seriously. It truly is probably his best performance to date and surely worthy of the Oscar nomination. I sometimes find him to be understated, but there is no mistaking that in this film. He owns this role and he is the reason to see this film.

That said, the film itself is nothing truly innovative or spectacular, the subject matter isn't original or shocking, but it did hook me in regardless. Again, the acting made it believable. The prison scenes were an eye opener, thought a tad on the cliché side, but I couldn't help but be moved.

The ending, for me, almost didn't make any sense in the grand scheme of things, but I think the director ended it exaclty where it was supposed to end. In my mind, it could have gone a little longer in regards to an extended ending. Actually, doing some research, I read that a longer ending was planned, but never filmed. If it was, it would have been purely for the shock value.

I would recommend this film to anyone that wants a good story with wonderful performances.

this has to be one of the best onscreen performances from Edward Norton. hard to watch in places, but definately a movie he should have won the Oscar for for his portrayal of a Neo-Nazi skinhead. hes definately one of the best actors of this generation, since "Incredible Hulk" is his best film to date, American History X is definately Top 3 of his career.

Gripping! Edward Norton and Edward Furlong are incredible actors. The movie is an eye opener about hatred, intolerance, and environmental effects on our behavior. The events in the story could be true to life makes it scary. Compelling story.

Vintage years for film seem to come in bunches - the late forties - the late nineties - being primary examples. In the thick - when the critics become the most confused - spoiled by the surfeit, we, the movie going masses seem to troop along. Such a year for film was 1998-1999. Most of us have had our differences with the judgments of The Academy of Arts and Sciences (if you're not smiling by now - don't read further). But none of the Academy's many shameful blunders compare to what went down on Oscar night 1998. Let me remind you. The nominees for best picture: Shakespeare In Love (winner), Elizabeth, Life is Beautiful (Best Foreign Language Film winner), Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line. O.K. I'll ask: Would any of you today, in your right mind, claim that any of these films (every one of them set in Europe, by the way), with the possible exception of Saving Private Ryan, held a candle to that enduring masterpiece, in the opinion of so many here, and elsewhere, one of the greatest and most important and moving films ever made, American History X?

Over time, the vox populi imparts justice of sorts. These days, when I inquire of my 20-something students if any of them have seen Shakespeare In Love, maybe a hand goes up. Perhaps, this handily-crafted piece of fluff (with its cavalier sense of history) made all the more delicious by the mellifluous, long-waisted presence of La Paltrow, goddess of the late dot com boom in the blush of young beauty, deserved a better fate. Perhaps not. Perhaps, the spectacle of Gwynnie dancing with Daddy (like Candy) at her Oscar coronation helped prepare T.V. audiences for the nepotistic profligacy of the coming Bush inauguration. Perhaps, nothing could have prepared them.

The response to American History X is, of course, quite different. A decade later, an entirely new generation of viewers again experiences the intensity and passion of this magisterial cinematic statement and responds in kind. My point is: there's no substitute for a film which has something crucial say and says it as well as it could be said.

We all know how much inconsequential junk is passed of as cinema every year. Like the audience, the film industry must eat to stay alive. Clichés, humorless as ever, abound. Ask Bruce Willis to say something on film. That's why I'm upset. When a great script gets made into a masterpiece, in Hollywood no less, even the best tend to shun or worse, pan it. Or misunderstand it. This film is about a lot more than misguided white racist supremacy. Please. And Derek's rhetoric is not that logically powerful or convincing to be obsessed over, as many critics have, at the expense of all the many more important things this film says.

Take the greatest screenwriting mentors: Robert McKee and Syd Field. McKee's masterpiece, Story, may be best book ever written on dramatic writing (roll over Aristotle), or writing narrative, period. Sine qua non for attempting to write for the cinema. What is the favorite script of these genius pedagogues? Chinatown. No doubt a great script - the textbook exemplar. And - in many senses a great film - made at a pivotal moment in the history of film - a moment it eulogized - the passing of film noir. Yeah. The ultimate corruption of the world, the masked and massive darkness we found our world on. The perversity of power we enshrine in our struggle for survival. But to tell you truly, American History X (to my knowledge wholly ignored by both Field and McKee in their writings and seminars) is the greater script (for all the principles it betrays) and the greater film. The proof is in the pudding: this film enunciates the essential conflict of our time, not another, or the fruit of that conflict, whichever way one wishes to see it. And I would go further. I would say, in the progressive cadences of its tragedy, in the somber measure of its gravity, this script ranks with the best of Aescylus and Sophocles. You mean Oedipus X? Yuh, that too. That grimy little block of Venice, CA takes on epic proportion by the film's end.

