arguably one of the best films ever made

Rating: 10/10 (9 December 2008)

Edward Norton stars as Derek Vinyard in American History X (1998); a gripping story of a man who leads a group of young white supremacists. After being released from jail for a brutal hate crime, Derek quickly tries to right the wrongs he's committed in his life before they affect the people he loves. Can Derek save the life of his younger brother Danny, headed down the same direction he has gone, while simultaneously trying to keep himself away from his past and the dangers that come along with it? Edward Norton and Edward Furlong star in this disturbing yet insightful story directed by Tony Kaye. Set in Venice Beach, Kaye shows us a suburban town which is quickly being filled with racial diversity. The tensions between characters are built slowly throughout but not slow enough to take you out of the film. We see this development in much of the movie's lighting techniques. Going from a bright beach town, to the dark backstreets, the movie is defined by Norton's brilliant portrayal of a troubled youth guided down the wrong path of lies and deception. The dialogue is powerful and deals with racism issues that are occurring in American society to this day. Tony Kaye and writer David McKenna are not afraid to push the limits of acceptable language to get their point across. The movie keeps viewers enticed throughout the entire length of the film. Most of the production keeps you on the edge of your seat with an anxious feeling waiting to see what will happen to the characters with whom you seem to gradually develop a connection. The music simply adds to the mood when we listen to orchestrated pieces which leave us with a sense of approaching danger. American History X is a well balanced film with Norton's strong character and his younger brother Danny's innocent yet brain-washed personality. While Furlong is not as convincing of an actor, his performance still has enough to get you lost within the movie. Though the R-rating should be a good enough indication, be aware that the dialogue may be somewhat offensive to some viewers, so it's best to have an open mind throughout the movie. At first, the writer makes you feel as if it is nothing more than a hate-filled movie with no point to the offensive racial slurs. We quickly learn the movie's moral value which overall is what makes the movie a must-see. Through half of the movie, we hear Danny provide narration in the form of an essay which he owes to his history teacher Dr. Sweeny who takes an interest in trying to help Danny and Derek realize the error of their ways. Through this paper we learn a lot about Danny's real emotions and thoughts about his life and the people in it. As Derek tells his story, Kaye uses a black and white display to show flashbacks in the life of Danny and Derek. Through the flashbacks, we slowly learn the reasoning behind the characters' actions and hatred towards other ethnicities. Another great element used are eye-level camera angles which give us a better sense of what is running through Derek's head as he delivers some of the most powerful speeches ever heard in a movie. The movie deserves a 5 out of 5 star rating overall for its portrayal of a racist young man who is only driven by pain and misunderstanding. Though the cinematography may be lacking quality as far as uniqueness goes, it's quickly made up for by one of Edward Norton's best performances of his career. For anyone who enjoys good moral values, the movie is an excellent way to explain how misunderstanding can lead to dire thoughts.