Seinfeld

SEINFELD BLOG

American History X

starring: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Avery Brooks, Jennifer Lien
directed by: Tony Kaye

: American History X
See Larger Image
List Price: $12.98
You Pay Only: $6.99
You Save: $5.99 (46%)
Prices subject to change.



Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours




Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
Brand: MCDONALD PUBLISHING
EAN: 9786305313687
Format: AC-3, Anamorphic, Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 6305313687
Label: New Line Home Video
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Publisher: New Line Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: April 06, 1999
Running Time: 119 minutes
Sales Rank: 1107
Studio: New Line Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: October 30, 1998

Features:

Related Items:

Editorial Review:

Description:
Edward Norton's Academy Award nominated role as a White Supremist who sees the error of his ways while jailed for murder. Unfortunately, he leaves prison to find his brother (Edward Furlong) heading down the same path.

DVD Features:
Biographies
Deleted Scenes
Filmographies
Interactive Menus
Production Notes
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer




Amazon.com:
Perhaps the highest compliment you can pay to Edward Norton is that his Oscar-nominated performance in American History X nearly convinces you that there is a shred of logic in the tenets of white supremacy. If that statement doesn't horrify you, it should; Norton is so fully immersed in his role as a neo-Nazi skinhead that his character's eloquent defense of racism is disturbingly persuasive--at least on the surface. Looking lean and mean with a swastika tattoo and a mind full of hate, Derek Vinyard (Norton) has inherited racism from his father, and that learning has been intensified through his service to Cameron (Stacy Keach), a grown-up thug playing tyrant and teacher to a growing band of disenfranchised teens from Venice Beach, California, all hungry for an ideology that fuels their brooding alienation.

The film's basic message--that hate is learned and can be unlearned--is expressed through Derek's kid brother, Danny (Edward Furlong), whose sibling hero-worship increases after Derek is imprisoned (or, in Danny's mind, martyred) for the killing of two black men. Lacking Derek's gift of rebel rhetoric, Danny is easily swayed into the violent, hateful lifestyle that Derek disowns during his thoughtful time in prison. Once released, Derek struggles to save his brother from a violent fate, and American History X partially suffers from a mix of intense emotions, awkward sentiment, and predictably inevitable plotting. And yet British director Tony Kaye (who would later protest against Norton's creative intervention during post-production) manages to juggle these qualities--and a compelling clash of visual styles--to considerable effect. No matter how strained their collaboration may have been, both Kaye and Norton can be proud to have created a film that addresses the issue of racism with dramatically forceful impact. --Jeff Shannon



Customer Reviews
Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Ridiculously Good
This is an amazing movie where Edward Norton gives a spectacular performance. Edward Norton starts ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Racism Gets Curb-Stomped
American History X is what 'Crash' failed to be, that is, a nuanced and believable exploration of the ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - More than just skin deep
Most people have a list of movies that were recommended to them, and are immensely popular, but...they ... Read More


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - One little thing
The only negative thing that I have to say about this movie is the sterotype on skinheads. Not all skinheads ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Edward Norton is DIESEL in this film
Edward Norton gives an extraordinarily brilliant (and Oscar nominated) performance as Derek Vinyard, a neo-nazi ... Read More

More American History X Reviews

Browse for similar items by category:







Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.