American History X

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Summary: "American History X"
Review: From the beginning, this movie plunges you headlong into the very real and very scary world of racism. Edward Norton gives a stunning and captivating performance as Derek Vinyard, the neo-Nazi icon in South Venice Beach. This story describes the confusion experienced by all who live in America's ghettoes. Derek goes to prison for the gruesome murder of two rival gang members, and returns to the streets of Venice Beach a reformed individual. His younger brother (Furlong), has been an active participant in the gang since Derek's departure. Derek's newly reformed outlook on life and race has him focusing on helping his brother leave the gang, and getting his family out of poverty. Gruesome, riveting, and suspenseful, this movie had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. It's tragic ending had me in tears. This movie allows us to view the struggles of life in poverty from the comfort of our couches. Our actions affect the lives of those around us in ways we may not ever know.

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Summary: x:)
Review: Neo-Nazis: bad

Ed Norton: a good actor

X: says nothing new

Rating:
Summary: Extremely Powerful
Review: Despite the fact the movie was disturbing in it's portryal of racism, it's the only way to do it, you can't lie and make racism seem less than it really is, or the movie has much less effect. Not one person who watches this movie can be unmoved by it, it is an accurate and powerful portrayl of racism, and you will be shaking your head and thinking about this movie for days to come after watching, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

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Summary: One of the most important films of the 1990's
Review: This brutal, unflinching portrait of hatred in America should have earned Edward Norton an Academy Award. When Norton's character is released from jail for murdering 3 black men (who were trying to steal his car) his view on life has drastically changed. Before being convicted he was a respected skinhead who had earned legend status for his recruiting skills. His younger brother (Edward Furlong) idolized him and awaits his release, not knowing of his brother's change of heart.

This film explores hatred in many of its forms with an unblinking eye. Disturbing, haunting, and extremely eye opening this is one film that should be mandatory viewing in college sociology classes. We've all encountered hatred and this film pleads with us to overcome it. Powerful proof that hatred sows bitter fruit.

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Summary: Manipulative
Review: Daniel Vinyard (Edward Furlong) writes an essay on Mein Kampf but the angered school principal (who is black) makes him rewrite the essay as a study of how his older brother Derek ended up in jail. The essay is called American History X, and provides the narrative frame for the film. In a pragmatic touch, the past is rendered in black and white, the present in color. Thus the narrative is a frame, which allows an intellectual commentary to be imposed upon the dramatic incidents of the story. Unfortunately, manipulation is everywhere in American History X, and I don't think Tony Kaye's always conscious of it. He's infatuated with the visceral power of film, and his obsessive imagery sometimes defeats thematic concerns. Especially in early scenes, when the camera is on Norton, Kaye makes like he's shooting a Calvin Klein ad. Kaye's manipulation can be very subtle: the curbing scene is a good example of the director at his most deviously polemic. Yes, the scene is dramatically unnecessary - but it's disturbingly effective. But why is this sequence viewed as justified, rather than gratuitous? Perhaps it's partly because many audience members feel they deserve to be nauseated. Perhaps the White liberal, middle-class audience responds to Kaye's provocation with the one emotion it has learned to express unreservedly: guilt. Guilt-drumming is a constant in mainstream 'message' films: like medicine, we take the guilt-mongering, not because we especially want to, but because it's "good for us". Norton plays his character brilliantly, throughout all the stages we get to witness. He is interesting as a frustrated young kid, hypnotic as a passionate fascist and dramatic as the conscientious adult. Unconvincing, however, are many of the scenes set after Derek's release from prison, where he seems to be able to tie up the loose ends in the space of one day. Most ridiculous is the idea that Danny, who we're constantly being told has followed in Derek's footsteps as a cogent, articulate orator for militant racism, can be won round into flower-power pacifism after a quiet little chat with big bettered bro. Another problem is when Derek is actually in prison, he works with a funny black guy in the laundry room and they become best buds and Derek's tune changes completely. It's this conversion that plays so suspiciously. One second Derek's a white supremacist and the next second he's the equality angel. This allows a cloud of ghastly hollowness and confusion to hang over everything that follows.

Rating:
Summary: powerful and thought provoking
Review: At this point I've watched the video at least 7 times and it still has virtually the same impact on me from the first time I saw it. The whole story of the movie takes place in about 24 hours but seems longer because Danny (Edward Furlong) is reflecting on how his brother's experiences has helped shape his own ideas and attitudes concerning contemporary america. That is the gist of the film; an essay which Danny was forced to write in one night. Alot of ground was covered in terms of how kids are shaped and molded by their parents attitudes and by their experiences. Another reviewer said that the most un-racist person would rethink some of their views while watching the Rodney King argument scene. The arguement was good in the sense that Derek (Ed Norton) seemed really convinced, but his arguements regarding the LAPD using "text book" procedures on Rodney king was very weak. I'm very liberal and democratic, yet his arguement didn't make me rethink any of my views one bit. Basically all he was doing is using the same old right-wing conservative ku klux rhetoric that has been going on since slavery. Where does this rhetoric get him or anybody else? The movie makes it clear that there are only two places for people who espouse the views expressed by Derek.

