Not All Black and White

Rating: 10/10 (20 October 2009)

Tony Kaye's 1998 film, American History X is a powerful and intelligent look at the Neo-Nazi movement in North America, one man's struggle to escape the group he was involved with and prevent his younger brother from going down the same path he did. It is a phenomenally good film, staying in the viewer's mind long after the credits have rolled. The exceptional directing, music and acting are what make it so memorable.
American History X is certainly not the first film to pull out the racism card, nor is it the first film to show change within its characters. It is, however, a story told in such a way that entertains, challenges and moves like no other. A lot can be learned from the story of Derek Vinyard; a man put through various circumstances, is filled with hate and later joins a Neo-Nazi group. Later on, he is imprisoned and despite his initial feelings, eventually befriends a black inmate who challenges his way of thinking. There is a lot that can be learned about humanity through this character, and the later scenes between Derek and Lamont (aforementioned black inmate) are hilarious and heart-warming.
Another great thing about American History X is that it never seems overly preachy, but still manages to make its points clear to all those watching and keeps them totally entertained at the same time. Towards the end, the film does an excellent job of showing the negative effects of hate and violence, and how it can still come back to haunt you even after you may have changed.
Despite all of the other great points about the film, if there was one thing that could be considered the highlight of American History X, it would have to be the acting. Edward Norton in particular is spectacular as Derek Vinyard. The fact that Norton lost the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role to Roberto Benigni is flabbergasting. Norton plays the role of Vinyard with ease, being totally believable first as the racist skin head filled with hate and later as a reformed man, desperate to redeem his wrongdoings and stop his brother from making the same mistakes that he did. His performance here is amazing, even topping his portrayal of the complex Narrator in 1999's Fight Club. Certain scenes, such as his arrest after the infamous "curb stomp," leave you mesmerized, all thanks to his talent. Norton's performance in this film would have to be one of the finest examples of acting I have ever seen.
Even if they do not compare to Norton's, the performances of the other actors and actresses in this film are nothing to be scoffed at. Edward Furlong does a great job as Derek's brother, Danny Vinyard. He is not as skillful as Norton, but still does a great job of portraying an influenced youth, as well as making it believable that his character could change his views with just a little help from Derek. You can really feel the love between these two brothers and the love that they feel for the rest of their family, which makes certain scenes all the more painful and moving.
The actors playing Neo-Nazi characters do a great job as characters you love to hate. These kinds of characters are great when they are both written and played well, and they certainly are here. Stacy Keach is wonderful as the leader of Derek's Neo-Nazi group, Cameron Alexander. Cameron is a lying, cheating racist and Keach does a great job of making the character entertaining and frustrating. Ethan Suplee is always memorable in whatever he does, and American History X proves to be no exception. Seth Ryan is really just another ignorant Neo-Nazi bigot, but Suplee plays the roll in a way that makes the character very entertaining to watch. Faiuza Balk works well as Derek's Neo-Nazi girlfriend, Stacey, who is unopened to the idea of change. William Russ is also worthy of a mention, even if only appearing in one short scene as Derek and Danny's father. This scene is very significant though; as it explains the origins of Derek's hate, and Russ does an excellent job of portraying a man capable of making his son believe in such ideas and ideals. Guy Torry, Avery Brooks, Beverly D'Angelo and Jennifer Lien also deserve mentions for their performances.
The atmosphere of this film is dark, helping to add emotion to the moving storyline. The use of black and white in flashback scenes is very atmospheric and useful towards helping us understand what happened when. The soundtrack by Anne Dudley is also very beautiful and adds emotion to many of the scenes, though none of the tracks used in the film are very memorable. Even after watching the film several times, it is unlikely that the audience would remember any of the melodies of the tracks. Though despite this, the music was very pleasant and fitted well with the film.
American History X is an amazing film with a good, strong message. The acting, direction and general atmosphere is excellent. The ending is also spot-on, showing that hate does not help make anything better and will only come back to haunt you, making things worse for you and those close to you. It is an exceptional piece of work.