American History X

After serving three years for the murder of a black youth he found trying to steal his car neo-Nazi skinhead Derek Vinyard (Norton) leaves prison a changed man, and returns home to find his impressionable younger brother Danny has followed in his hateful footsteps. But as he works to enlighten the brother who idolises him, old friends and enemies return to throw up their respective roadblocks.

Norton’s performance redefines the word powerhouse and rightfully earned him an Oscar nomination for best actor last year. There is more than senseless hatred involved. After his father is murdered by gang members who shot him while he was fighting a fire, Derek shaves his head and has a swastika tattooed over his heart. But Norton’s character is not some flag-waving ape struggling for double figures in the IQ department. More interested in the ideas of racism, Derek uses his considerable intellect to distort complex issues into misguided racist opinions.

Alternately educational and visceral, American History X is both difficult to watch but impossible to miss. The hard-hitting script wisely avoids propagandising any one point of view, presenting all sides of the racial divide with compelling urgency and honesty. This film delivers on all counts of entertainment, social responsibility and solid performances, and is definitely one of the most powerful dramas of 1999.

Simon C. Williams

This may very well be the best film I have ever seen, it's certainly the first film I saw to tackle the topic of racial hatred in such a full-on and balanced way without ever once reverting to tokenism and victimisation of one group to make its point.

The main story revolves around white supremacists Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) and his brother Danny (Edward Fulrong). While Derek is locked up in prison following the brutal killing of two afro-American youths who attempt to steal his car, younger brother Danny is busy trying to follow in the footsteps of his sibling. When Derek is eventually released, having realised he needs to change and reform himself, he is alarmed to see how big his former neo-nazi gang has grown and distressed to see how involved his brother is.

Edward Norton puts in what I believe to be one of his best performances to date, playing the despicable Derek. While being hateful and racist, at the same time he knows exactly what he wants, and exactly how to get it. He's racist and he's intelligent. It is obvious that Norton, as well as all the actors in this film had a real passion for the script and a desire to make this film a success, they all appear to have put in 110%, meaning that the themes intended to be portrayed by Tony Kaye are at their most powerful.

Whilst this film is primarily concerned with the Vinyard Brothers, one of the most prominent themes is the notion that racism is universal. This is a film about racism in ALL its forms and the effect it has on the people who practice and preach it and their loved ones. One of the things I loved the most about this film was the fact that it wasn't pushing any stereo types but pointing out that rascism and political extremism comes from real social pressures.

A must see for those that haven't seen it already. For those that have, you're sure to realise it's worth a second look.

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