American History X is a film about the negativity and worthlessness of hatred and racism.

Rating: 9/10 (15 March 2012)

American History X is a film about the negativity and worthlessness of hatred and racism.
Edward Norton who plays Derek, the proclaimed leader of a Neo-Nazi Skinhead gang in Los Angeles during the racially fueled time period of the Rodney King Trail, attempts to free himself and his family from the empire he has helped to create, after his release from prison. Derek's imprisonment which was caused by his role in the murder of two African Americans who were attempting to steal his vehicle yields him three years behind bars on manslaughter charges.
Danny played by Edward Furlong, is Derek's younger brother who idolizes Derek after the death of their father. Caught in the same racist thinking traps, the film captures his racially fueled dialog and dramatic scenes to highlight the uncomfortable interactions he has with other races. Naturally Danny starts to grow closer to Derek's friends while he is in prison and begins to get noticed by the watchful eye of Cameron played Stacy Keach. Cameron, whose original vision helped Derek to organize and form the gang he led, is trying to recruit Danny through verbal manipulation in an effort to continue growing the organization.
In the film the director uses a technique of switching from black and white to color as a way to delineate between past and present, while dramatizing the scene. As the film progresses, we notice Derek experience a great transformation away from racism, through the unlikely pairing of an African American prisoner (Lamont) played by Guy Torry, when they are both assigned to the same work detail. During the course of Derek's transformation he starts to understand that his chosen path only leads to destruction and the demise of his family. Faced with these new challenges upon release, Derek has to figure out how best to get his life back together along with his family. Derek comes home to less than optimal living conditions while mother, Doris played by Beverly D'Angelo is ill and can't afford to care for the family. Derek notices the toll his choices have taken on his family, more enlightened, Derek want nothing but a better life for his family to include his younger brother who is dangerously close to following wrong crowd, which leads to Derek's attempt to convince Cameron to leave him and his family alone.