The night the Academy snubbed American History X has long since receded into the past. But that history which is ours, depicted here, is an event which we must claim as our own, a responsibility which none of us, as a humanity, can evade.

Hands down, this is an amazing movie. There is very little to find wrong with this movie.

The acting is by far the highlight of this film. While not his breakout role, this is the first movie where Norton really showed he was a star. He goes from downright scary to completely likable through the movie. More importantly, its a transition you really believe.

Furlong, who bothers me a lot, mostly it's his voice, also puts in a good performance. The rest of the cast also adds a lot to the movie. I am a fan of Ethan Suplee, and this is role is one of the reasons. Also Fairuza Balk puts in a sold performance. And Avery Brooks, always a winner, really comes through. I think Brooks puts in the second best performance, next to Norton, of the whole film. In a movie with the caliber of acting, thats saying something.

The story itself is uplifting in it's own way, but still very dark. This is definitely a drama, so anyone looking for lighter fair should steer clear. Normally I am not a fan of flashbacks, but they are handled very well. The pacing is dead on, and the viewer is not left wondering how much time is left until the movie is over.

This is a quality flick, one of my all time favorites, and a must see for any moviegoer.

This movie rocked the nation when it came out. It's the film that put Edward Norton(Incredible Hulk, The 25th Hour, The Score) on the radar.

The movie is a statement about racism, family and hate. Anyone that has seen this movie, can relate in one way or another. It makes you think about what you've done, what you've said and where that hate comes from. Everyone can take something away from this film, some lesson, some meaning.

Ed Norton plays a racist, he goes to prison and when he gets out, his younger brother Edward Furlong (Terminator 2, Brainscan, Jimmy and Judy) is just like him. A racist full of unbridled hate for no good reason. Norton is healed, no longer a racist, matured and past that stage of his life, he tries to get his brother help and the movie escalates from there, twisting and turning, until the dramatic climax.

A classic, everyone should see this movie!

I had heard of this movie and although I like Edward Norton, I was in no hurry to see it. I happen to catch it on cable one night as I was flipping through the channels, folding laundry. The laundry didn't get finished until much later. This movie was so powerful, it just sucked me right in. I loved the story, acting, writing, everything about it. I highly reccommend this to anyone who hasn't seen it.

This is a great movie, buy it. Everybody needs to see this movie. Those that say it is "liberalist" and "globalist" propaganda are crazy. This movie is about racists and is anti-racist. Those reviewers are just closeted racists themselves who were angry at a movie that took an anti-racist stand.

American History X is the story of two brothers who become involved in a racist gang who believes minorities are rotting America's culture. Derek, who is played by Edward Norton, becomes the leader of the gang. Early on, two black kids attempt to steal his car late at night and he ends up killing them both. The film uses black and white to depict the period before Derek is released from prison and color for after he is released. This is a clever way of showing that during the black and white portion, Derek is only judging people by the color of their skin, while during the colored portion he begins to see it's not that simple.
Danny, his younger brother, views Derek as a mentor and tries to follow in his footsteps. When Derek is released from prison, he is very confused and angry with Derek's new views on racism and discrimination. Derek also has two sisters and a mother who appears to be very sick, but the illness is never mentioned. Three years later after Derek is released from prison, Derek wants to set things right with his family and get them away from the life he has forced them into. Towards the end of the film, Sweeny, a principle at Danny's school and Derek's former teacher asks for his help. Derek is reluctant, but knows he needs to do this to be a good role model for Danny. Sweeny seems to act as the underlying insinuative both Danny and Derek need to set themselves strait.
The plot itself has a few questionable areas. Derek's three years in prison seem rushed and underdeveloped at some points. Another 10 minutes of content in that area would have made it much less choppy. Derek meets a black co-worker in prison who he alienates himself from at first, but later opens up to him. Eventually, the two become friends and Derek admits he couldn't have made it through prison without him. This relationship helps Derek question his prejudice and change his ways. Even if there were a few weak scenes, it definitely does not detract from the films overall experience.
From a technical standpoint the filming and camera angles were spot on. The background music helped capture the mood of each scene and most of the time I didn't even notice it was there. This can be good or bad depending on the person, but it didn't bother me.
Almost all of the scenes have great acting; although, a few seemed a bit awkward. The first that comes to mind is a scene towards the end of the film where Derek is talking to Danny outside school before he turns his paper in. The whole scene just didn't feel right, but maybe that's just me. Other than that everything was very well done.
The film as a whole is a very powerful experience and leaves you with questions of your own. Norton couldn't have played his role any better than he did and his supporting cast followed right in his footsteps. The film certainly shows us in a crystal clear fashion what human hatred and jealously can lead to. Sure there are few shortcomings, but I still will wholeheartedly recommend this film to anyone looking for a well structured and powerful film.

