This
film has gotten a lot of attention for it's controversial subject matter. Edward
Norton stars as a white-supremecist leader who ends up in prison after being prosecuted
for a terrible act of violence. Interestingly the film was directed by Tony Kaye,
who was thoroughly distraught when the producers gave final cut to the film's
star Edward Norton. The result is a mostly effective film that succeeds on the
strength of some fantastic performances.
Norton
(Primal Fear, Rounders and The People vs. Larry Flynt), undergoes an amazing physical
transformation to play the muscular and intimidating leader of a skinhead group,
and his commanding presence and intense performance elevate this film from what
might have otherwise been a trite excercise in polemics.
While
serving time, Norton's younger brother, played by Terminator 2's Edward Furlong,
tries to follow in Norton's footsteps - which causes a good bit of conflict upon
Norton's release. I don't want to give away any plot, but even though the message
being put across in this film is, at times, heavy-handed and obvious, it suceeds
in large part because of Norton's compelling turn.
Few
of the other performances are particularly notablel - Furlong is flat, and Fairuza
Balk (The Craft) as the trouble-causing, hatred spouting girlfriend completely
overacts. The veterans Elliot Gould, Beverly D'Angelo and Stacy Keach, fare better,
but it is Norton's mesmerizing turn that makes this movie so intense and unforgettable.
There
is no doubt that American History X has good intentions, but it never really goes
beyond what a sensible and intelligent person already knows. Hatred, at any level,
does not make sense and in the end, everything catches up with you. Then again,
just like films such as Schindler's List it doesn't hurt to be reminded.
American
History X has flaws in it's pacing and Norton's transformation is a tad rushed,
but overall it's a film I highly recommend and unfortuantely will probably always
be germaine.
