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intereact!Director: Tony Kaye
Actors: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Avery Brooks, and Jennifer Lien
Rated: R (Restricted)
Retail Price (not our price): $12.98
Release Date: 1999-04-06
Theatrical Release Date: 1998-10-30
Studio: New Line Home Video
Run Time: 119 minutes
Format: Array
Format: AC-3, Anamorphic, Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Discs: 1
Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
1) Product Description
Edward Norton's Academy Award nominated role as a White Supremist who sees the error of his ways while jailed for murder. Unfortunately, he leaves prison to find his brother (Edward Furlong) heading down the same path.2) Amazon.com
Perhaps the highest compliment you can pay to Edward Norton is that his Oscar-nominated performance in American History X nearly convinces you that there is a shred of logic in the tenets of white supremacy. If that statement doesn't horrify you, it should; Norton is so fully immersed in his role as a neo-Nazi skinhead that his character's eloquent defense of racism is disturbingly persuasive--at least on the surface. Looking lean and mean with a swastika tattoo and a mind full of hate, Derek Vinyard (Norton) has inherited racism from his father, and that learning has been intensified through his service to Cameron (Stacy Keach), a grown-up thug playing tyrant and teacher to a growing band of disenfranchised teens from Venice Beach, California, all hungry for an ideology that fuels their brooding alienation. The film's basic message--that hate is learned and can be unlearned--is expressed through Derek's kid brother, Danny (Edward Furlong), whose sibling hero-worship increases after Derek is imprisoned (or, in Danny's mind, martyred) for the killing of two black men. Lacking Derek's gift of rebel rhetoric, Danny is easily swayed into the violent, hateful lifestyle that Derek disowns during his thoughtful time in prison. Once released, Derek struggles to save his brother from a violent fate, and American History X partially suffers from a mix of intense emotions, awkward sentiment, and predictably inevitable plotting. And yet British director Tony Kaye (who would later protest against Norton's creative intervention during post-production) manages to juggle these qualities--and a compelling clash of visual styles--to considerable effect. No matter how strained their collaboration may have been, both Kaye and Norton can be proud to have created a film that addresses the issue of racism with dramatically forceful impact. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5
1) Globalist Propaganda [Rating: 1 out of 5]
When a movie like 'American History X' is widely hailed as an "important," "cutting-edge" and of course "penetrating" look at American society you know that the Federal Government-multinational corporation machine has succeeded wonderfully in its psychological and now BIOLOGICAL campaign to manipulate human behavior. This isn't a docudrama about hate groups; this is a 90 minute long WAL*MART commercial - yet another example of corporate America, Manhattan liberals, and the Federal Government trying to intimidate anyone who rejects globalism in all its various forms with the threat of being branded a "racist." That's right, put down your flags and grab a shopping cart!The sad thing is - well, really it's more terrifying than sad - is that our poor homogenized and pasturized nation of zombies is going to devour the misinformation put forth in this film without considering for even a second the possibility that this film was tailored to make the viewer think and behave in a certain way. Is there anyone left who could even notice the gaping factual and historical inaccuracies in this film?The fact of the matter is that this film is nothing but a calculated assault on pre-Reagan/Bush era Conservatism, or more accurately: American Nationalism; or even more accurately: Nationalism of any kind. The puppet masters, folks like the media tycoons who bankrolled this films production, realize what a menacing impediment nationalism is to their desires to get even more money and exterminate human freedom wherever it exists. Films like this are just tools to win the masses over into doing the bidding of the few hundred or so people who have any power at all in this world. But since the masses are unlikely to capitulate based on the facts alone the corporate funded media plays loose with the facts and plays heavy on emotional appeals that manipulate large groups of folks into turning against, what in reality is their best interest. This film is no different; Conservatism isn't enough to offend people on its own, thus the need for cloaking it in a Swastika in order to win people over into renouncing the country their grandfathers shed blood for, and blindlessly embracing globalism instead.If the public school system was anything other than a training camp for supplying labor to big business this movie would be laughed at IN AN INSTANT for it's patently ridiculous interpretation of American Nationalism. First, American Nationalism is absolutely NOT an ideology; it is NOT a "movement" either in the sense that nationalism was a movement in Italy during the 1920's. Rather, those who identify themselves as Nationalists (Patriots) come from a diverse and often times opposed range of ideological backgrounds (Libertarians, Paleoconservatives, Neo-Marxists, Socialists). By and large these folks are nationalists in the sense that some or most wish to cease immigration (or at least bring it down to the point where it's manageable), build a protectionist economic policy, bolster state's rights, withdraw our military entirely from other parts of the world, and eliminate government funding for limitless expanses in science and technology. The vast majority of these positions are supported on either economic, social, and humanitarian grounds (especially in the case of technology). Only the fringes of American Nationalism subscribe to the fanatically "Aryan" racialism found in this film. Obviously multiculturalism is rejected, but this is done so under the recognition that individual ethnic histories are worth more than the homogenized culture of crap that is offered to folks through the mass media. