American History X (1998)

reviewed by
Jeffrey Huston


AMERICAN HISTORY X
***1/2 (out of ****)

Rated R (for excessive strong language, strong sexuality, nudity, and graphic brutal violence including a prison rape scene)

Derek Vinyard: Edward Norton
Danny Vinyard: Edward Furlong
Doris Vinyard: Beverly D'Angelo
Bob Sweeney: Avery Brooks
Lamont: Guy Torry
Stacey: Fairuza Balk
Cameron Alexander: Stacey Keach
Murray: Elliot Gould

Directed by Tony Kaye. Produced by John Morrissey. Screenplay by David McKenna. Distributed by New Line Cinema. Running time: 118 minutes. Release date: October 30, 1998 in limited release; wide November 20th.

(to read this review complete with pictures from the film, visit's Jeffrey Huston's site at: http://www.impactprod.org/people/huston/americanhistoryx.htm )

I've lived up and down the Midwest, a.k.a. "The American Heartland", all of my life. Although I have interacted with different races throughout my life, I have never been around or confronted by issues of racism. Racial hatred and injustice was something I saw in the paper or reported on the evening news.

That isn't to say that I haven't lived around or interacted with different races; I have. Chalk it up to blessed surroundings or naiveté, but wherever I've lived, races have intermingled with warm friendship and equal respect. In some segments of our society, however, racism is alive and well.

Even though there are rural elements of bigotry like the KKK, the majority of racial tension and aggression in contemporary America is taking place in our nation's inner cities. I've never seen this life and culture first-hand. I've never fully witnessed the racist extremes of both blacks and whites. I' ve never been to these subcultures of anger, hatred, and violence. "American History X" brought me there.

"American History X" is the story Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton), a smart young man who is corrupted by hatred of anything or anybody that isn't Caucasian. After committing a brutal crime of violence under the guise of self-defense, Derek lands in jail. This begins a personal journey for Derek Vinyard, one that forces him to confront his venomous hatred and racist beliefs and see them for the lies that they really are.

First time feature director Tony Kaye and screenwriter David McKenna have created a very powerful story here, with much of the dramatic evolution coming from the way in which they structured the story itself. The events of "American History X" are not told chronologically. Rather, the story goes back and forth between the present and the past. In doing this, the story continues to grab our attention as it slowly develops and reveals the dimensions of each of its characters, particularly Derek.

I love films that do this because they don't show all of their cards up front. We see each character act a certain way in the first part of the story, but only through the course of the film do we slowly come to realize why they have become the way that they are. It is also a precarious balance to continue to go backwards and forwards in time, but credit Kaye and McKenna for always making it clear and seamless.

One of the ways this is accomplished is that Kaye filmed every event from the past in black and white. But when we return to the present, everything is in color. Not only is this a good artistic way to express symbolism, but it is also an effective method to use when telling a story in a non-linear sequence.

By seeing either color or black and white, we immediately know two things: A -- when the particular scene is taking place. B – the psychological, mental, and emotional state of each character. This aids the viewer in helping them to easily switch back and forth between the different emotional perspectives that each time period depicts.

Most films that broach the issue of racism are afraid to confront the complexities that the subject possesses. It's rather brave indeed to have a main character back up his opinions with statistics and facts that are hard to refute. Granted, Derek's philosophical conclusions to these facts (as wel l as his solutions to them) are horrifically wrong and come from a destructive motivation. But most movies depict neo-Nazi Skinheads as brainwashed rednecks with no intellect or reasoning. And whereas many of the Skinheads in this film are exactly that, Derek is much more complex.

Many of the Skinheads get some sort of perverted fun out of being hate-mongering fascists, but Vinyard takes it very seriously. There is more than senseless hatred involved; Derek has been hurt and destroyed by certain elements of society. Empowered with great intelligence, he uses his intellect to distort complex issues into misguided racist opinions. "American History X" is able to maintain the correct moral perspective while challenging us in a very politically incorrect yet honest way.

"American History X" has a stellar cast, led with a powerhouse performance by Edward Norton ("Primal Fear", "Rounders"). Over the last two years, Norton has never failed to impress. But his portrayal of Derek Vinyard is the best of his career. Having beefed up for the role, Norton embodies the role of an embittered young man who sees hatred and violence as the only solution to society's ills. We never sympathize with Derek in his racist incarnation, but we do understand him.

