American History X Reviews

Summary A groundbreaking controversial drama about the tragic consequences of racism in a family. (New Line Cinema)

• Crime

• Drama

A shockingly powerful screed against racism that also manages to be so well performed and directed that it is entertaining as well. [30 October 1998, Friday, p.A]

Despite a cheap, Hollywood ending and despite Kaye's kooky campaign, X is a killer.

If one fine morning we discovered that from now on all people are one nation, one faith and one race, then even before dinner we would have invented new prejudices. George Aiken If you haven't thought about serious things for a long time, watch this movie. There will be many thoughts at once

Insanely Great American History X is powerfully directed, Shows the horrors of ****, Amazing performances from Norton and Furlong, and a terrific script.

A series of well-drawn sketches and powerful scenes, in search of an organizing principle.

Norton's performance, which is every bit as varied as his Oscar-nominated work in Primal Fear, once more demonstrates that he's one of the most remarkable chameleons working in film.

This material is charged enough without piling on the melodrama and the lip-smacking violence. The movie too often sacrifices reportage for razzle-dazzle.

As a visit to a world and a way of life most of us will never experience, American History X is vivid, and it feels honest. At the very least, it's not typical.

Seriously one of the best movies ever made. It's a different kind of movie. It's not one you want to watch over and over. It's horrible in its depiction of hate but the redemption story is something to behold.

Really loved the message and performance by Norton, but I feel like there's something missing in the script which makes it too simple. Even though I can't explain myself how the critics give it such a low rating

I loved this movie as a teenager. Rewatching it today I completely understand why it rates in the 60s. It's still enjoyable to watch and Ed Norton is great, but it's terribly overwrought in parts and unintentionally hilarious in others. The basketball scene is pure comedy!

American history X has a comic book quality with its iconic picture of Edward Norton(playing Derek Vinyard) topless with a shaved head, circle beard and a swastika prominent on his chest. He looks like a meanie. And he is. For the opening scene of the movie has him massacring a group of black Americans(can I write Negroes?) single handed. He is smart kid, we are told by Bob Sweeney, a black teacher who doesn't want to give up on the smart kids. Sweeney is wrong, of course. 'Smart 'doesn't describe it: the white dude is positively gifted. That is why he has that swastika on his chest. And can go Rambo on them gangsters. And shame them Negros by whipping their asses on their own turf: basketball. And is best in his class, reading Native Son. Stuff his dad disapproves of. It is negro shyte, dad tells son Derek. Yeah dad, he says even though he sounds somewhat unconvinced. Cause dad is right. And likely racist. Cause some black dudes got the jobs meant for the 'better' white men. But it all went to shyte when dad, a fireman, got killed by them brothers. So Norton shaves his head, grows a beard, tattoos his body, hangs up **** stuff in his room, and becomes a violent white power supremacist. Cause that is how it works. And it works the other way too.. Meet a good black man in jail that saves your butt: anti-violent, equal rights-for-all supporter. Flip switch one way: violent white racist bloke. Flip switch other way: negro loving correct dude. Jew hating fascist - liberal cheery guy. Gay bashing hater - tolerant respectful LGBT man. Racist redneck Klansman - multicultural equality hero. What was that again: false dichotomy? The tossed up eye candy - using things like black and white shots- can not hide that underneath all the visuals and emotionally laden scenes, well played as they are - Norton is marvelous - there is shockingly superficial story indeed. For what is American History X but the glib tale of white guy who goes bad for wrong reasons, repents and tries to redeem himself by rejecting his white supremacist past with a gesture that makes it look like it is as easy as taking of your coat? You just need to meet a good black man to see that black men can be good. As if the racists glasses come off that easily. As if racism is just being pissed at black men because a black man killed your father. But wait. In the end? Will Derek don that white supremacist coat again? The switch trembles. Bottom line. The cast is great, the cinematography well done, but the movie ****. Like biting in a burger to find out that the dog stole the meat. (It was the cat, of course. Cause them are smart buggers and frame the dogs.) Note: do not to forget to shave your head once you become a white supremacist. It is a thing. As a man of course: women stock up on combat boots, piercings and short hairstyles. And tattoos for all. At least there is some equality there.

What we have here is a message picture determined to undo itself, with simple ideas (see: I think racism is a tad more complicated than Norton and his black friend) needlessly histrionic dialogue (see: interactions with family), and manipulating moments of over-drama with the force of a chainsaw rising out of a volcano (see: every scene in which racial atrocities are committed, which are all in black and white, slow-motion and have a choir singing the music of hell in the foreground).

Awards Circuit Community Awards

• 1 Win & 5 Nominations

Satellite Awards

• 1 Win & 3 Nominations