Fueled by a powerfully convincing Oscar worthy performance, `American History X' is probably my favorite movie of the given year. It's an intense portrayal of hatred and racism and the causes behind it as well as the horrible consequences that spawn from it. In its gritty black and white sequences it establishes an air of hostility and vindictive fervor, but what's strangely enamoring about this film is that, with all it's shocking violence and hate filled propaganda, it raises a level of sympathetic understanding that you'd never expect to find nestled underneath it's repelling shell. Through the eyes of Derek Vinyard we begin to realize his struggle and understand his viewpoints, no matter how wrong they really are. The reasoning behind his hatred is explained with such conviction and assurance that he begins to sell the audience. This is important because Derek is a man we're supposed to connect with and sympathize with, and without understanding him that becomes impossible and he remains a monster to us.

So then, much praise must be heaped upon the amazing Edward Norton who completely devours his role here. His performance is one of the most impressive and earth shattering portrayals of the human heart I've seen in years, perhaps forever. His control over his character is incredible. His conviction, his determination, his grip on his characters reality is so strong it's engrossing and absorbing. Derek Vinyard is a revelation. As the film shifts from present time, with Derek being released from prison and trying to put his family back together, to past tense, where in that gritty black and white we see the rise and fall of Derek's Nazi days, we are invited into this mans world, and effortlessly we see Norton shift from a man determined to hate to a man determined to fix the mess he started.

The film focuses mainly on the relationship between Derek and his younger brother Danny, played brilliantly by Edward Furlong. Upon arriving home from prison Derek sees that Danny has now fallen just as deep into the race hating ways he was once privy to and he realizes he has his work cut out for him. Having been reformed while behind bars Derek is now a much different man than he once was and he begins to try and reason with his brother, prove to him that the life they are leading is one only destined for failure and doom. Unfortunately Danny has fallen into ties with Cameron, the leader of a group of Neo-Nazi tyrants who once worshiped the ground Derek walked on. Breaking Danny of this pact would not only result in Derek's segregation but could result in his death.

Tony Kaye does a fantastic job directing this film, creating an unsteady air about the scenes that adds layers to the message behind this film. The film is forceful and blunt but it manages to invest itself so deeply in the audience that we become invested in the film and thus and compelled to keep watching despite the at times very harsh sequences of events. `American History X' may not be the easiest film to sit through, but it's easily one of the most important films to ever address the bounds of racism. Highly superior to the Oscar winning `Crash', `American History X' sets a profound statement that not only rationalizes with the villain but breaks down his barrier and exposes the scared little child growing within him. Thanks in large part to the Oscar robbed Edward Norton, this is one of those films that will move you to rethink everything you think you know about the ones you think you understand and realize that maybe, just maybe, you don't know as much as you give yourself credit for.

Tony Kaye's hard-hitting, frighteningly credible look at racism and aggrieved adolescence smoothes over nothing in its depiction of angry working-class California youth who find pride and camaraderie under the aegis of a White Power demagogue (Stacy Keach). But "X" owes its extraordinary power to the super-charged, Oscar-nominated performance by Norton, beefed up and seething with monstrous hatred in the film's many flashbacks. With Norton so convincing in balancing Derek's obvious intelligence and charisma with his more noxious Nazi persona, "American History X" is a raw, engrossing tale of a pained conscience turned inside out.

