Plot: A former neo-nazi skinhead tries to prevent his younger brother from going down the same wrong path that he did.
Director: Tony Kaye
Writer: David McKenna
Stars: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong and Beverly D'Angelo
Heading Towards Redemption
I have to say, from some time now I despised Edward Norton. After I saw his, what can I call it....work in "The Incredible Hulk", "Italian Job" and "Pride and Glory" where he was so bad he actualy made Colin Farrell look amazing and Farrell is nowhere near 'old' Norton (I mean from „Fight Club” times) league, it was impossible for me to recall why this man is a good actor. I mean sure, he was good in "Fight Club", but the character of the Narrator and the writing in this film is so incredible, it would actually take a real talent to screw this up. Then I saw "Painted Veil" and he was very good, but still the vivid image of his performance in "Pride and Glory" wasn't gone. But tonight I finally saw "American History X" for which Norton was nominated for Oscar and whilst the movie is from 1998 and what Norton does now is far from perfection I certainly cannot call his performance in "P&G" proof he isn't that good anymore. It was simply a bad judgment on his part, because clearly he is a great actor.
The movie is definitely not easy nor pleasant to watch - but it is gripping from the first moment. The story of former skinhead who is redeemed after spending 3 years in prison reminded me of "A Clockwork Orange" in terms this is also, from what I gathered, a cult movie for many and in both cases it shows incredibly troubled individual with certain ideology and his transformation. But as much as I appreciate “A Clockwork Orange" and there is no doubt that it is a good film, I was never a fan. It said a lot of things but I think statements shown in "American History X" are far more powerful, perhaps because they are so skillfully presented on screen.
