American History X:The Doc's Review

Rating: 10/10 (19 June 2006)

Much like the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan American History X will be a movie you will never forget.Probably the most realistic portrayal of racism other than Crash.This film is full of so much passion everyone is always angry and intense.The best thing is that each point the movie makes is valid and understandable whether it be coming from the "gangsta's" or the "neo Nazis's" the message is loud and clear.The characters are all again realistic to an extent.The films best quality is how it shows that one decision leads to consequence after consequence until it's too late to do anything to fix it.A very realistic portrayal of prison is only one of the disturbing sequences this film contains.Every death is brutal and difficult to watch as is the anal rape scene and the grocery store robbery.They all however are needed to be shown because without the unbearably brutal violence the message wouldn't hit as hard.The film is not slow paced as many may assume and that is why i prefer it to Crash.While Crash was brilliant American History X is more extreme and more true to real life and in my view more likely to hit home.Overall American History X is a timeless classic with a moving story about a character who you cannot stand becoming the character you root for after he realizes his mistakes.An enjoyable film that is definitely not for kids.