American History X (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	Engaging and compelling story
Disadvantages:	Violent and shocking .  .  .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

** WARNING: REVIEW CONTAINS SOME STRONG LANGUAGE AND REFERENCES TO GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING IMAGERY **

"American History X" DVD review ~ £19.99

Currently available on Amazon for the bargain price of £5.97 with free delivery.

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Vital Statistics
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• Certificate ~ 18
• Region 2 DVD (Europe, Japan, South Africa, and the Middle East including Egypt)
• Catalogue Number: EDV9045
• Subtitles ~ English
• Running Time ~ Approx. 120 minutes
• Ratio 16:9
• Widescreen
• Release Date ~ 11th October, 1999

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Cast
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• Edward Norton ~ Derek Vinyard (The People v's Larry Flynt, Fight Club, Red Dragon, The Italian Job <not the original>, Kingdom of Heaven)
• Edward Furlong ~ Danny Vinyard (Terminator II, Pet Cemetery II, 3 Blind Mice, Nice Guys)
• Beverley D'Angel ~ Doris Vinyard (National Lampoon Vacation Series, The Pope Must Die, High Fidelity)
• Avery Brooks ~ Dr Bob Sweeney (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
• Jennifer Lien ~ Davina Vinyard (The Lion King II, Star Trek: Voyager)
• Ethan Suplee ~ Seth Ryan (Dante's View, Dogma, Road Trip, Cold Mountain, The Butterfly Effect, Without A Paddle)
• Stacy Keach ~ Cameron Alexander (Icebreaker, Miracle Dogs, Frozen Impact, Caught in the Headlights, The Hollow, Blackbeard)
• Fairuza Balk ~ Stacey (The Waterboy, Red Letters, A Year And a Day)
• Guy Torry ~ Lamont (Pearl Harbour, Don't Say A Word, With or Without You, Runaway Jury)
• Elliott Gould - Murray (Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, and soon to be Ocean's Thirteen.. can't wait for that!)

DIRECTOR ~ Tony Kaye (A Private War AND Paranoia)

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Plot outline
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Reformed neo-nazi, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) sets out to stop his younger brother, Danny (Edward Furlong), from treading down the same dangerous bigoted path as once did.

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The film
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This is possibly one of the most shocking DVD's I own, because of the extremity of the racists views of the central character, Derek Vinyard. Yet, it is one of the most compelling films I have ever watched, which really did grip me from start to finish. It is an absolute testament to the performance of Edward Norton, that you actually find yourself almost understanding why he feels the way he does and holds the racist views that he expresses in the film. To make a viewer, who is not racist, understand the ideologies of a character and almost sympathise with that character, is a massive achievement and should not go underestimated. I mean, how can you start to understand something that is clearly wrong, and against your own natural instincts and beliefs? To me, this sums up Norton's performance.

The cinematography and use of classic film noir in the opening sequences is both compelling and gripping, whilst also shocking and disturbing…

Derek is banging his girlfriend (Yep … he banging her, no love making going on what-so-ever here people!), when younger brother, Danny, bursts into the room (don't you hate it when that happens?!), to inform older brother that he needs to take things slower, light a few candles, get the girl in the mood … No, sorry, this isn't what happened at all … Back track … Danny bursts into the room to inform Derek that 3 black guys are outside the house trying to steal his car.

Derek duly climbs off and out of bed, fetching some trousers, his boots and a gun, quietly making his way downstairs to peer out and assess the situation. He purposely leaves his torso bare, brandishing his large swastika tattoo on his chest, for added effect.

Opening the front door he fires shots at the black youths, who try to scarper as quickly as they arrived … wounding one in the middle of the street, he concentrates on the get-a-way car, with the back window spectacularly bursting with glass shattering everywhere. He then turns to the black youth lying wounded in the street, shouting abuse at him and ordering him to either bite the curb of the pavement or be shot. Whilst the following imagery is not graphic in the sense that you see his death, it's a very shocking scene … the black guy does as he is told and Derek's boot lifts off the floor, as the sound of Police sirens in the distance grow increasingly louder. Chilling and disturbing would probably be an accurate summation of how I felt when I first witnessed this scene … lord knows what the reaction must have been like in cinemas up and down the country.

The film then concentrates on both Derek's time in prison, and his family life prior to the events that led to the fateful night when he murdered in cold blood. It also focuses upon how Derek's younger brother, Danny, begins to form opinions and beliefs based upon the influence and leadership of his brother, prior to doing Porridge.

Derek was a troubled teenager who turned to neo-Nazism when black gang members in Los Angeles, where the film is set, cruelly murdered his Father, a fireman. The character is essentially very bright, well read, and astounds the audience with his ability to articulate himself in the manner he does. Skills that allow Derek to mould a bunch of Hitler loving beach bums into his own poisonous and racist neo-Nazi army, causing havoc and destruction in Los Angeles.

