American History-X is a 1998 film about an ex-neo Nazi member played by Edward Norton named Derek Vinyard who joins a group of white supremacists led by Stacey Keach's character Cameron Alexander after his father is shot and killed by gang members. He becomes more and more violent under Alexander's tutelage and ends up killing a man and being thrown in prison. While in prison he befriends a black man and ends up reforming himself, and when he gets out he attempts to free his younger brother Danny (played by Edward Furlong) from Alexander's influence.
The movie is very well written and well-acted. Norton, who has a track record of great performances, gives one of his best in this movie. The movie has a strong supporting cast including Beverly D'Angelo, Avery Brooks, Elliott Gould, Ethan Suplee, and Fairuza Balk. It is in part a story of indoctrination into domestic terrorism (which is as relevant today as it was back then, if not moreso), reformation, and redemption. Norton plays a conflicted character very well, feeling sad about letting go of really the only friends that he has in order to save his brother, and prevent his brother from making the same mistakes he made.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds good in HD. Of course, the movie is not special effects-laden so it is not necessarily a must-get in the HD format, but it does have a nice video transfer that is a big upgrade over the DVD version. The extras are very minimal, just deleted scenes and the trailer for the movie. Hopefully, sometime down the line a version will be put out with a commentary track and/or making-of documentary, but given how far we are removed from the movie's release and the physical media release the chances of that are probably small.
Overall, this is a grim and gritty film that tackles a very tough subject head-on. It does not try to glorify Noton's character at all, making clear that even the reformed version of Derek is a flawed person. It is very well written and acted, and if you are a fan of dramas this is really a must-see.
The movie is very well written and well-acted. Norton, who has a track record of great performances, gives one of his best in this movie. The movie has a strong supporting cast including Beverly D'Angelo, Avery Brooks, Elliott Gould, Ethan Suplee, and Fairuza Balk. It is in part a story of indoctrination into domestic terrorism (which is as relevant today as it was back then, if not moreso), reformation, and redemption. Norton plays a conflicted character very well, feeling sad about letting go of really the only friends that he has in order to save his brother, and prevent his brother from making the same mistakes he made.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds good in HD. Of course, the movie is not special effects-laden so it is not necessarily a must-get in the HD format, but it does have a nice video transfer that is a big upgrade over the DVD version. The extras are very minimal, just deleted scenes and the trailer for the movie. Hopefully, sometime down the line a version will be put out with a commentary track and/or making-of documentary, but given how far we are removed from the movie's release and the physical media release the chances of that are probably small.
Overall, this is a grim and gritty film that tackles a very tough subject head-on. It does not try to glorify Noton's character at all, making clear that even the reformed version of Derek is a flawed person. It is very well written and acted, and if you are a fan of dramas this is really a must-see.
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