Powerful and Disturbing Movie

Rating: Null/10 (13 November 2011)

American History X is a fantastic, disturbing, and moving film about Derek, the leader (or co-leader) of a white supremacist group in Venice Beach, CA. But moving beyond that, it is a movie about equality, about what is fair, about what is right (yeah this review is preachy).
The story is well-told, revealing itself little by little with flashbacks that explain Derek's journey from a promising youth to a white supremacist, and a convict on top of that.
But most people know the good elements of this movie, so I am going to focus mainly on the problems I had with it: 1) Danny's narrator voice. His character wasn't bad, but when he was narrating, I just couldn't help but roll my eyes. It told what the rest of the movie already implied, and that spoiled it a bit.
2) The explanation for Derek becoming racist is too blunt and obvious. It is explained in one flashback to his father telling him not to put up with "nigger bullshit". This is a detail that doesn't need to be explained and creates too simple a cause/effect situation when in reality the issue appeared much more complex throughout the movie.
3) After Derek leaves the white supremacist group, we never hear from them again. They are such a powerful force in the first half of the movie that it is odd that they just completely disappear.
However, do not let these criticisms deter you from watching this powerful film. The acting (especially by Edward Norton and, in a smaller role, Elliot Gould) was brilliant, and the ending will leave you with your hand over your mouth in rage and horror. This movie has a clear message: it is not a specific race or ethnicity that is evil, but instead the hate between the races. American History X delivers it, for the most part, superbly.