The director hits the social problem of racism head on and leaves us spellbound by the reality of his depiction.

Rating: 7/10 (6 February 2010)

In the movie American History X, directed by Tony Kaye, the audience learns from the story of two brothers the hardships and root of ignorant racial views. The tale is told from the narration of the misguided youngest brother Danny Vinyard, played by Edward Furlong. During the opening scene the audience gains a full appreciation of the limitless boundaries of racial prejudice and hate. Danny is awoken by two black men breaking into his brother's car so he goes to interrupts his older brother Derek, played by Edward Norton. As Derek tosses his girlfriend off of him we quickly learn his characters radical racial views. With a large swastika on the wall of his bedroom and tattooed to his chest, we realize he is the epitome of a neo-Nazi skinhead. From the anger of his father's death at the hands of a minority and the misguided teaching of his neo-Nazi mentor Cameron Alexander, played by Stacy Keach, Derek unleashes his rage on the two black gang-bangers ultimately landing him in prison for manslaughter. With his best friend and idol Derek in jail, Danny is destined to fall into his brothers footsteps, unless influenced by his principle Dr. Sweeney, played by Avery Brooks, who gives him an assignment of writing a paper on the events surrounding his recently released brother's incarceration. From the beginning of the movie, the director transitions from color to the black and white effectively to capture the significance and realization of Danny and Derek's memories. It is through the memories of Danny we learn about Derek's progression of violence toward minorities. During Danny's quest to fully understand his brother, whose view and opinions have changed since leaving jail, we learn from Derek firsthand about his time behind bars. This technique helps the audience gain a full appreciation of Derek's progression towards hate and his harsh time in prison because it does not glorify what is depicted on screen. During Derek's incarceration he finds out his follow skinheads aren't all that courageous and turns his back on them. For his disrespect they rape him violently in the shower and threaten his life. With no protection and everyone out to get him he forms an unlikely bond with a black inmate and seeks the guidance of his old teacher Dr. Sweeney. Once release from jail Derek begins his journey to leave behind his old ways and educate his younger brother. Although he travels the streets with the same paranoia from prison he may be too late to save Danny from meaningless racially motivated hate crimes. American History X is filmed with the subjective view point similar to that of Gran Torino, directed by Clint Eastwood. The director puts you right into the emotions of the character as they struggle towards learning that their cause is an ignorant ambition. This technique allows us to see firsthand the intimacies of racism and prejudice as both brothers grow to understand the realities of their beliefs. The director hits the social problem of racism head on and leaves us spellbound by the reality of his depiction.