Movie Minx

Starring: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong
Directed by: Tony Kaye

Plot A former Neo-Nazi tries to prevent his younger brother going down the same road that he did.

But is it any good?

I saw American History X when it was released in 1998, but couldn’t bear to watch it again, so forgive me if my memories of it aren’t too fresh. I just didn’t want to see that sidewalk scene a second time…

Which isn’t to say it’s a bad film, quite the contrary. It’s one of the most powerful films I’ve ever seen, the kind that stays with you for a long time. It’s not the sort of thing you want to see every week, but the sign of a great film is a truly memorable one, and American History X definitely qualifies.

First up, you can’t believe that the beefed-up skinhead on screen is puny Edward Norton, the sappy priest in Keeping the Faith and the downtrodden lawyer in The People vs. Larry Flynt. His racist bigotry goes far beyond anything you’d expect and the absolute ferocity of his hatred is hard to watch. The problem is, he’s a smart guy. Very smart. So it’s hard to dismiss him as just another ignorant thug - his character is far more complex and contradictory than that and through flashbacks during the film we learn how such a monster is created.

At the beginning of the film (which is near the end in terms of chronology) we see Derek (Norton) as a reformed and remorseful character who is desperate to stop his confused younger brother Danny (Furlong of T2 fame, who’s just as convincing as a teen who’s been brainwashed by the bigotry of those around him) from making the same mistakes he did.

The black and white used for Derek’s flashbacks serve to make them even more stark and painful to watch. And the ending, while not explosive or CGI-aided, hits you like a casual punch in the face. Like I said, it’s not an easy film to watch and you come out the other end stunned and shaken. But Derek’s story is effective in its simplicity. There is no preachy message of hope at all, rather the film aims to illustrate the bleak racial divide in America and the hatred and ignorance which can so easily spread (and yet how people can change themselves too).

Interestingly, the director has done little since (I read on imdb that he sued New Line for $275 million for refusing to let him use his pseudonym, Humpty Dumpty. WTF?)

IMDb’s rating: 8.4/10
My rating: 9/10

Next film to be reviewed: Modern Times

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