American History X

 

American History X 1998

• Director: Tony Kaye
• Based on book: no
• Cast: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D’Angelo, Jennifer Lien, Ethan Suplee, Avery Brooks, Elliot Gould, Gut Torrey
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Edward Norton – Birdman, Moonrise Kingdom, The Invention of Lying, Kingdom of Heaven, Frida, Fight Club
• Edward Furlong – Terminator 2
• Beverly D’Angelo – Edie & Pen, Slow Burn, National Lampoon’s European Vacation, Hair
• Ethan Suplee – The Wolf of Wall Street, The Fountain, The Butterfly Effect, Cold Mountain
• Elliot Gould – Contagion, Friends, M*A*S*H
• Why?  I remember it as strong.
• Seen:  Once before. Now 3 June May 2023 

High school student Danny (Furlong) idolises his big brother Derek (Norton), currently in prison for murdering two black men but about to be released. Derek is a Neo-Nazi skinhead. Danny is a Neo-Nazi skinhead.

The only thing is, when Derek comes home after prison, he’s changed. In black and white flashbacks, we see Derek’s path from becoming a nazi, being a nazi, leaving the white supremacism hatred in prison.

The film shows racism and racial conflict at its rawest and most violent. It’s very ambitious, trying to handle the enormous 400-year conflict as manifested in the late 90s in a two-hour film. It’s impossible to avoid simplifications and quick fixes but it’s still a powerful film. And frightening because racism and white supremacy violence is on the rise today.

4½ * of 5