American History X

Release Date: October 30, 1998

8.6	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 726 Ratings

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User Reviews

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JamesMDec 20, 2005

A mess of a film that attempts some kind of message but fails dismally. Just like "The Green Mile" and "Once Were Warriors" before it, the film tries so hard to get a reaction from the audience that it ends up feeling forced and exhausting.

2 of 7 users found this helpful

ovi_bzJan 7, 2011

It's not an impressing movie. It is nothing great or big in it. It is not any light or teaching as the movie is expecting to give. The Norton is a good actor. The american life style and habit is not something to great to see. And this movieIt's not an impressing movie. It is nothing great or big in it. It is not any light or teaching as the movie is expecting to give. The Norton is a good actor. The american life style and habit is not something to great to see. And this movie is pretty much about it.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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MeritCobaJul 25, 2016

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 openingAmerican 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 Nazi 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 sucks. 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.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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CPD98Nov 8, 2014

Pese la interpretación de Norton y alguna escena interesante, la película dista de ser una obra maestra en mi opinión. Se sigue sin demasiado interés y acaba en un tramo final demasiado llano. Lo mejor es su fotografía y Norton, el resto esPese la interpretación de Norton y alguna escena interesante, la película dista de ser una obra maestra en mi opinión. Se sigue sin demasiado interés y acaba en un tramo final demasiado llano. Lo mejor es su fotografía y Norton, el resto es mejorable en mi opinión.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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BroyaxApr 4, 2017

Le film est plutôt intéressant, surtout pour ses deux acteurs, tous deux très convaincants, Norton et Furlong respectivement dans leurs personnages de néo-nazi et néo-nazi junior. Sans oublier Stacy Keach bien sûr, tout aussi étonnant enLe film est plutôt intéressant, surtout pour ses deux acteurs, tous deux très convaincants, Norton et Furlong respectivement dans leurs personnages de néo-nazi et néo-nazi junior. Sans oublier Stacy Keach bien sûr, tout aussi étonnant en "grand-père" (ou plutôt guide (!) néo-nazi).

Le "parcours" de cette famille est fort bien retracé via nombre de retours en arrière, démontrant ainsi leurs "raisons" de recourir à une idéologie haineuse et raciste, jusqu'au "dérapage" de Norton le grand frère qui va tout remettre en question.

Bizarrement tout de même, si le film insiste lourdement sur les conséquences d'une telle idéologie et ses dérives, son effet d'entraînement et leurs conséquences, il semble légitimer la violence des Noirs -racistes eux aussi- systématiquement, du début à la fin : deux poids, deux mesures ?

En outre et enfin, le gros souci de cohérence du film concerne bel et bien l'attitude de Norton, néo-nazi radicalisé fou furieux qui se transforme en agneau du #vivre_ensemble après un séjour en taule un brin agité...

C'est faire preuve d'une naïveté incroyable et nous prendre pour des imbéciles heureux ! on y croit pas une seconde et cette volte-face pathétique détruit du coup le personnage entier d'Edward Norton. Cela est fort regrettable, car le film montrait en fait assez bien l'engrenage de la haine et de la violence pour ne pas avoir à nous noyer dans l'aquarium du discours moralisateur à deux balles, très scolaire ici.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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SowarDec 1, 2017

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. TheI 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!… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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Gabby1Sep 29, 2019

If it wasn't for the violence this would seem like an after school special from the old days, despite its cinematic pretensions. Granted, the acting and cinematography were great, as was the conceit of having the story told by the youngerIf it wasn't for the violence this would seem like an after school special from the old days, despite its cinematic pretensions. Granted, the acting and cinematography were great, as was the conceit of having the story told by the younger brother, but the didacticism of the movie and its persistent homoeroticism (which, don't get me wrong, I love a good-looking man, but it did get a bit tedious) coupled with a simplistic plot, kept the movie from reaching its potential.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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Sosmooth1982Apr 16, 2023

There's really no point to the movie. Just a lot of violence. That's pretty much it.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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AJ_13Jan 11, 2021

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

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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MattC.May 6, 2007

The basketball scene was horrible. Were we expected to stand up and cheer "Go white racists, go!"? I think this movie really failed to address what lies beneath these subgroups. Not every one of those hundreds of kids had a The basketball scene was horrible. Were we expected to stand up and cheer "Go white racists, go!"? I think this movie really failed to address what lies beneath these subgroups. Not every one of those hundreds of kids had a fireman-dad-get-shot-by-crackguy story - how did they get caught up in this B.S.? The movie doesn't say. There are a lot of strong performances but a lot of stuff that just doesn't add up.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful