American History X (1998) *NO SPOILERS*

[Guest nickxenol]

*DON'T WORRY, NO SPOILERS*

 

American History X is an American film released on October 30, 1998. The film follows the story of (presumably) high school freshmen Danny Vinyard (played by Edward Furlong) who writes an essay "My Mein Kampf" which upsets the principal Dr. Bob Sweeney (played by Avery Brooks) and orders him to redo the paper but rather on his life (original subject of the paper was never revealed and... it's quite irrelevant). On that day, Danny's older brother Derek (played by Edward Norton, *also huge badass in Fight Club if you haven't seen that yet*) is released from prison. Before Derek went to prison, he was a neo-Nazi and had a girlfriend whom also was a neo-Nazi. Well, Derek's only friends were neo-Nazis as he was associated with a neo-Nazi club/gang. I'm not going to explain the plot any further but I will say that your opinion on Danny and Derek will certainly change in the end.

 

The film is mostly told in flashback following these scenes that I just explained. The flashback scenes are (in my opinion) the highlight scenes of the movie. These scenes give you an idea of what Derek has went through, how it has changed Derek and how it has influenced Danny. If you don't want a violent and/or profanity-laced movie, stay away from this (although do you expect a movie in which the protagonist is a neo-Nazi is NOT going to be violent). It certainly doesn't glorify violence or anything like that but just letting you know just in case any easily offended people read this.

 

This movie is amazing, it holds a great, gripping plot, interesting characters, a brilliant plot and overall teaches a great lesson. Favorite quote from the film is "Hate is baggage".

 

~ Nick C. (nickxenol)

November 10, 2014

 

Twitter: @NickXenol

nickcider.deviantart.com

[Spenc]

I found the relationship between Derek and Lamont to be my favourite parts of the film.  I remember when the whole issue of Donald Sterling, owner of the NBA's CLippers, came to light that maybe these black leaders should just invite Donald Sterling over for dinner and hang out.  If Jesse Jackson were truly about sacrificing himself to his cause, I feel like he would be spending his days among the low, ignorant, hateful people that he disagrees with, just trying to find some way to relate to them and setting an example for integration and change.

[Guest nickxenol]

Lamont was definitely an interesting character. If it weren't for Lamont (and the Aryan Brotherhood's hypocrisy), Derek would probably walk out of prison being the same person that he was. However, Lamont helped Derek set aside the neo-Nazi ideology that seemed implanted into him. I always however, felt on edge during the scenes in which Lamont was in. As if Derek was going to violently break out and beat the crap out of Lamont. It seemed possible, Derek wasn't hesitant to fight with Murphy, who was a principal!

[J. D. Stembal]

There is something that always bothered me about this movie. It suggests that skinheads operate in a violent hate culture which outside of prison, and the members inevitably get sent to prison. I wonder if the reality is that when white people are convicted of violent crimes and get sent to prison, their only option to survive is to throw their hat into the ring with the white gang. This would make the rise of skinheads in prison a decision which lacks a moral choice. If I was ever imprisoned, I would hang myself on day one.

[Josh F]

The Derek character was an ideologue, but the prison gangs don't spend their time discussing Hitler or the tenets of national socialism, they mostly make and sell meth.  

 

The Aryan Brotherhood, the Nazi Lowriders and Public Enemy no 1 are not ideological movements, they are the byproduct of racism in the gang/prison system. El Eme (The Mexican Mafia) now joined with the Mara Salvatruchas to become MS13.  El Eme and now MS13 are the predominant and most powerful prison gang, replacing the Italian (Gambino) and Black prison gangs (Black Gorilla Family, Bloods and Crips), and have historically been allied with the Aryan Botherhood and Nazi Lowriders against those prison gangs.  The prison system instantly seperates entrants by race and literally assigns them to particular gangs.  The entire prison system is the back bone of the gang recruitment system. Its sick as fuck.

[RyanT]

It's a decent film although could never quite work out the significance of the ending, perhaps just that, 'life can be a bitch'. Certainly raised some interesting questions though about how Derek's character would have reacted in the aftermath.

[Josh F]

Or that bigotry and violence open a box that can't be easily shut?  or that violence results in unintended consequences?  