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with purification of the white race or any of that nonsense.Protectionism, non-intervention, and drastically curtailing state power couldn't be more patently in conflict with Nazism. Indeed, collectivism in all its various forms is after all, patently un-American! Americans traditionally despised such repugnant levels of state and corporate intervention into the lives of individuals. This is the primary reason why both Fascism and Communism were never able to gain a foothold here. Though ethnic loyalties have sustained cultures for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years, providing billions of people with meaningful and pleasant lives, these sorts of differences are something that WAL*MART cannot - absolute WILL NOT - tolerate. The State won't tolerate it either, I mean, God forbid anything should get in the way of "progress." Just step back for a moment and ask yourself, "In what sense do the producers of this movie care about black folks, or minorities at all?" Do they have some vested interest in black/African culture? Or are they just trying to force blacks to conform to the European mold and suppress any voices from either blacks or whites that might try to stop this? It's not hard to see what's going on here and how African Americans are being pasturized and emasculated just like the rest of us. After all, aren't black folks made to feel like failures when they don't conform to corporate/Government needs by pursuing careers in the sciences and technical fields (both of which are patently European endeavors)? Isn't the entire standard of "racial equality" based on how well African Americans can conform to the corporate mold that has been laid out for them, that has been laid out for all of us, and not by some genuinely human sense of respect and compassion for one another? The truth is people who put their money behind this film don't give a dollar about whatever plight African Americans have or might continue to suffer. All they care about is acquiring more minions for their workforce. If they have to destroy a few cultures and brand a few hundred million people as "racists" then they'll do so without a second thought. Sometimes I wonder if anyone will be allowed permission to think at all in another 50 or 100 years.In as far as hate groups are a viable social option at all for youths in this country this is due almost entirely to post-modern societal and family decay (near collapse) more than it is any populist ideas of a "master race." If these types of groups (along with street gangs) ARE increasing in membership it is precisely because endless economic and technological expansions are continuously debasing individuals from traditional social structures. People have a biological need to assert a certain amount of control over their own destiny - a modern industrial society simply does not provide folks with any avenues through which they can do this. Hence their attempts at finding some purpose in (or escape from) life through fringe outlets like hate groups, gangs, drug-use, etc.It would've been invaluable if the directors of the film would've chosen to focus on that aspect of society - but then none of the handful of media tycoons who have a complete monopoly of information in this country would've financed the film.Things won't start getting better for any of us until we learn to see films like this for what they are and then spit on them accordingly.2) Liberal Propaganda [Rating: 2 out of 5]
This might have been a good movie if it wasn't for the liberal ideology and don't get me wrong, I'm not a conservative. Liberals and conservatives both are nothing more than a cult trying to brainwash normal people into their illogical beliefs. Anyway, the problem with this movie is that it's one sided and unrealistic. First off if people show up at you're house in the middle of the night with guns trying to steal your car and you shot them, you're right for doing so. (They brought guns with them so that they could shoot you if you get in their way.) I can't believe that anyone can disagree with that but, the film makers are liberal and liberals don't think you should even be allowed to own a gun or believe in the death penalty. And then there is the scene were the mother's jewish friend is talking at the dinner table about the justification of the riots after the rodney king case. When Edward Norton disagrees with him it's portraited in a way that were Norton is a NAZI racist that if you agree with him you're a racist. (Remember the black men caught on tape during the riots dragging a white truck driver out of his truck and breaking a center block over his head. How can anyone defend that. The truck driver had nothing to do with Rodney King, that was just black people being racist agaist whites.) This movie is full of this kind of one sided liberal propaganda. They try to label anyone that disagrees with them on racial issues a racist to try and take focus off of the issue its' self.3) One of the Greatest Movies Ever Made [Rating: 5 out of 5]
