Violent film about a neo-Nazi gang leader

Rating: 7/10 (6 February 2010)

The story evolves around two brothers, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) and Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong) growing up in Los Angeles. Derek becomes involved with a Neo-Nazi gang after his father who was a fireman is killed by a black man while putting out a fire. With an intense rage and hatred for other races and cultures Derek quickly rises through the ranks of the gang. Then one night three black gang members try to steal his pickup truck, but Derek is there to thwart the attempt and ends up brutally killing two of the gang members. Because of the killing Derek is sent away to prison for three years. While there Derek joins the other neo-Nazi inmates, but gets in a argument and is raped by his own gang members. Afterwards Derek is virtually alone except for his one friend Lamont (Guy Torry) a black co-worker in the laundry, who helps him stay safe for the rest of his sentence. After getting released from prison Derek comes home with a new view on race, but finds out that Danny has become very involved with the neo-Nazi gang. Derek is determined to get Danny out of the gang, but is too late when Danny is shot and killed by a black gang member.
American History X tries to show the social problems that are being faced in the poorer neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Similar to Boyz-n the Hood (1991) it shows the violent environment of the inner city with gangs and racial tension. In both of these movies the main characters are intelligent young men who realize that they must get out of this environment before it is too late, and they end up getting killed.
After getting in trouble for writing a paper on Mien Kaumf Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong) is instructed by the principal of his school Mr. Sweeney (Avery Brooks) to write a paper about his brother Derek (Edward Norton) who was the leader of a neo-Nazi gang before being sent away for three years for murder. In telling the story the director Tony Kaye uses black and white film to show the flashback in time, and narration from Danny to help tell the story of Derek. The black and white filming helps the viewer in realizing what a flashback is and what is happening in the present. Additionally the black and white adds suspense to the film, and to provide an abstract look at Derek's evil past. The narration or voice over by Danny provides the viewer with a better understanding of what is going on in Derek's life when the flashback occurs.