A good friend of mine suggested this film, and I really didnt know what to expect going in, but after this film was over, I sat in stunned silence. I knew that racism was horrible, but I found through this film that it does not come without a terrible price..the loss of love, friends, family...and the realization that everything that you believed to be true isnt always the way things are. Edward Norton's performance takes the viewer through this journey, and its not a pretty one. He goes from an bright young man, to a vengeful bigot, to a remorseful excon with a brothers life in jeopardy, and you feel as though you are looking in on someones life in the course of 2 hrs. All of the acting in this film is first rate, and the ending wasnt quite as predictable as others might have you believe...it is quite shocking, as is much of the film. It causes quite a debate on the way people view others whos skin color is not the same. As Dr. King said, judge me not on the color of my skin, but on the content of my character. I live with racism, because I am a black man living in America...it exists, but if we educate ourselves like the main character in AHX, it wont stay around for much longer.

A waste of a fine performance by Norton. The film is an idealistic mess. Trite and melodramatic. I like the ending, because it completely skewers audience expectations, but beyond that, the film feels as if it has been patched together at the last minute. Segments don't entirely match, and most of the acting is uneven. The story is straight out of a tv movie.
If you are one of those typical film students who wears a trenchcoat, has a goatee and won't shut up about Clerks and Fight Club, this will probably be your favorite movie.

The fear of foreign races or people, and it evolving into an actual phobia, an intense and irrational dread, in other terms, racism, has been around since primitive man began forming tribes, millions of years ago. American History X examines racism in the context of present day neo-Nazism, and similar to the German Nazis of the 30's and 40's all foreigners are blamed for everything wrong with the State. The solution to unemployment, a high cost of living, rocketing welfare and rising crime is to jettison all immigrants, foreigners, from the country so that the original people, the white's in America or the Aryan race in 30's Germany can flourish as they are truly destined to do. This notion is one of the foundational tenets of fascism, and added to this, violence and war is the only method to achieve a `pure' flourishing State.

American History X is a strong film presenting the arguments for the Right and the Left where, for the most part, the propositions on both sides have valid points, however, it is impossible to argue a subject as complex as immigration, rising crime and the cost of living by blaming these situations on a particular race of people. In fact, the argument is absurd because there are always exceptions, and as this important film points out with force and powerful emotion, racism is about hate, fear and personal anger, projected on a generality because it is convenient, a scapegoat for a lack of control and responsibility.

Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) is an intelligent young man but somewhere along the line began to hate Black American's, Asian American's et al, and under the tutelage of an older and influential White Supremist, (Stacy Keach), becomes the leader of a `skinhead' gang in Venice Beach, trashing foreign owned grocery stores to finally be jailed for the brutal murder of two teenaged Black Americans because they attempted to steal his car. Derek is strong, passionate, and terribly angry and now, a cold blooded killer and his younger brother, Danny, (Edward Furlong) idolises him.

Edward Furlong as Danny was perfect casting as he has a sensitive and forlorn, lost gaze, almost innocent because he loves his brother so much, and when his brother is released from prison with a different point of view, at first goes a little crazy, but will go along because he worships and loves him. Of course this makes the ending that much more forbidding and terribly moving. Furlong is a talented actor and is restrained in this picture, resulting in his performance being totally believable.

A film about such a controversial subject matter cannot avoid presenting a message for the viewer. In the case of American History X, racism is not an innate condition but a learned one, passed on from generation to generation.

American History X is not a good film but a truly great one and should be viewed by all concerned about our society and the hate and fear it contains...

i was eagerly looking forward to catching up with this movie id missed at the time of its release, esp since im a fan of both edward norton and eddie furlong (even as just an acxtor, lol). however, this was an overwrought and overthought mess. there is nothing here that hasnt been covered (sans the dirty language) in a slew of tv movies dating back to the episode of "twilight zone" where dennis hopper met hitler. and a bald eddie furlong is not much fun to look at. norton is less and less interesting an actor as time goes along, but at least here he was still trying.

This movie is brilliant, and Edward Norton is at his best.

