American History X

Release Year: 1998

Director: Tony Kaye

Review:  A lot can be conveyed with a movie.  Some films are content with pure 'mindless' entertainment, others with laughs, or just a nice story.  Films like 'American History X' are my favorite breed.  A film which makes you think.  One that's emotionally powerful and resonates to your core.  Director Tony Kaye manipulates your emotions and expectations as if they were clay to a sculptor.  Racial tensions and misconceptions are profoundly dealt with, evoking potent reactions.  To say this is a tense film is an understatement.

Beyond the profound handling of race relations and violence, it's a truly beautifully shot film.  The black and white intro is chilling and is a perfect lead in to the stark, gritty, story that is to follow.  The acting by Edward Norton is phenomenal.  The ranges his character hits are far spread, and without an absolutely resounding performance it would generate no emotional hook and the film would fall apart.  Norton is believable in every stage of his character and simply makes the movie.  The same can't be said by some of the supporting characters who come off as insincere, or forced.  Worst of all is Edward Furlong, who just seemed out of place in thhise role.  Fortunately, Norton was able to pick up the slack and then some.  Another issue aside from the acting is that there did seem to be a bit of the plot that was a little too on the nose, and I'm not sure it earned all of its emotional weight in every instance.  These are minor gripes, however.  It was a truly magnificent piece of filmmaking.
Rating: 4.5/5