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"We're so hung up on this notion that we have some obligation to help the struggling black man, you know. Cut him some slack until he can overcome these historical injustices. It's crap. I mean, Christ, Lincoln freed the slaves, like, what? 130 years ago. How long does it take to get your act together?"

--Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton)

Edward Norton is one of those rare contemporary actors that you know whatever movie he's going to be in it's going to be good. American History X is by no means an exception, with Norton phenomenal in his performance as an ex-neo-Nazi attempting to prevent his brother pursuing the path he once did.

Edward Furlong (Terminator 2) plays a young skinhead named Danny Vinyard, who is criticised by his history teacher (Avery Brooks) for turning in a paper on Mein Kampf. As punishment, the (black) teacher then instructs Danny to create a report on his brother, Danny (Noron), and his skinhead influence, which is to be titled "American History X". What follows is a series of flashbacks in black and white, narrated by Danny, concerned with his brother using propaganda to convert frustrated youths to racism and rose to fame as the neo-Nazi head of the D.O.C.

Sporting muscles, a shaved head and white power tattoos, Norton is quite the sight; he is presented as physically superior to most, and is soon 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-Nazi's he once believed were part of his culture. After three years Derek is a reformed person, and soon quits the D.O.C. to concentrate on looking after his mother and re-educate Danny, realising the errors of his ways.

Norton's performance is also significantly mind-blowing: The transcendence from neo-Nazi to the reformed family man is psychologically coherent and brilliantly executed. Derek is not simply a mindless, overly 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 even hard to disagree with some of his arguments. Supporting performances from Furlong, Brooks, Beverly D’Angelo and Stacy Keach are also strong.

American History X is a powerful and disturbing social commentary on contemporary Nazism, overall. Some critics have even argued, in response to the film's powerful portrayal, 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 depicts the negative experiences of the minorities in contrary to the negative experiences of the white supremacists, in an attempt to inspire change.

Director Tony Kaye apparently disowned the movie over editorial disputes, which I think was a little extreme. Sure, there are a few deleted scenes on the recent edition of the DVD that I think should've definitely been included in the final cut -- one being particularly derogatory confrontation in a local cafe -- but even without these, American History X is a truly remarkable movie that discusses the shockingly brutal reality of racial prejudice in the modern world. It's an absolute must-see.

(Other notable extras on the 1999 DVD release include: Cast and Crew, Theatrical Trailer, Text/Photo Galleries, Filmographies, and Biographies.)

(C) Andy Carrington, 2009.