This film allows you to see everyone as a legitimate person. You understand why a black boy would shoot a white kid, as it is brought on by the cruelty of racism and violence. Yet, you also watch these seemingly normal people get sucked into an environment of racism and hatred. It permeates all aspects of society and everyone suffers from it. The purpose of the movie is not to choose a hero or a villain, because society is not that black and white. It is to reveal the consequences of hatred and how it only begets further hatred and violence. In the end, you are sad that a once-racist boy dies, not because racism is condoned, but because violence is always terrible. Derek's explanation that anger only leads to more anger is fundamental, because we see that it can never solve any problem, and is wrong from all sides.

Foremost, the controversy: the film's director Tony Kaye desperately tried divorced himself from this work when he realized that he would not be able to release the film under a false-name. Though he claims that Edward Norton edited the film to allot himself more screen time, most believe there is something deeper at work here.

Equally as interesting: this film's script-ending is dramatically different from the end-product. To avoid spoilers, check the bottom of IMDB's trivia for this film for the shocking details!! (Though this conclusion is alluded to in the actual film-ending, it is made blatant in the script).

If for some strange reason "Fight Club," "Red Dragon," "Death to Smoochy," and "Primal Fear" did not convince you that Norton has TREMENDOUS range, this film will. Not only did Norton physically transform himself for this role by gaining THIRTY pounds of muscle, he mentally accessed the very dark place where hatred resides. His character is all-too-believable. A credit to his talent, indeed!!

Those who find this film only reinforces stereotypes seem to miss how the film portrays the both the irrationality of racism and its insidious nature. This is especially evident in the character of Seth. That fact the Seth refuses to eat a black jellybean because of its color paints a pretty clear picture. On the other hand, the film does not hesitate to show the viewer that many members of hate groups are intellectually gifted: like Derek and Danny. Circumstance has pushed these young men to seek a new father figure, and they find comfort in the attention provided by Cameron (leader of the fictional D.O.C. or Disciples of Christ). Chilling!

Several people here claim the black-and-white scenes are "artsy." Entirely untrue. They have a very clear purpose: they exist simply to indicate "the past." (It is a common film-device. . . as nearly all of you reading this know). In no way does this detract from the film. In fact, it makes several graphic scenes more tolerable.

If you are interested in film art, keep an eye on the use of the sea ... and pay specific attention to the diner-scene (near the conclusion) where Norton stands in front of a sea-scape painting . . . his head engulfed in the waves. That which was once so alive becomes frozen in time. (Read into it what you will!)

Though there are some sexually explicit scenes, it is a great film for a college classroom or for a very mature teenager (though, if I were a parent, I would not want to watch it WITH my child). Some see the work as heavy-handed . . . I think it is quite real.

A must-see for any Norton fan or anyone interested in human-behavior.

Suggested Reading: Roth, Luanne. "Beyond Communitas: Cinematic Food Events and the Negotiation of Power, Belonging, and Exclusion." Western Folklore 64, no. 3-4 (2005 Fall): 163-87. (This article addresses the role of the family-dinner table and the role of food in general in the films American History X and American Beauty.)

Really good movie with great actors. Some of the scenes are EXTREMELY graphic though so don't watch this movie with children. Otherwise, great movie!

Let me preface this by saying that I feel Edward Norton is one of the best actors around. I can't pretend that I am following his acting career or anyone else's for that matter, but every thing I see him in has been challenging to say the least and he performs to unbelieveable standards. This is no different for sure - so I was bound to like it just because the acting is so good.

This is not a happy story and if you are looking for anything like that, you have come to the wrong place. But this is compelling and if you find it interesting to see how other people live, this is a great movie to see. I would caution parents against allowing (please forgive me for this) "youthful and rebellious" teens from seeing this as they may miss the point at the end.

American History X is a very controversial film. It is a definite favorite in my collection. This movie featuring Edward Norton goes in depth with a white serpremesist (spelling?) group and how in the end a main leader in the group is able to helphimself and his brother see life in a completely different way. I won't give away anything, but there are ups and downs in the movie, but anyway you look at it, it is definently touching. Some of it MAY be offensive, but I wasn't offended too much, and NO not because i AM white. Just because I feel like the more I know the better off I am. Of course it made me angry, but you have to shrug it off and realize this movie may change others for the better....A VERY moving film. A must buy.

