American History X (DVD)

This 1998 film was met with critical acclaim as well as some horrified viewers. The tale of racial violence is hard hitting and very well directed and acted, and is not for the faint hearted. The Plot Derek Vinyard went to prison for crimes he commited as a white supremacist skinhead. Freshly out of prison, he looks to have turned a new leaf and, armed with the memory of his father's death, seeks to prevent his little brother Danny from going down the same path that led him to prison. The plot deals with some issues that are very much in the fore and probably will be for a while. It shows the acts of racists through the panic and fear that beset ...  Read the complete review

Well my next review again is another film that was made during the 90's. Gosh they really don't make films like they use to. I must admit ive only seen this film twice once in high school and once with my friends, and both times the film just gives you a sense of shock. The film im going to review is the 1998, critically acclaimed "American History X", directed by Tony Kaye and Edward Norton and Edward Furlong. Ok two quick recaps here, Edward Furlong is the guy who was John Connor in Terminator 2, however just a wee bit more older in this film, but he still looks the same. We then have Edward Norton; you might recognise him from his earlier work in ...  Read the complete review

American History X is a flawed, but powerful film, which showed off the acting talents of two Edwards - Norton and Furlong - whilst also providing some food for thought. It focuses on the life of Derek Vinyard - a small time neo-Nazi thug, freshly out of prison and now reformed who finds that his young brother, Danny, has taken up the racist ideals he formerly held. The power of American History X comes from the fact that it refuses to take sides and make easy decisions. No-one is right and wrong. The Neo Nazis are generally despicable people, but they also have some good sides to them. Derek, for example is massively loyal and (over)protective of ...  Read the complete review

Although rabidly tempted to write a review on first viewing this film, I resisted, I reposed and reclined, declined and waited until the occasion of a second viewing came my way. Why? Well, it's just so easy to be overwhelmed by the instinctual power of a film, to be persuaded of its brilliance by forceful images and a stirringly strong subject matter...and it is, perhaps, slightly more interesting to digest, even maybe to forget; to find again what you first thought you had witnessed and to see if it touches those same points in your thoughts the second time round. *The Film. The film begins through the eyes of Danny, a young but hardened skinhead, who ...  Read the complete review

Edward Norton gives an extraordinarily brilliant performance as Derek Vinyard, a neo-nazi skinhead in this explosive and powerful drama about two brothers caught up in a cycle of racial hatred and violence. Told through the eyes of Derek's younger brother Danny, superbly portrayed by Edward Furlong, this is the story of a family torn apart after the loss of their firefighter father, killed whilst working in a black neighbourhood. As a result, the highly intelligent Derek (Norton), already influenced by his late father's bigotry and manipulated by cowardly fascist Cameron Alexander (Stacy Keach) becomes the charismatic leader of a local gang of skinheads. This ...  Read the complete review