[Spenc]

It's a decent film although could never quite work out the significance of the ending, perhaps just that, 'life can be a bitch'. Certainly raised some interesting questions though about how Derek's character would have reacted in the aftermath.

Well. in the end, Derek saves himself, but it's too late for the ones he has infected.  His best friend Seth became a racist following his charismatic friend Derek and is now stuck in his ignorance under the manipulation of Stacey Keach.  His girlfriend did the same and became infected and when he tried to lead her out, it was too late for her as well.  Then the one person who he cared about saving most after having infected, his brother , he achieves the change, but the circumstances that his past decisions had created got him killed for it nevertheless.

 

I'm not saying the ending is more or less significant having been done that way, but it emphasizes the broader point of the film and warns you against ever letting yourself be infected

[RyanT]

That's a brilliant interpretation,

 

although as PatrickC discussed with Dead Poets Society in the FDR film club, I kinda got a message of hopelessness,

that it's a noble thing to 'fight the good fight' but ultimately violence and hatred win the day..  

 

Indeed if we look at the original altercation between Danny and the boy who eventually killed him, he seemingly wasn't even acting out of racial hatred but in defense of the 'geeky' white kid who was being bullied and about to get beat up.. i.e. was 'in the right' perhaps he'd have done the same regardless?

 

The principle Sweeney expresses that he himself was once an angry young man,

he watches Derick and Danny start out that way but get rehabilitated

only for another to jump right in and take their place.. 

 

Hatred and violence are endless.

 

That's pretty depressing stuff?

[welcometothedarksyde]

I just watched this movie yesterday, it was amazing IMO. Something that struck me was Edward Norton's acting. His switch between a character difficult to relate to (primarily due to having emotional walls up), and one that is extremely relateable is astounding. I'm primarily talking about the difference between him before and after prison, from an exculsionary person incapable of true intimacy, to a sort of father character. I haven't had much time to sit on the meaning of the film, but it was an intense emotional film that I thoroughly enjoyed watching. However what I think I do have a grasp on is that the story is of a character's journey towards humanity. In fact the scene in which the family is at the table eating with Beverly d'Angelo's character's boyfriend, was quite relateable. Not that I related to Derrick, but I related to talking to people like that. People who seemingly can't truly be spoken to.

 

As a sidenote, Edward Norton's build in that movie was awesome. I'm working towards something like that. Just without a shaved head and swastika

[Spenc]

I just watched this movie yesterday, it was amazing IMO. Something that struck me was Edward Norton's acting. His switch between a character difficult to relate to (primarily due to having emotional walls up), and one that is extremely relateable is astounding. I'm primarily talking about the difference between him before and after prison, from an exculsionary person incapable of true intimacy, to a sort of father character. I haven't had much time to sit on the meaning of the film, but it was an intense emotional film that I thoroughly enjoyed watching. However what I think I do have a grasp on is that the story is of a character's journey towards humanity. In fact the scene in which the family is at the table eating with Beverly d'Angelo's character's boyfriend, was quite relateable. Not that I related to Derrick, but I related to talking to people like that. People who seemingly can't truly be spoken to.

 

As a sidenote, Edward Norton's build in that movie was awesome. I'm working towards something like that. Just without a shaved head and swastika

Based on the flashbacks, Derek was not 'exclusionary' as a teenager until the trauma of his father's death.  So your comment about him becoming a father figure is very interesting because he lost his connection to humanity through the trauma of losing his father, then regained his connection by becoming the father figure himself.

 

Also, I just watched Rounders the other day, which is my other favourite Edward Norton film.  His performance as "Worm" in that film is brilliant.  I would encourage you to see it, it is on YouTube.

[DaviesMa]

SPOILER IN THIS POST!!!!

 

I found the relationship between Norton and his girlfriend interesting. Stef talks about the fear that people have that we are only connected by shared prejudices and so we are afraid to disagree with other for fear that the lack of a true relationship will be revealed. His girlfriend and his friend turning on him when he renounced his views is a perfect illustration of this.

 

I wonder if Edward Nortons character as a reformed character who was full of optimism for the future was a contrast to Edward Furlong who was a victim of the continuing and futile cycle of violence. It is also a form of Karma for Norton that he loses someone to racial violence.