Rating: 
Summary: Wondeful
Review: Edward Norton could probably play anyone, he is one of the best actors out there. In this film, he stars as a leader of a neo-nazi group. His father was killed a few years earlier, and Norton is a very angry and bitter person now. His behavior is tearing apart the family, and he soon gets arrested for murder. While in jail, he changes his views and no longer wants to be a skin-head in the neo-nazi group. When he getys out of prison, he leaves the group and everyone turns against him. He's in all kinds of trouble then. This movie is very powerful and the performances are just incredible. I highly reccomend you see it. It's a little disturbing at times, but it's very moving.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most powerful films to come along in a long time
Review: One of the most powerful films to come along in quite some time, American History X would not have achieved such greatness were it not for the performance of Edward Norton. Norton is hypnotic and lights up the screen whenever he appears as the young and charismatic Derek Vinyard, a former white supremicist who has re-thought his ways during his time in prison, and now fights to save his younger brother Danny (Edward Furlong) from a similar fate. As the Amazon review above states, Norton is so convincing in his role that you can almost detect a shred of logic in Derek's views before his prison time, and he is so immersed in his role (from his bulked up body to his swastika tattooed across his heart) that you'll find his Oscar nomination for Best Actor quite well deserved (and some may even feel he was robbed), and Norton proves that he is one of the most daring and finest actors of today. Furlong gives the best performance of his career, and he deserved much more acclaim for his performance than he received. The cast also includes Beverly D'Angelo as Derek and Danny's mother, Stacy Keach as Derek's former neo-nazi mentor, and Avery Brooks as Derek's former teacher; all of whom give knockout performances. All in all, American History X is one of the most powerful films to come along in quite some time, and it is carried on the shoulders of Norton's brilliant performance. The ending of the film is both tragic and ironic, and will haunt you for days after viewing.
Rating:
Summary: remember to keep your eyes on the screen
Review: This is necessary. Whatever your beliefs, whatever your background, you will be able to find something of what you know and something of what you detest in this film. That is what keeps you simultaneously revolted and glued to your screen. I found this movie to be a sad awakening to the truth of our society, if not a morbid depiction of the racist aspect as a whole, then at least the unfortunate isolated case. It flows like something between a documentary and a horrible drama; historical fiction for the next generation. If you don't mind a little bit of frustration, it is a small price to pay for the magnitude, power, and beauty of this sad film. Besides, real life rarely has a hollywood ending and this movie is far from being about escapism.
Rating:
Summary: Hits you like a sledgehammer
Review: Whoa...That movie was intense, to say the least. Excellent, superb, and brilliant are getting warmer. Edward Norton quite obviously deserved the Oscar for this, with his younger brother Danny or high school principle Sweeney easily picking up a Supporting Oscar. But seeing what garbage they hand out Oscars to nowadays (see Bowling for Columbine), I consider it complimentary that this film DIDN'T receive any. This film is sort of a "Boyz in the Hood" for white people, although the racism in this film is fully exposed. I'm sure many viewers cringed as Derek Vinyard addressed, unfortunatley via extremely racist mediums, the problems and issues facing many white people today. The skinhead leader Cameron played an excellent manipulator, always sending out others to do his dirty work because he himself "had to be careful". Great supporting roles from almost every other character as well. One to watch over and over.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning and Realistic
Review: American History X is a disturbing yet realistic film that will make you think about the world we live in. It is one of those rare films that when you finish watching it, it will just stick in your head for days. This is all about hatred, and how it can really destroy our lives, when we should be enriching ours and others. The hatred is depicted in the form of racism in this film. As an Asian, I was deeply horrified at the violence depicted in American History X. The editing of this film is superb. We go from present to past, past to present. If you haven't seen this film yet, I won't tell you what happens in the end. But it does impart a very important lesson, and I will have to quote one of the characters in the film: "Hate ... too much baggage already..." Edward Norton, as usual, delivers an Oscar worthy performance as Derek. Fairuza Balk, while I would suspect that most of her scenes ended up on the cutting room floor, is also intense as Derek's girlfriend. A very gripping scene here is the lunch sequence where Edward Norton's character explodes and attacks his own sister. Beverly De Angelo's performance in this sequence is heart wrenching. A lot of violence, some nudity, and a lot of foul language. But this film is very real, because the hatred that is depicted in this film exists up to this day in many forms- homophobia, racism, etc. The DVD itself has three very interesting deleted scenes. That in itself is worth the price tag. This is an imperative DVD to own, because it is already becomming a classic.
Rating:
Summary: talk about breathtaking
Review: "American History X" is probably the best film I can remember seeing in my collective memory of life. It is the single most stunning, true-to-life, scary, and exciting film I have ever seen. The cast was top-notch, everyone born to play his or her role. This film is guaranteed to shock you with surprises 'round every corner. The last scene left me up all night with excitement. If you're looking for a drama that will frighten you terribly when you realize how true it really is, "American History X" is your best bet.
Rating: 
Summary: A Little Too Fomulaic
Review: The acting is effective so it must be the plot that somehow leaves you wondering if something a little less p.c. and more essential could have occurred. This film could have been done in the 50's or 60's. Time has passed and we have learned something from it though it feels like the truth of it was missed here. Didn't really grab me as I hoped it would.
Rating:
Summary: Overwrougth Melodrama
Review: This movie is Edward Norton's movie and Norton's movie alone. The script is hackneyed melodrama. The rest of the cast is there to service a role. Fairuza Balk is cool in a freaky goth chick sort of a way. Edward Furlong doesn't speak much. Even the soundtrack is one of those grating bits of fluff that wants to tell you whenever an important part is coming. The plot is very silly. Nazi skinhead goes to jail. Gets reformed. Comes out feeling very silly. His reform happens when he spends his time talking about basketball with his only friend in the laundry room. Yet - I can't completely hate this movie for one reason alone - Edward Norton is one of those actors that is entirely watchable. He can play very nice or very scary and you never know where he's going to go with it. In this movie he's white kid urban rage on all barrels. He's alternately sinister and scary as he explains the tenets of Nazism and makes them sound almost reasonable. Unlike Russel Crowe who has all the intensity but only rage in Romper Stomper you can see Norton thinking and planning. Sadly he's trapped in a bad plot and that takes away much of the power. It's trying too hard to be powerful. It fails. If you want to see a serious movie about nazi skinheads watch The Believer, but if you want to watch an Edward Norton movie, watch this one.
Rating:
Summary: The way it can be when turning a new leaf
Review: I seen a documentary on the making of this film and I found it interesting how artist Tony Kaye put everyone through so much bull because he wanted to edit the movie since he was the one who directed it. After viewing the film like alot of the excellent films I seen I strongly disagree with the director's attitude on the film being unfinished. I think whoever edited this piece knew what an audience would associate most with the characters and made the film successful. If you are into movies where people go against the grain and lose all their connections in order to make things a little better then this movie displays it with tremendous and powerful emotion
Rating:
Summary: An absolute beauty
Review: To be brutally honest, after seeing American History X, I'd have to say it's one of my favorite films ever...if not my single favorite. The movie teaches a much more broader about racism or neo-Nazism...it teaches you how hate gets society no where. Edward Norton does a magnificent job of acting in the movie. It was a bit melodramatic at times, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the plot is a masterpiece. The climax of the movie and the ending are also some of the best for its genre. I'd recommend this movie to anyone...life lessons can be learned from a simplest of places.
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