If it had sugar-coated racism, it wouldn't be truthful. This is how it really is with these neo-Nazi groups. Edward Norton was robbed of a well-deserved Oscar, which he should have gotten for best actor. He played Derek Vinyard with brilliance, and he remains one of the greatest character actors out there. If you've got a teenager in 9th grade or higher, he or she should experience this story, it raises a lot of strong ethical questions. Many years later I still find myself thinking back on the many profound morals in the movie; simply stated a great movie.4) American History X Review [Rating: 4 out of 5]
American History X is the story of two brothers who become involved in a racist gang who believes minorities are rotting America's culture. Derek, who is played by Edward Norton, becomes the leader of the gang. Early on, two black kids attempt to steal his car late at night and he ends up killing them both. The film uses black and white to depict the period before Derek is released from prison and color for after he is released. This is a clever way of showing that during the black and white portion, Derek is only judging people by the color of their skin, while during the colored portion he begins to see it's not that simple. Danny, his younger brother, views Derek as a mentor and tries to follow in his footsteps. When Derek is released from prison, he is very confused and angry with Derek's new views on racism and discrimination. Derek also has two sisters and a mother who appears to be very sick, but the illness is never mentioned. Three years later after Derek is released from prison, Derek wants to set things right with his family and get them away from the life he has forced them into. Towards the end of the film, Sweeny, a principle at Danny's school and Derek's former teacher asks for his help. Derek is reluctant, but knows he needs to do this to be a good role model for Danny. Sweeny seems to act as the underlying insinuative both Danny and Derek need to set themselves strait. The plot itself has a few questionable areas. Derek's three years in prison seem rushed and underdeveloped at some points. Another 10 minutes of content in that area would have made it much less choppy. Derek meets a black co-worker in prison who he alienates himself from at first, but later opens up to him. Eventually, the two become friends and Derek admits he couldn't have made it through prison without him. This relationship helps Derek question his prejudice and change his ways. Even if there were a few weak scenes, it definitely does not detract from the films overall experience. From a technical standpoint the filming and camera angles were spot on. The background music helped capture the mood of each scene and most of the time I didn't even notice it was there. This can be good or bad depending on the person, but it didn't bother me. Almost all of the scenes have great acting; although, a few seemed a bit awkward. The first that comes to mind is a scene towards the end of the film where Derek is talking to Danny outside school before he turns his paper in. The whole scene just didn't feel right, but maybe that's just me. Other than that everything was very well done. The film as a whole is a very powerful experience and leaves you with questions of your own. Norton couldn't have played his role any better than he did and his supporting cast followed right in his footsteps. The film certainly shows us in a crystal clear fashion what human hatred and jealously can lead to. Sure there are few shortcomings, but I still will wholeheartedly recommend this film to anyone looking for a well structured and powerful film.5) A Film that Will Destroy Racism by Appealing to the Racist's View [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Edward Norton gives a stellar performance that breaks new ground for his acting career. He'll never have to worry about being type-cast, that's for sure. The man is definitely Oscar-fetching material, and I've always liked his acting, but this would have to be his best work to date.This film breaks new ground in the genre of anti-racist films. Instead of racial politics being told through the lens of a black person or other minority, we are given a dark journey into the world of a highly-involved and devoted racist skinhead. We see his anger, his hate, and how he develops. The subtleties of his fantastic portrayal of the character Derek and his scripted arguments for racism are so appealing to our logic that it spooks us out that we might even sympathize with him for a little moment in time.As a black male, it made me a bit more understanding as to why and where racism develops. It gave me a whole new perspective on what motivates white supremacists to do what they do. I happen to personally know an ex-racist former skinhead, and this movie gave me a peek into what his past was like. He said much of it was dead-on accurate but that a lot of what really happens probably didn't make it to film because it is too much for the general public to handle. Either way, as creeped out about this film as I was, I felt like I was closer to understanding my friend and I respect him more for what he had to go through to get where he is today.This is definitely a film every American can see, regardless of race. It's a movie that builds bridges by providing us with a new perspective.