The movie begins and ends with a beautiful sunset on an isolated beach. The music really adds to the surrealness of these two scenes. Perhaps the one part of the movie which "takes the cake" for me was when Derek walked into Danny's room and looked at the wall filled with nazi posters and then began to help his brother tear everything down without saying a word. The background music also fit into that (and every other scene) perfectly.

I highly recommend this movie. The strong language and violence is critical to the film. The explicit sexual scene in the beginning wasn't necessary, but was fitting.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful performance
Review: This movie is quite possibly the most surprising film I have ever seen. I expected the usual solid performance by Norton, but I was blown away by his portrayal of Derek Vinyard. Not only does he look the part (due to some serious gym work and some tattoos), his actions and rhetoric are so convincing that you can't help believing his character. A solid performance was also turned in by the supporting cast, especially Edward Furlong playing Danny, the younger brother. I have shown this film to several people, and every one of them has remained speechless at the end of the movie, mostly due to the surprise ending and the strong message this movie sends. Norton should have taken home Oscar gold for this one.

Rating:
Summary: One of The Best of this Genre
Review: This is most definetly of the best movies of this genre I've ever seen. Excelent performance by Edward Norton. I firszt saw this in the theatre, and then the VHS tape, but this DVD was excellent!. Great extra features, and good clean picture, and sharp sound. Highly reccomended.

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Summary: Everybody in the US could learn from this movie
Review: American History X is simply one thing- a masterpiece. For one thing, you could not ask for a better movie that tells it like it is and features realism. Not the kind we saw in The Blair Witch Project. Real life realism. It makes you think twice about the jokes you tell your friends about a minority, or whatever. For one thing, Edward Norton and Edward Furlong made this movie seem so realistic, it sends chills down your spine. The eerie flashbacks you see in black in white are just frightening. Almost too frightening. I dont think you could buy a better movie than this one. Get American History X immediatly.

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Summary: Something nasty's goin' down in Venice...
Review: Reccomended to me by a friend, I really did not know what to expect with this film (although Ed Norton on the box with a shaved-head & a 'white power' tattoo on his shoulder gave me a rough guess), so I had an open mind before I saw it. (basic plot) The film is set in a neighbourhood in Venice, LA County, California. After losing his father to a heartless gang-related shooting in Compton, where his dad was putting out a fire at a dealer's house, Derek (Ed Norton) takes a turn for the worse. A turn which sees him adopt the views of neo-Nazist Aerian supremacy. This bad turn in his life culminates in the hatred-fuelled murder of two Afro-American gangstas trying to steal his car one night. Needless to say, he winds up in the local correctional facility, and a whole bundle of laughs it ain't. Derek comes out a changed man (with the help of his ex-teacher, and a laundry-duty black con, who comes to be Derek's best friend inside), and knows he has to show his brother Danny (Edward furlong) the error of his ways before one of the local gun-toting gang-members decides white supremacists and black people don't mix, and does a nasty on one of them. I can see why Norton was nominated for an oscar, his performance is chillingly real, and his acting is so convincing that even the most un-racist person will see the apparent logic behind some of his ideas, such as the contraversial Rodney king incident. Although obviously I'm not saying they're right, of course the whole point is that they aren't, but Norton's acting is persuasive enough to make you question your own opinion, if only (I hope) for the duration of the film. Norton gained 30lbs of muscle for the role, and the skinhead, tattooed look helped him live his role as one of venice Beach's most violent men. He genuinely looks like the type of person who, with the backing of his gang of skinheads (portrayed in a particularly dumb light in this film, which could be a good thing) could square up to any of the neighbourhood Hispanic or African-American gangs. And it is this fearsomely efficient & muscular physique, adorned with racist imagery, coupled with his sharp intelligence (he was a good student before he started all this rubbish) and supremacist views that, in his mind, justify the most brutal acts, that make him so dangerous. Some viewers may find some of the scenes particularly heartless, but that is why they are there, to show the viewer how heartless hatred, fuelled by faulty ideas, can lead to tragedy. Taken for what it is, the film is pretty negative, but when reading between the lines you will see the positive message that the director intended you to. It will make you think, and it will probably shock you, but get a copy of this and you won't be wishing you hadn't. A definite must see.