One of the most powerful films ever made

Rating: 8/10 (3 October 2002)

"American History X" is one of the most challenging and thought provoking movies I have ever seen. I'm not usually big on films and filmmakers that have an ax to grind. I prefer a good story to a good sermon most of the time, but this film manages to provide both. The characters are so real, and their feelings are so common to young people today that it's almost scary. The film's star, Ed Norton, is, without a doubt, the best actor of his generation. His performance is flawless, and is a huge part of why this movie is as good as it is. Despite the incredibly graphic violence, the horrific language, and the nudity, this film is a must see in my book.
Even though most white kids in America would deny that they are racists and would completely reject any form of Nazism, they still identify with Danny Vineyard's feelings. The racist speeches Derrick Vineyard delivers with such passion (the one in front of the grocery store, and the one at the dinner table come to mind) strike chords deep inside of most of us. We hear him speak, and understand how people could get caught up in these ideologies. Then, we see the results of his ideas. Amazingly, we all sympathize with Derrick when he's crying on T.V. about his father's death; we sympathize with him when he says "It's Americans who are poor and hungry.' and we absolutely love him when he steps in to win the basketball game. Then we abhor him as he beats the grocery store owner. We cringe as he smiles after brutally killing a two people. We rail against the swastika tattooed over his heart. Derrick Vineyard shows us something about racism that most of us overlook. He shows us that while racism is a terrible thing, racists aren't necessarily terrible people, and he proves it during the color scenes in the movie. The knockout punch comes with the final scenes, as the film takes a twist and gives us a piercing picture of reality that makes us reevaluate all the things we have come to feel during the course of the movie.
This film is truly, an unforgettable piece of art.