AMERICAN HISTORY X RATING: 8 / 10 --> Great movie
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The mess that was the post-production of this film has turned into one of the finest cinematic efforts of the year (See little known facts below for more info on the mess). Director Tony Kaye wanted his name removed from this film after meddling from "suits" and actor Edward Norton (Kaye's allegations). A technicality prevented him from removing his name, and out of these ashes comes forth a solid film about race, hate and the human spirit.
PLOT: Super-neo-nazi-skinhead Derek Vinyard (Norton) gets put into jail for killing two black youths that were trying to steal his car. During his stay in the bighouse, his younger brother Danny (Furlong) follows his hateful ways and joins the nearest skinhead clan. While in jail, Derek goes through many changes, and comes out with a new outlook on life. Now, he wants to relay his newfound enlightenment to his impressionable brother, before it's too late.
CRITIQUE: Intense, powerful, stylish directorial debut from British director Tony Kaye, pulls together all aspects of dramatic achievement, including a solid and emotional story line, an original film style and solid performances by its cast, most specifically, the genuinely flawless portrayal by Edward Norton. This film drives home many of the sentiments seething beneath the hate of many people in this country. It probes to explain and unravel their seeds of antipathy, while presenting us with a fair portrayal of the many sides of the human development. Why do we hate? And even when we do, do we allow it to serve any real purpose in our lives, or do we simply hate because we need something or someone else to blame? One of the characters said it best in the film, "Has anything you've done, made your life better?"
The answer is quite obvious.
This film grapples with many of the hypotheses behind these questions, and insists on educating us through creative and thought-provoking imagery, and solid performances by its main protagonists. This film reminded me of 1996's DEAD MAN WALKING (8/10), with the main performance by Norton rating on the same scale as that of Penn in the former film. In fact, I see Norton's performance as the more complex of the two, since he actually portrays two polar opposite personalities in this same movie. And despite Norton's real-life Ivy League background, he manages to pull off an impressive acting gig as the head skinhead who eventually clues in as to the hypocrisies of his peers. Mr. Oscar, please save a seat for Edward Norton for the end of the year nominations for Best Actor, because this is definitely one deserved performance. All that and he's built like a champ in this film. Wow, what a man!
The rest of the cast was also well qualified to handle their posts, with the other Edward, Furlong, handing in another well-developed performance of a sulken youth whose heart is pierced with sensitivity. The only small issues that I did have with this movie was that it was a tiny bit too long, and that the portrayal of Norton's girlfriend by Fairuza Balk, was completely one-dimensional. The flashbacks were handled extremely well, the style of the film enhanced its viewing, and the film's gut-wrenching conclusion drove home every point made in its previous two hours. The openness of some minds does not alleviate the continued presence of hate and fear in our society. It is up to each and every individual to manage their own rationale of hate, and determine the truth within its purpose. Who does it really benefit?
This film bleeds the truth, speaks the lingo, and delivers on all counts of entertainment, socially relevant value and solid performances. Definitely one of the best told movies of the year!
Little Known Facts about this film and its stars: Director Tony Kaye wanted his name changed to "Humpty Dumpty" for this film, because of his disagreements with New Line Cinema, but the Director's Guild of America disallowed it (One of the rules in regards to changing your name in movie credits, is that you have to agree not to bad-mouth the movie in public. In Kaye's case, he had taken out ads in the Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, to do just that.) He is presently putting together a documentary on the "Making of American History X", which he hopes to premiere at next year's Sundance Film Festival. His original cut of the movie was a mere 87 minutes, and he also managed to be the cinematographer and camera operator on this project. Before this film, Tony Kaye had a lavish career as one of Europe's most daring commercial directors, creating groundbreakingly gorgeous ads for Guinness beer, Reebok and Volvo. Edward Norton lobbied hard for this role, and even offered to take a pay cut (He claims that he only received about "one-fifth" of his then $1million asking price.) He also put on 30 pounds of muscle for this role. He has a history degree from Yale. First-time screenwriter David McKenna is only 28 years of age. Edward Furlong was discovered by a casting director at the Boys Club of Pasadena, and won the part of John Connor in the 1991 film TERMINATOR 2 (8/10). He is presently involved in a live-in relationship with his former tutor, Jackie Domac. She is 12 years his senior. Actors Stacy Keach and Avery Brooks are better known for their respective TV roles as "Mike Hammer: Private Eye" and Hawk from "Spenser: For Hire". In 1984, Keach was jailed in England for nine months for smuggling cocaine. Brooks spent 13 years as a Professor for Drama-Science at Rutgers University in New Jersey from 1972 to 1985. Fairuza (Balk) means turqoise in Turkish. Actor Ethan Suplee, who plays the fat skinhead Seth in this film, was also in Kevin Smith's MALLRATS (6/10) and CHASING AMY (7/10).
Review Date: November 14, 1998
Director: Tony Kaye
Writer: David McKenna
Producer: John Morrissey
Actors: Edward Norton as Derek Vinyard
Edward Furlong as Danny Vinyard
Avery Brooks as Bob Sweeney
Beverly D'Angelo as Doris Vinyard
Genre: Drama
Year of Release: 1998
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(c) 1998 Berge Garabedian
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