American History X (Wide Screen) > Reviews > Never judge a book by its cover

Author's product rating:   

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

Advantages:	Script, (story line) and excellent acting
Disadvantages:	Sad ending, but very unexpected

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Getting a shot black man to bite the curb while you stamp on his head and break his neck to anybody with any sense of right and wrong would seem way over the top, especially if his crime was attempting to steel your car. To Derek however this punishment fit the bill, after all its his Doc Martin that’s doing the head crushing, and he’s proud to be a white power freak, hell bent or the destruction of any other race, religion or nationality that does not comply to his warped sense of perfection.

American History X is a story of the life of a ‘White Power Movement’ leader in America, who is convicted of manslaughter, of two black men after he caught them attempting to steel his car. Infact he murdered them brutally, but this at the time does not affect his conscience. The film is seen through the eyes of Danny his younger brother, who in some sort of sick way looks up to his older brother, and worships him along with all of the other skinheads, in the group.

Derek is sentenced to 3 years in jail, and I feel that even by American or British justice standards to be rather week. In jail he is turned upon by his fellow white supremacists for going against their leader, and at one stage is brutally raped in the showers by a group of them. He is befriended by a black inmate, and soon learns that the colour of your skin, or the god that you worship, (if any) does not make you a good or bad person. The timely intervention and encouragement of a former teacher also aids the reform, especially as he is also black.

During the film we learn about how Derek’s views were fashioned as a culmination of his fathers period views of the time, and the fact that he was shot whilst putting out a fire in a black neighbourhood. These flash back scenes are filmed in black and white, to which I found very appealing, not only does it give you a sense of the past, but I feel reflects on the darkness that Derek once had in his life. (Amateur head doctor bit there sorry, but couldn’t resist)

After his release from jail we learn of his sham of his past actions, and his dislike and distrust of the organisation that he once felt so strongly about. To his dismay he realises that his younger brother Danny has been beckoned into the fold by the chief racist Cameron, who in my opinion deserves the kicking that he receives later in the film.

Derek leaves the organisation on something of a bad note and his former friends turn against him because he no longer believes in the warped sense of how life should be. It just goes to show how fickle some people can be.

I found the film to be truly brilliant, and brilliantly shot, it had just the mix of humour, drama, and action that was needed to get this very serious subject across. Its sad to think that in this day and age people will judge you on the colour of your skin or your country of birth. Thankfully these attitudes are only felt by a small group of people who cannot accept their share of the responsibility for their inadequacies.

American History X stars the now very famous for his lead role in ‘Fight Club’, Edward (Ed) Norton, as Derek and his brilliant skills as an actor shine through as you watch the film. He has that ability to come across as a single-minded murderous monster in one scene. Then in the other play an intelligent, reformed human being that realises that his previous actions were very wrong, and that he needs to change his ways for the sake of himself and his family.

Edward Furlong who comes across as a very clever young man, but is slightly naive in his view of life and plays Derek’s younger brother Danny. He also worships his older brother, and you can almost feel the love for him in Furlongs performance, and a great performance it was.

All in all the film was brilliant and had the whole house engrossed on the excellent script, and excellent performances. I would however advice people who get emotional about this type of ‘race hate’ not to judge it until they have seen it, It does not in anyway glorify the actions of either group’s of races, but chooses to focus on the individual’s in question. As a final note, American History X teaches us not to judge a book by its cover, but to delve a little deeper into its inside pages.