American History X is a great film

Rating: 8/10 (2 July 2000)

Title: American History X Rating: R Director: Tony Kaye New Line Cinema
Rating: 8/10
American History X is the tale of a Skinhead member, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton.) Vinyard progresses to the top a local skinhead movement in their city, Venice Beach, California. One night three black men try to break into Vinyard's car. When Vinyard finds out that there are three black men outside trying to break into his car, he finds his gun and runs outside killing two of the three men. Norton is arrested and spends the next three years in jail. Vinyard's younger brother, Danny (Edward Furlong) follows up in his brothers footsteps and joins the group while Derek is in jail. Upon Derek's release from prison he is shocked and disappointed when he finds his brother in the group.
American History X is an excellent film based on the story of a racist man and his family. I have never seen Edward Norton in a role like this. It is fantastic! He does an excellent job at portraying his character. The film starts in black and white, a flashback. The film then progresses to color, the present, and flips back and forth between the two. The flashback sequences are done really well, and placed at appropriate spots. The directing of this film was also done really well. American History X surfaces racial issues and does a great job at portraying their reality. When the movie was finished I didn't feel too happy, but that was not the film's purpose. Kaye did a fantastic job at pushing through the emotion that he wanted the viewers to get. I think that American History X, though disturbing, and hard to watch at points, was an excellent film the whole way through.
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For the Ryan Review Adam Ryan
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