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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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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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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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

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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J-ShapAug 25, 2011

What we have here is a message picture determined to undo itself, with simple ideas (see: I think racism is a tad more complicated than Norton and his black friend) needlessly histrionic dialogue (see: interactions with family), andWhat we have here is a message picture determined to undo itself, with simple ideas (see: I think racism is a tad more complicated than Norton and his black friend) needlessly histrionic dialogue (see: interactions with family), and manipulating moments of over-drama with the force of a chainsaw rising out of a volcano (see: every scene in which racial atrocities are committed, which are all in black and white, slow-motion and have a choir singing the music of hell in the foreground).… Expand

6 of 32 users found this helpful626

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