Solid film

Rating: Null/10 (30 July 2007)

Edward Norton is one of my favorite actors, and he does a fantastic job as usual. This is definitely one if his most intense roles ever. And Edward Furlong, of course, is a fine young actor who pulls the right heart strings in this. The film is about a former skinhead leader who gets out of jail and sets his sights on diverting the influence of the gangs from his younger brother. He wants to tell him his story and tell him why he quit being one. Will he succeed? The film packs a punch and has some terrifying sequences. It wasn't a perfect film. It lacks the gritty realism that worked so well in ROMPER STOMPER, it lacks the subtlety that made A CLOCKWORK ORANGE so terrifying, and it lacks the style that gave personality to TRAINSPOTTING. It definitely had a real human side to it, and it certainly shows when it's prevalent. I recommend American HISTORY X because it's a good film. Don't expect to enjoy it though.