There are several dramatic scenes in the film, all producing differing dramatic effects, because of their individual significance and meaning. One such scene is a family meal, attended by his Mother's Jewish boyfriend, Murray, whereby things quickly change from a pleasant afternoon lunch to an all out abusive political, social and religious argument, upsetting both his Mother and Sister into the bargain. The genius of the scene is the focus upon both Derek's girlfriend, Stacey, and his younger brother, Danny, who lap up every lightning quick remark he makes. The scene is very powerful in terms of his idolised status in this sense, but also in terms of the strength and reasoning of his poisonous rhetoric, and the ideological and emotional differences evident in the characters.

Inside prison, Derek discovers a whole new outlook on life, realising it's not as black and white as he has always believed and preached to anyone willing to listen and follow.

The transformation of character is marked and Norton plays this with decorum, tact and complete sensitivity. I liken the change of character to that of the racist prison warder (I forget his name) Nelson Mandela first encountered when imprisoned on Robben Island, only for the two to become firm friends years down the line.

Derek snubs the white gang members in prison, and opts to go it alone, weight training and dining alone rather than associating with anyone. This leads to an horrific cinematic scene, that is again film noir, whereby he is raped in the showers by white gang members. It is this experience, along with befriending the one black guy, Lamont, which saves his life, and changes his whole mindset … how could such an intelligent, well-read man have been so blind to reality and the truth? The relationship they Lamont and Derek strike up is an interesting one that builds during their time in prison. When they first meet in the laundry room, there is very little talk between the two, but slowly but surely stories are shared, jokes are told and a bond is established. Never once does Lamont ask Derek why he is inside, but you know he knows, which adds greater interest to the development of this particular relationship. It also strengthens one of my own quotes …

"Never judge someone second hand, always take the time to make a first hand judgement based upon your own experience."

Upon Derek's release from prison, he is appalled to see his younger brother Danny, has immersed himself in the world and gangs he left behind. His room decorated by a huge swastika poster, along with other neo-Nazism symbolism. The film is narrated from Danny's point of view, as he struggles to re-write an English Literature piece for Black English teacher, Dr Bob Sweeney. The teacher knows Derek and is aware of his change of character, seeing talent in the young Danny and wishing to nurture it out of him. Danny re-writes his essay focussing upon his brother Derek, and this is how the film develops, with Danny documenting the life of his brother.

Derek sets out to change the mindset of his brother, alienating himself from his girlfriend, and all his previous gang members, who are angered that there once leader views them as scum. This does ensure that Derek has become somewhat of a marked man with both black and white as he details to his brother the incidents that occurred in prison and why he had become free from the burden of bigotry. Danny is tearful and emotional at the finish, and the pair are later seen removing all neo-Nazi symbolism from Danny's room, which was all rather poignant.

The finale of the film is dramatic and up setting, especially considering the change of character of both Derek and Danny. I won't say much more for fear of spoiling the film, but it's enough to make you wonder whether views and opinions would turn full circle for the central character(s)?

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Strengths & Weaknesses
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There are some outstanding performances in this film; none more so than Norton, but there are also some very weak and wooden performances, most notably from the redneck portrayal of the gang members, and those of girlfriend Stacey, and Mother, Doris.

The plot is essentially strong, with very little to sidetrack the viewer from the underlying message of the film, which is that racism and bigotry is evil and downright bad. The fact that this is an American film located in the notoriously racist Los Angeles, would suggest that Hollywood believes America still has a huge problem with racism, but my current fear is the extent that this is becoming rife within the UK, with more and more racially motivated attacks occurring in towns and cities across the country. The recent mindless and shocking murder of schoolboy Anthony Walker in Huyton, Liverpool was a stark and upsetting reminder of just how close to home such instances can be.

I share the opinion of another reviewer I saw some time ago on this film, and that is that both the good guys and bad guys are easily recognisable in the film. All the bad guys are cigarette chain-smokers, with obesity problems, and marked from head to two in tattoos. Oh, and they may guzzle a fair amount of alcohol too. On the flip side, the good guys are usually English teachers, budding writers / teachers, who are trying to right the world through preaching the scriptures of various writings.
All in all though, I believe the film is worth a watch and I - on the whole - enjoyed it, especially due to the strong performance from Edward Norton.~~~~~~~~~~~
Special Features
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• Deleted Scenes
• Theatrical Trailers
• Cast And Crew
• Chapters 33

The Deleted scenes are okay to watch, but I didn't find anything particularly enthralling about these specific features to be honest.I cannot recall much at all about the soundtrack to the film ~ sorry.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Awards & Nominations
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• Nominated for an Oscar - Edward Norton, "Best Actor in a Leading Role"
• 2 wins and 9 other nominations were received for the film