This is a phenomenal job of characterization by Norton as he is able to humanize Derek without taking it to a level of empathy. It is a responsible acting effort, one where sympathy is eventually evoked but not to the extent of absolving responsibility for Derek's actions. With this performance, Norton emerges as one of the very best actors working in film today. Be very surprised if he is not recognized with an Oscar nomination next February.

Up until now, I have not been a fan of Edward Furlong ("Terminator 2: Judgment Day"). Most of the characters he has played have been one-dimensional rebellious punks. He's still a punk in this film, but the difference is that Furlong's Danny Vinyard is a fully developed, three-dimensional person. As Derek's hero-worshipping younger brother Danny, Furlong delivers a sad, poignant performance of a young impressionable kid caught in racism's crossfire.

Danny shows as much scholastic promise as Derek did, but sells himself short as he struggles to live a life according to how he thinks Derek wants him to live it. Having idolized Derek for most of his life, Danny's world is turned upside down when Derek denounces his racist past. Furlong's vulnerability allows us to see the upheaval that Danny experiences.

Beverly D'Angelo is impressive as a mother destroyed by her family's hatred. Stacey Keach offers a subtle evil as Cameron, Derek's facist mentor and organizer of the Skinhead faction. Avery Brooks provides the film's moral center as an African-American teacher who refuses to give up on Derek and Danny. But it is comedian Guy Torry who provides the film's greatest surprise as Derek's fellow prison inmate Lamont. Torry's performance is both overtly funny and quietly direct. Through Lamont, Derek is finally able to see an African-Americans as a real person for the first time.

It is also through Lamont that one of the film's central themes is communicated. While many people of color (as well as Caucasians) are serving appropriate jail sentences, there are those who are victims of the system. Lamont is one of those victims. And as much as we may not want to face this particular cancer that appears from time to time in our judicial process, it is something we must be willing to face if we are to honestly address the racial injustices that come into play from time to time.

Director Tony Kaye also serves as the film's cinematographer. As one of the most respected commercial directors of the last decade, he has made a name for himself with creative visuals. His talent is very apparent here as he unintentionally establishes himself as the dramatic John Woo. Kaye, like Woo, has a penchant for slow motion. But like Woo, Kaye's use of this effect always seems to fit.

The main thing that impressed me was Kaye's fearless use of the close-up. I am a big fan of close-ups and believe that directors don't use them nearly enough. Kaye does in this film, allowing us to peer into each characters eyes and give us a sense of what they are really feeling. Kaye has the high-quality acting talent that enables him to do this. Wisely, he takes advantage of it.

Be warned: "American History X" contains very graphic content throughout the film. From constant profanities to sexual content, as well as brutally graphic violence including a male rape in prison, this film is extremely disturbing to watch. While the message of the film is timely and important, there will be those who simply can't take the package in which it is delivered. If these elements sound troublesome, you may need to carefully consider your decision to see this film.

If "American History X" has a flaw, it comes in some of the plot elements that it asks us to accept and believe to be possible. Derek is given a scant three years in prison for the two murders he commits. Granted, the thieves he gunned down were carrying guns themselves. As a result, Vinyard's charges of murder are reduced to manslaughter via self-defense. This might happen for your average Joe, but for a Swastika-brandishing Skinhead who excessively brutalized one of his victims, it seems too lenient.

Also, the film tries to resolve a couple of its issues and characters too quickly (roughly a day and a half time period within the film). This seems a little forced given that the hatred and bigotry has been built up over many years. But having said that, I credit "American History X" for not tying this film up in a pretty bow. If anything, the story does not allow the characters to escape their past even when they may want it to simply go away. Powerfully and tragically, this film shows the reality of reaping the harvest of evil seeds sewn, even when you've repented and changed.

But for me, these criticisms are minor because they had a minimal negative affect (if any at all) on me. In spite of these stretches in realism, the film never loses its power. It will anger you, move you, shock you, and change you. It will also stay with you. "American History X" is one of the best films of 1998. It is a film sure to cause debate, controversy and discussion. If you can stomach the graphic nature of the film, you will witness the most honest depiction of modern American racism since Spike Lee' s "Do the Right Thing". It's a tough, sometimes sickening journey, but one well worth taking.

If you would like to read other film reviews by Jeffrey Huston, visit his film review site "Believe Me" at: http://www.impactprod.org/people/huston/core.htm


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