Since watching it last Friday I have taken my time in weighing the merits of “American History X.” It is without a doubt a good movie but is it really a great one? It is certainly a strong, visceral, and powerful film but does it got what it takes to go one step further? The answer is saddening, yet simple; no it doesn't. While it is now one of my personal favorites I can't deny the fact that it has its downfalls, all of which lie in its narrative and argument. Nevertheless, it is still a pertinent, eye opening and all around compelling film.
“American History X” centers itself on the stories of two brothers, Derek and Daniel vineyard. The film opens with a shocking beginning. While asleep in bed Danny overhears some African American gangsters trying to break into his brother's truck. Danny then wakes up Derek to tell him what's happening. Derek promptly and violently retaliates by shooting one to death and cracking the other's skull on the curb. After the gunshots are heard police officers and quick to arrive and arrest Derek, he is then charged and conviction with intentional man-slaughter and given four years of prison.
Hearing that some may think that Derek Vineyard is a thoughtless white supremacist. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Derek has reason behind his racism, whether that makes it justifiable or not is the purpose of the film. See, Derek wasn't always a gun totting, barbel pumping, angry, vengeful skinhead. There was a time in his life where he believed what the news stations told him and those times were before his firefighting father was shot to death by a black drug dealer while trying to put out a fire. Ever since then Derek had been serving under white supremacist over-lord Cameron Alexander. Through Alexander Derek became a prominent figure in the local skin-head gang. Recruiting other young, angry tweenaged men and boys Derek would lead acts of vandalism in order to intimidate local minorities. I can recall a pep-rally he gave before one act of vandalizing a local Korean man's store “On the Statue of Liberty it says "give me your tired your hungry, your poor..." well it's Americans who are tired and hungry and poor, and I say until you take care of that, close the fucking book!” This is just one of the many examples of Derek's thought-out sense of racism.
Danny seems to be the same way. He gets all A's in school, also like Derek, and is tired of the local gangs. Ever since Derek was locked up he has been slipping further into the grips of the local white supremacists. However, once Derek returned from prison he seemed to be trying to keep Danny away from them.
I have found that the main reason for “American History X's” quality stems from its character's performances. Edward Norton (Derek), who deservingly was nominated for an Oscar for the performance, plays a racist that despite how much we may disagree with his beliefs we can't help to feel his anger. Edward Furlong (Danny) plays a genuinely conflicted and surprisingly thoughtful young man. In addition to this, all members of the supporting cast thoroughly embody their characters.
Where “American History X” fails most is its narrative. It opens with a damn good thesis and possess many well done supporting paragraphs in regard to justifying Derek's and Danny's racism. However, when it comes to arguing the other side it stumbles. For an example, it gives much camera time (whether through interviews or breakfast table discussion) to Derek in developing his racism. But when it deconstructs through his prison sentence the film becomes lazy, as if it couldn't combat its own argument. However, seeing its conclusion I doubt if the film was ever even about racism. But rather uses it as a catalyst to discuss a far different subject: suppressed male-rage.
None of this however, can detract from the film's undeniable power. I found myself for the whole two hours staring at the screen, barely letting out a single blink. I guess it just bit off more than it could chew. Final Rating
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