American History X

Rating: 9/10 (15 August 2016)

American History X American History X is a magnificent movie and I would definitely rate it as one of the greatest movies dealing with the extremely sensitive topic of racism. Directed by debutant Tony Kaye, it examines and digs deep into the roots of prejudice.
It is the story of a teenager Derek Vinyard, played by Edward Norton, who descents into Neo-Nazism after the death of his father. He is sent into the jail for killing two black people. In there, he has some life changing experiences which force him to retrospect the choices that he made. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Danny Vinyard is looking to follow his footsteps by joining the gang of neo-Nazists skinheads.
Norton plays the role so persuasively and convincingly that it is easy to see how people get caught up in all this hatred.He was also runner up for the Oscars in the Best actor category for the same. Edward Furlong, who plays the role of Danny Vinyard along with the rest of the cast do their job pretty decently.
All in all, the movie is filled with violence, racist spouting and tons of profanity and yet is an extremely compelling movie right from the beginning to the end. It is an unrelenting movie and seldom makes an easy choice. Finally, this movie gives a very simple take home message - " Hate is a baggage. Life is too short to be angry off all the time. It's just not worth it. "