American History X is no exception, and Norton is phenomenal in his performance as an ex-neo-Nazi attempting to prevent his brother from pursuing the path he did.
Edward Furlong (Terminator 2) plays the young skinhead Danny Vinyard, criticised by his teacher (Avery Brooks) for turning in a paper on Mein Kampf. The black teacher then instructs Danny to create a report on his brother's influence, titled "American History X"; what follows is a serious of flashbacks in black and white, narrated by Danny, of his brother Derek's rise to fame as the neo-Nazi guru of the D.O.C., who used propaganda to convert frustrated youths to racism.
Norton is Astonishing
Sporting muscles, a shaved head, and white power tattoos, Norton is quite the sight; he is presented as the physically superior, and is sent to prison for the murder of a black teenager who tried to steal his car. During this time inside, his hair has grows, he makes friends with a black inmate, and is raped and beaten by the neo-Nazis he once believed were part of his culture. After three years Derek is a reformed person, and quits the D.O.C. to concentrate on looking after his Mother and re-educate Danny, after realising the errors of his ways.
Norton's performance is mind-blowing: the transcendence from neo-Nazi to the reformed family man is psychologically coherent and brilliantly executed. Derek is not simply a mindless over-rebellious skinhead looking for someone to blame; his philosophy is rooted to the various dimensions of his character, which helps to explain his radical development from past to present. Sometimes it's hard to even disagree with some of his arguments.
The Realities of Neo-Nazism on Film
American History X is a powerful and disturbing social commentary on contemporary Nazism. Some critics have even argued, in response to the film's influence, that it glorifies the views it purports to condemn. The latter, however, must only be a response to the gritty realism and challenging nature of the movie. It compares the negative experiences of minorities to the negative experiences of the "White supremists" - overall, the comparison is surely meant to inspire social change for all disadvantaged people.
Director Tony Kaye apparently disowned the movie over editorial disputes, which many fans of the film cannot understand. There are a few deleted scenes on the recent edition of the DVD that perhaps should've been included in the final cut (one of which is a particularly derogatory confrontation in a local cafe). However, even without them, American History X is a remarkable movie that discusses the shockingly brutal reality of racial prejudice in the modern world.
(Other notable DVD extras include: Cast and Crew, Theatrical Trailer, Text/Photo Galleries, Filmographies, and Biographies).
Andy Carrington - Andy Carrington is a Freelance Poet/Writer from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, currently residing in Bradford. He was educated at Wakefield ...
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