disappointing

Rating: Null/10 (30 March 1999)

This is a thorough disappointment, which is a shame, because it had potential, and the performances throughout are excellent. But it is politically naive, re-hashing old arguments and bringing nothing new to the debate. The directing is sometimes infuriatingly annoying, there are way too many "slow-down-watch-as-drips-of-water/sweat-drop-off-my-face" kind of shots, and the film is slow and not particularly dynamic. All the black guys in the film are portrayed as being bad, except the educated black man, who is the teacher - he is allowed to be good, because he is intelligent. I find that unfair. Where American History X also fails, is it takes a very conventional line... guy is a Nazi, guy is bad, guy gets put in prison, guy realizes error, guy gets out and is a good guy now... oh dear... there's a pay-off. Another irritation is where the film tries to delve a little deeper - why is Norton's character a racist, Nazi, bigot? Ooh I know, let's blame it on the father. Weak stuff indeed, a shame, because Norton and Furlong both appear to be exceptionally talented actors.