Although there are skinheads and racism among certain types of whites in most countries, there is something particularly American about this movie (in spite of its British director) which makes me feel it is inappropriate for a non-American to voice an opinion. Here goes, anyway. I wouldn't call it bad, but I didn't take to it. It seemed preachy and sentimental, with stereotyped characters, and an ultimately shallow plot and story. Towards the end I found it hard to pay attention. Compared with Romper Stomper, a much lower budget Australian movie, with Russell Crowe, which deals with pretty well the same themes, I think it suffers. Romper Stomper packs a much heavier punch, is much less self-consciously arty, yet more artistic, and I have watched it several times. American History X is worthy, worth seeing, but not worth seeing twice.

Upon being subject to various forms of hearsay about this particular piece of Hollywood grime, I finally made the decision to rent it and discover first-hand what the hype was about. In my naivete, I had presumed that this movie would be an honest, unbiased look at urban skinhead subculture or even nationalism as an ideology. What I got instead is a well-crafted social drama masquerading as political satire. After sifting through pages and pages of ogling 5-star reviews of satisfied viewers exonerating this to be "Thought provoking!" "Important!," and of course "Educational!," I began to ask myself "can the Crowd truly be this dense?"

When viewed as a whole, American History X represents a complete and utter failure to in any way "explain" racism and "hatred" (as so many claim). To give a brief plot synopsis, the protagonist becomes "reformed" from his racist ways after the murder of a couple of ghetto-dwelling African-Americans who were attempting to hijack his truck for some ambiguous reason. What are the reasons for his "redemption" you ask? He befriends a fellow inmate (who is black) and gets gang raped by his faux buddies in the shower. Yep that's it; a passionate, tattooed neo-nazi for the majority of his adolescent life and then during his incarceration he snaps right back in the socially acceptable mold of racial egalitarianism like a twig. Just like that. It's all about as believable as a flying cow. He then returns from jail, sore between the legs and educated in Ebonics, ready to make some positive change in the world! It isn't an accident that our protagonist Derek Vinyard (the potential reformee, the poor "brainwashed" kid who is really good at heart) is also portrayed as the only reasonably intelligent one among his skinhead peers.

This film is a superficial self-righteous attempt to marginalize any form of racial loyalty or nationalism by way of a clever "guilty by association" smear-job. It tells us that those who disagree with the self-destructive trends involved in formless egalitarianism and racial pluralism are "confused" and "angry" people who are all in dire need of "reform." In its provincial misunderstanding of genuine nationalism, we are lead to believe that the few remaining pockets of sanity (those who have remained true to immortal principles rather than bowing before modern morality) left in our broken society are nothing but block-headed thugs who's idea of positive action is to beat up a few illegals and then get go out to drunk at rock n' roll concerts.

If one can put previous political conditioning aside and adopt a critical eye, they will discover that almost all of the factual, rational evidence presented in AHX is primarily pro-racialist, while "arguments" against racialism are based almost entirely on emotional rhetoric. Just look at Danny's monologue: "Venice Beach didn't always look like this, it used to be a nice neighborhood..." I suppose we're simply supposed to "ignore" this because it came from an evil Nazi kid. Similar in execution to Schindler's List, this movie uses placid shock tactics and heart-tugging drama expressed in theatrical violence and bigoted language in order to somehow "disprove" racialism. Since the Crowd is easily manipulated (TV and movie producers know this well), when a viewer watches these things and becomes "shocked," they are immediately conditioned in Pavolvian-dog style to associate any form of nationalism or cultural preservation with the same type of violent neuroticism. The goal of these "moral" films is not to discuss ideas, but to appeal to subjective relativism. The People crave action and melodrama, and an intelligent ideological satire simply won't cut the budget. The mountains of profanity and gang violence in American History X will certainly grasp any mall-going teenager's undivided attention.

The film blindly lumps together all forms of generic right-wing ideology into a single package, somehow expecting this to be a genuine and "realistic" portrayal of ideology. Serious nationalists would laugh at the sight of the crucifix hanging on Derek's wall or the American flags regularly imbedded in with all the Nazi imagery. Accordingly we are led to assume that nationalism, neo-nazi skinheads, gung-ho conservatism, and Christian fundamentalism are all basically the same thing. Please. Real nationalists heave at the sight of the bastard son of the Jewish god, and the materialistic, industrialized, environment-destroying, culturally void ode to corporate bureaucracy known as the United States. Real nationalists understand that ethnocultural groups benefit best when working independently in accordance to their own genetic traditions, rather than under some "one-size-fits-all" culture like consumerism and democracy.

