well-made

Rating: Null/10 (26 August 2004)

"American History X" starts with a bang and ends with one as well. When this film was first being released in theatres, there was a storm of controversy surrounding it due the violent and graphic content; however, "American History X" turned out to become even less violent than one of the most violent films of the 1990's "Natural Born Killers."
Edward Norton gives the performance of his career as a reformed Neo-Nazi determined to deter his brother, Edward Furlong, from the life he once held. Norton is Derek Vinyard a skinhead sent to prison for murdering two black boys in front of his home for trying to steal his truck. Norton's performance in "American History X" reminds me of an earlier film called "Primal Fear."
Edward Furlong plays Derek's younger brother named Danny. Danny, who has always looked up to Derek enters the life his brother Derek led. Derek leaves prison with the knowledge that Danny is in the hateful life he once led and he makes it his mission to get him and his family out of the life.
"American History X" has a lot of detailed scenes of violence, and language that opened my eyes to this awful lifestyle. I thought to myself, How could people be so ignorant as to hate others because of their skin.
This is one of the top movies of 1998. Everybody who watches this film is in for a real treat because there is a twist at the end, which is needed to make the story come complete circle. "American History X" is a film of the journey that travels from the deepest depths of darkness to peak of doing what is right.