American History X (Wide Screen) > Reviews > American History X-cellent

Author's product rating:   

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

Advantages:	Graphic, Real
Disadvantages:	Heavy Racism

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

If there is any film that i can safely say i can understand why it has the rating 18, not just in the horror genre, it definitely has to be this one! With a performance from Edward Norton that is perhaps on a par with that of Fight Club. But i will save that praise for another review.

The story follows the life of the 2 Vinyard brothers, Derek (Norton) and Danny, played by Edward Furlong. The younger brother, Furlong, is influenced highly by the beliefs of Derek. Who is highly ranked in a gang of Neo-Nazis. Derek has turned over a new leaf and tries to ensure that his younger brother does not follow the same destructive path that he had.

In the beginning we catch a glimpse of both of the brothers. Living their lives as they do. However after a series of flashback type imagery, we understand that Derek has caused some trouble recently with the local black community, and will shortly, inevitably receive some retribution. Danny is alerted by some noise outside of his home late at night. He tells Derek who, because of his beliefs launches a viscious gun attack on the people smashing his car. This precedes, one of the most disgusting and horrendous scenes of cinema that the world has ever seen. For everyone that has seen the film, they will know the phrase "curb stomp" catches the imagery perfectly. For those of you who don't know i will bfiefly explain/warn you of what happens. Norton drags one of the black men that he has been feuding with to the curb, makes him bite it, and stamps on the back of his head..... Though this scene is very gruesome, it is so dramatic, provoking and powerful that this overides the dreadful act that is commited.

The storyline is portrayed through a series of flashbacks. These are easy to differentiate between the rest of the film as they are done in black and white. Whereas current scenes are viewd in full colour.
The fact that these scenes are in black and white could illustrate that Derek has a little bit of a hazy memory of the events that played out, although they are shown in quite a lot of detail. This is a good feature of the film, as with some things it can become difficult to tell which scene is set at which time.

As well as this, in some films, you do not get to understand reasons why people are the way the are, and have the opinions that they do. However, American History X is an exception to this. One of the flashbacks shows us that when Derek is a child, his father, who is a fireman, is shot whilst he is on duty and doing his job. He is shot by a black gang member. This is obviously the spark that sets off the fire and fury in the heart of Norton's heart! I think that this is a good touch to the film because it brings in a level of understanding between the viewer and the character.

Throughout the film there are scenes of violence between white gang members and innocent members of the black community. These are very graphic, but are in-keeping with the type of film that it is. If the scenes weren't as graphic and depective as they are, then i do not think that it would have been so successful. It needs to show the violence, for that extra shock factor, and to ensure that each scene hits home hard. There is a strong moral undercurrent running through the film, each scene helps to engrain this into the viewer. Derek's life is used to illustrate to everyone that, although something is imprinted into you at a young age, it does not make it right. You should not try and exact revenge for something that was uncontrollable, and most of all, don't be racist. Love thy neighour. It is also shown in the fact that his younger brother is following in his footsteps, and he tries to alter this.

The ending of the story is very dramatic and shocking. As much as Derek tries to stop his younger brother gettin tangled up into the same life as he does it does not work. He gets shot by a black school member. This is very clever, as i think it acts as a punishment for what Derek has done in his life, he has lost the one person he loves most in the world. That is the biggest punishment for everyone.

I personally think that the violence in the film is a good point, but i can understand why some people would be disturbed by the severely racist scenes, language and in one instance song. So if you feel like you would e offended by any such thing, then i don't advise you watch it. Although i perceive it as gritty realism. Derek also has a variety of tattoos all over his body, as do other characters, that are clearly visible and offensive to various races of people. Mainly, symbols that are associated with the Nazis.

These are predominantly displayed in the "curb stomp" scene, and when he goes to jail. Where he befriends a group of men who believe in "White Supremacy". To ensure his safety in the prison. He later on finds out that his and their beliefs do not match. They have a deal with other prison members and deal drugs. But, these other members are not white and Derek confronts them. Only to get confronted himself in the showers. Once again, this is a very graphic scene, but embodies the film. You cannot trust anyone, and everybody's be;iefs are different. Derek realises that everything is not as simple as he thought and this could be the turning point in his life, where he decides that enough is enough.

Overall, it is a very real, graphic, violent and thought-provoking film that is not for the faint hearted. If you are not offended easily then i would advise watching it, however if you are then it certainly isn't the best film to watch, as anyone who has seen it will tell you!