However, the single most damning thing about American History X is that it anyone with half a brain will see that it offers not a shred of realistic solutions to racial conflicts. Even if all the evil neo-nazis converted back into passive television-watchers and materialistic law-abiding culture whores (the model citizen), in the end the black and Hispanic gangs are still patrolling the streets murdering, raping, and mugging innocent whites. In one of the introductory scenes we see a white kid being picked on by a group of blacks for no apparent reason. He wasn't a skinhead, he was just taking piss minding his own business, the most painful part being that he just sat there and took it. Wait, I thought the movie was supposed to explain how the Great And Noble Solution To Racism is basically "we should all just learn to get along." If that is indeed the case, why not maintain consistency? Why do I not see the black kids doing their part and following suite? This film apparently can't even follow through with its own propaganda.

American History X is popular because it conveys a popular message and popular easy-to-hate stereotypes of racialist-minded individuals. If a Hollywood flick actually put forth an honest portrait of true nationalists (of which there are many, in many different nations), who are intelligent, educated, polite, focused, have hair, and who aren't obese and consume twice their weight in beer every weekend, there would probably be riots in streets. Popularity comes first, reality comes second. The two are almost never compatible anymore. Take at look at the film's pre-packaged, easy-to-swallow explanation and following solution; "Racism comes from family," and the aforementioned "everyone just needs to shut up and get along, jeez." In order to "prove" this, we see one brief scene nearing the movie's end where Derek and his father are having a dinner conversation about school and affirmative action. His father, simply put, is telling him to intelligently question authority and political indoctrination. It seems like any responsible, caring parent would advise similarly. Of course the whole thing automatically transforms into some huge "racist diatribe" the instant he brings out the all-terrible N-word at the last second. Looks like Derek's "racist training" is equally if not more unbelievable than his "redemption."

In conclusion, American History X, despite its absent-minded and shallow critique of nationalism, earns two stars because it does succeed as a fairly intense and captivating social drama which isn't entirely bloated and predictable. It has some cool action scenes and cinematography, as well as some very convincing acting on the part of Edward Norton. Watch it for its redeeming qualities, not for its "educational" or "enlightening" value.

Edward Norton gave a grammy winning performance in this movie! This film tugged at ALL of my emotions....I was angr, dissapointed, and sad. Everyone should see this movie. Its one of my favorites!

A really touching movie. It challenges the way you think. It really scared me, in an incredible way. It's really intense and hard to swallow so beware, but it's worth it.

As always Norton delivers. Entertaining, graphic, emotional. Interesting to note how the people who gave this film one star are calling the people who gave it a more favorable review morons and simpletons. Oh the irony.

This is one of the best movies ever. It came out in a year of cinematographic redefinition, that year (1999), along with this film, came others as great as this one, like fight club (also with Edward Norton), and on a lesser level, the matrix. Of course these are very different films, but the point is, they all offer not just great entertainment value but also they make you think in a whole new level, not just about the problems portrayed. This film sets a precedent in the way violence and intolerance are portrayed in films. Great film, at a great price, and i of course recommmend it. I'd wish only it had more features, but in the end the movie is the most impotant feature of all, and it is presented in great image and sound. Buy it.

I gave my review this title because in a lot of ways Ed Norton brings some of himself to this film and to "Fight Club". There is a similar urban grit and undertone of dispair to both films. Ed does a good job of being a thug, albiet a somewhat less convincing job of being a convict. In jail he did not harden, in fact he grew complacent.

There were some wonderful moments in this movie, such as when the Principal described the lesser Vinyard as "misguided" and sets out to straighten him out by taking a personal interest in him. In doing so he demonstrates that education and experience are the best antidotes to self imposed stupidity.

The gun play (especially the "gangsta" poses") was irritating and at the same time ironic given which neo-nazis were using them. The undertone of Political Correctness was, as always, irritating and unnecessary. I was pleased to note that the Principal dismissed one teacher's concerns about "hate" while at the same time addressing them head on.

