This a phenomneal movie. Touches on a lot of subjects that are difficult to come to grasps with. Not for children with plenty of violence, nudity, language, and adult subject matter. So why the two star review?

*SPOILERS* This copy, like most copies these days, is highly edited. The curb stomping scene was deleted and instead alludes to Derek pistol whipping the victim instead. I'm irritated i spent money renting this movie, only to see that Amazon has wussed out with the highly edited version too. There are three or four other, MAJOR scenes that are also edited. Don't waste your time here. Find the real, unedited version. You'll be glad you did.

Edward Norton gives a rip roaring hyper intensified performance as a nazi-like skinhead that hates anyone that isn't white. This changes when he's arrested for killing a black person in the streets and is befriended by a black guy in jail that keeps him safe and awakens his mind. Edward's transformation from evil to good is mind blowing because of his performance. When he's released he's a completely different person and many around him are either stunned in amazement or turned off. We know the ones turned off were the white supremacist's that had looked up to him.

This film is almost Shakespearean in a modern day kind of way. It's poetic and philosophical and works because of Edward's performance, but he's also surrounded by some brilliant supporting players that enable him to do a great job. He's forever praised those guys from Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Elliott Gould, Fairuza Balk, Guy Torry, Jennifer Lien and Ethan Suplee. They all did a good job bringing this disturbing, yet ultimately transformational story to life.

This was the first Edward Norton film where he was #1 on the marquee and movie poster. Before that he had blown movie goers away with his debut in Primal Fear as a convicted killer, then sang to Drew Barrymore in Woody Allen's Everyone Says I love You, then played the lawyer to Hustler founder Larry Flynt in the People Vs. Larry Flynt. American History X would solidify his status as a leading man that is also an incredible actor.

Trivia: He met with Francis Ford Coppola to audition for one of his films as another lawyer in the John Grisham adaptation of "The Rainmaker" which later went to Matt Damon, but that was only because after Coppola listened to Norton's labor of love project American History X, he said, "You have to do that movie. If you do that, no one will be able to touch you or typecast you again." He ended up being right, since this is one of Norton's iconic performances that garnered him an Academy Award Nomination. He should've got the Oscar though, but it was another politically correct awards season.

It really doesn't matter how you feel about race or religion which makes this one of the greatest movies ever. Both Edward Norton and Edward Furlong give outstanding performences. It gives the feel of a documentary not a movie which also makes it great. Give it a watch before you judge it because I begged my mom to watch she didn't want to but gave in and turns out she really liked it. It might make you cringe for the things involving race but it might also make you see things in a new light. Here's hoping anyway.

Edited Version, Politically Correct BS (which is exactly what this movie was designed to be, but with a few "shockers" - could have watched for Free anywhere if I wanted this watered-down cr*p version. VERY unhappy

Released in late 1998 and directed by Tony Kaye from David McKenna’s script, “American History X” is an urban drama about a former neo-Nazi leader, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton), who tries to prevent his younger brother, Danny (Edward Furlong), from taking the same path of hate he did. Current events are shown in color whereas flashbacks are depicted in B&W. Stacy Keach plays the behind-the-scenes mentor of the neo-Nazis while Avery Brooks appears as Danny’s principal. Elliott Gould is on hand as a Jewish history teacher who is interested in Danny’s mother (Beverly D’Angelo).

During the first half I found some of the dramatics dubious, to be nice; you can tell that kinks needed worked out in the script or the acting. After viewing the movie, I found out that the director felt the same way, insisting that the film needed more work; he also objected to Norton re-editing scenes without his approval and even wanted his name removed from the credits.

If you can roll with the palpable flaws, however, you’ll likely find yourself immersed in the world of the characters by the second half. While the topic is unpleasant and there are some hard scenes to watch, “American History X” shoots for greatness and in some ways grasps it. For instance, there are a few moving, artistically-staged sequences, like the aftermath of the dinner-scene-from-hell and the climax. This is what I look for in great dramas, but rarely get. Norton’s powerful performance is another example of the film’s greatness.

Someone criticized the movie on the grounds that it simplifies complex issues, but how else can you tackle a subject like this and do it justice in a 2-hour movie while keeping it entertaining? Besides, nothing was so simplified to be unbelievable, as far as Derek’s character arc goes. Someone else panned the narration, but – aduh – I guess he didn’t get that the words are Danny’s essay assignment for his new “class” with the principal, which explain the movie’s title.

