This is a film that I would not have personally gone out to watch had it not been recommended for me. American History X is a film centred around the White power movement and the consequences of extremism.

Three years later Derek’s White Supremacist ideology is present in his brother. As the film begins, we see a teacher complaining to the principal about a report Danny wrote on Mein Kampf stating that Hitler was civil rights Hero. The principal that tells Danny to write another report that would be the next day about his brother for a class the principal entitles American History X. The film is narrator by Danny as he writes his report. It consists of many flashbacks of Derek when he was second in command of the D.O.C and Danny’s commentary on what he thought of his brother. However, Derek is no longer the White Supremacist he used to be. His time in prison particularly time spent with a black fellow prisoner and Derek noticing the hypocrisy of members of his group of Supremacists, changes him. Derek instead tries to teach Danny that what he believes is wrong, attempting to undo the damage he had done to his brother previously.

The performances of the actors in this film are absolutely amazing. Edward Norton plays Derek Vineyard. Norton shows the ability to depict the hatred and development of his character very convincingly, the mark of a great actor. Edward Furlong, mainly know for his role in Terminator 2, plays our narrator and the character, Danny. Vocally, Furlong does well, he delivers the narration of this lines in the intended form of a report and also carried the emotional undercurrents of a brother analysing the actions of his brother. In addition of to being a good narrator, as a physical character, Furlong’s performance is outstanding. He also convincingly shows the development of his character. The film also stars Avery Brooks, notably known for his role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Brooks was an actor is was weary of because he is always in my head as Commander Sisko. I was able to forget this role and I soon became absorbed and entranced by his performance as the Principal Dr. Sweeney. The rest of the cast are as follows:

American History X is amazing film that I would recommend almost anyone. The acting is great, as is the direction, and storyline. An aspect of the film that I particularly enjoyed was the change from black and white to colour. For each flashback, the film became black and white. There may be some reason for this that the director intended but I always assumed it was to highlight the difference between the races. I thought that they were, in essence, pretending that the issues were as simple as black and white.