The Neo-Nazis were and are thier own best spokespersons. Where they fall short is confusing race with culture, ideology and belief systems. They'd would probably be amazed at how much they have in common with conservative persons of color, who also hate crime and self destructive behavior. Neo-Nazis also fail to recognize just how alien Nazi Germany was to the America that they claim to defend. The idea of "volk" is not American and I'm not even sure it's really German, given the self identity of provinces in Germany and German speaking nations.

None the less there is something that suggests that our modern era's penchant for class identity and community must surely be creating pressures for whites to band together. Perhaps if we thought of ourselves more as "I" and not as "we" there might be less reason for hate groups?

This movie isn't bad, but I did not assign it a high rating because of the heavy use of cliches and stereotypes - on both sides. I think as a morality play it might have been improved by more attention to people and less attention to ideology. In this sense "American History X" comes close to "Fight Club", another entertaining movie which also did not burden itself very much with logical consistency.

The message of American History X is pretty simple: racism is bad, and joining a neo-Nazi gang is not going to solve any of your problems - becoming an English Literature teacher or a film actor would be much more constructive. You may have thought this would be fairly self-evident but Holywood obviously thinks we need yet another lecture on this subject - and by rights this film should have become yet another clumsily preachy morality play.
Edward Norton's astounding performance saved it from this fate. His acting at his best when his character Derek is at his worst. Derek is a troubled teen who turns to neo-Nazism when his fireman father is murdered by black gang members, Derek's powerful oration, lightning sharp mind and leadership skills help propel a group of Hitler-worshipping beach bums into one of the most dangerous gangs in Los Angeles. Delivering his poisonous orations, whether against his mother's Jewish boyfriend or to whip up his followers before assaulting a group of innocent Latino shop workers, Norton imbues Derrick's vitriolic rhetoric with power and just enough truth to make any white liberal squirm. However inside prison Derek finds that truth is no more black and white than skin colour and when he crosses white gang leaders he must depend on a black fellow-inmate to save his life. Derek plays his transformation as well as he is allowed by a clumsy script, with sensititvity and tact.

There are some other strong performances in the film, notably from Edward Furlong of Terminator II fame playing Derek's wannabe Nazi younger brother, Fairuza Balk as Derek's wonderfully nasty and unrepentant girlfriend and Guy Torry as the witty, trash-talkin', black petty criminal who saves Derek's life. These are sadly balanced by dreadful overacting by Avery Brooks (Cisco of Deep Space Nine) and Beverly d'Angelo (Ellen Griswold of National Lampoon) as Derek's headmaster and mother respectively.

What really lets the film down is the weakness of the 'bad guys' - other than Balk, Norton's fellow gang members are cardboard-cut out stereotypes of red necks and overweight white trash, and the black gang members they fight are equally two-dimensional villains, as are most of Norton's fellow inmates in prison. You can always tell the bad guys - they're fat, obsessed with tattoos and they smoke. This says more about the prejudices of the Holywood wealthy than it does about anything else. Anyone disagreeing with any part of American liberal orthodoxy is also turned into a carboard racist - noticeably Derek's father; obviously not being a committed supporter of affirmative action is just one step away from joining a neo-Nazi gang and murdering innocent people... oh, and all the good guys are English teachers, or want to become English teachers, or are reading serious English literature to transform themselves from evil gang members into good guys.

All in all though, there is much more good than bad in this film, and it is well worth watching; by the end I cared enough about the main characters to find the finale genuinely upsetting; it just isn't quite as good as they hype implies.

Oh, the cinematography, especially for a relatively low budget film, is beautifully done.

American History X is deeply moving, dripping with importance, and incredibly daring to say the least. What a movie this is, Norton plays a former Neo-Nazi who has just been released from prison. His younger brother played by Edward Furlong has now followed in his former footsteps, as Derrick (Norton) tries to reform his baby brother not to hate, he recalls the last several years in prison, how he was brutally raped and struck an unlikely friendship with a black inmate. The film travels between color and black and white images. The ending still gets me to this day, a movie you have to see. I highly recommend this realistic portrait of one man's determination to make right with an uncertain future and his embarrassing past.