The overriding theme is that that all races/ethnicities tend to stick together and are in an undeclared war. The skinheads aren’t really singled out because the movie plainly shows that their hostilities are mirrored in the other gangs, albeit with different verbiage and accouterments. While antagonistic tribalism is rampant it can’t stand in the face of genuine relationship and the corresponding love and respect.

ADDITIONAL CAST: Fairuza Balk plays Derek’s girlfriend while Jennifer Lien and William Russ appear as his sister and father. Guy Torry is on hand as an inmate Derek slowly befriends while Ethan Suplee plays a hulking neo-Nazi.

The film runs 119 minutes and was shot entirely in Los Angeles (Venice, Venice Beach, Fairfax, North Hollywood).

GRADE: A-

Absolutely love the movie and although having Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and Showtime subscriptions, I was super disappointed not to be able to find this free on any of them. But I remember loving this movie enough to purchase it through Amazon for a one time watch. And I did not regret it...

The movie is a very deep movie depicted the racial biases which sadly still linger on today. The racial discrimination was portrayed through two opposing gangs (whites v blacks) in a very realistic plot and depiction of gang life (as a former investigator I had enough experience with gangs to assess the reality of the world depicted within this film). More important than the plot were the emotions depicted through each character. The acting was beyond impeccable and this movie made me fall in love with Edward Norton and seek out his other movies.

This is a must see movie to learn about the true meaning of life, and the acceptance of the concept that we are all one, regardless of race, sex, or belief systems. There is quite a bit of violence and sexual nudity so families with children beware.

Edward Nortans big debut film is a knockout. This movie delves into the racism that plagues Venice beach and a white family struggling with the loss of there firefighter dad killed by black gangbangers.
The hate ensues and builds in the eldest sons heart against any non white people.
He is further corrupted by an older man that uses him to propagate the racist tensions building in the neighborhood.
After the eldest son kills 2 gangbangers for trying to jack his car , he's sent to prison for 3.5 years where he learns that his hate is wrong.
When he gets out of prison he must try and save his family especially his little brother that's entrenched in a neo-nazi gang.
Can he pull his brother out before it's too late?

One of the most powerful film dramas ever created. Follow the story of Derrick Vinyard, a brilliant but troubled young man who falls into the white supremacist movement in Venice Beach, California and quickly rises through the ranks to become a leader. But after serving a three year prison sentence for killing two black men who had tried to steal his car, Derrick emerges as a new person on a mission to distance himself, and his younger brother Danny, from the racist lifestyle he had helped to create. Exactly how this transformation took place is slowly revealed through a series of flashbacks, culminating with a brutal act of betrayal at the hands of those he counted as friends and his salvation through the people he'd always cast as enemies.

Edward Norton (as Derrick) is superb in American History X, rightly receiving an Oscar nomination for the role. Supporting actors Edward Furlong (Danny), Beverly D'Angelo (the boys' mother), and Avery Brooks as Dr. Sweeney (the boys' high school teacher) also shine. Really, though, it all comes down to the superb writing and directing which paints a believable portrait of how a couple of otherwise bright young men can be sucked into such an illogical viewpoint of hatred. An early scene depicting a basketball game played between Derrick's skinhead followers and a group of black gang members is exceptional: even while your mind recoils from the neo-nazi tattoos and racist epithets thrown about by the white hoopsters it's difficult not to feel a certain amount of triumph as they prevail against the odds. Listening to Derrick spout off cherry-picked statistics and tired arguments in favor of his racist views you begin to understand the appeal a movement like that can have for aimless youths despite your own incredulity at the words pouring out of his mouth. This is a film which forgoes blatant preaching in favor of simply demonstrating the end results of such misguided anger, and one which will have a significant impact on its viewers.

There are criticisms to be leveled: some of the scenarios are contrived to put it kindly, many of the secondary characters are poorly developed (if at all), and the ending comes about 20 minutes too late while ditching much of the subtlety showcased throughout the run time in favor of a sledge hammer approach. None of these detract from the beautifully fleshed out primary character of Derrick, nor from the superb portrayal offered by Norton, and certainly they do not diminish the overall worth of the picture.