Movie Review for American History X

Summary: The story unfolds through the eyes of Danny Vinyard, who idolizes his older brother Derek. Seeking retribution for his father's murder and burning a way to vent his rage, Derek finds himself transformed by a philosophy of hate as he turns into a charismatic leader of a local white power movement. Despite his indisputable intelligence, his incendiary actions culminate in a brutal murder and ultimately, a prison sentence. Three years later, everyone awaits Derek's return: His mother Doris who prays for his safety; his girlfriend Stacey who longs for his return, and most of all Danny who's desperate for his brother's love and guidance, yet is driven by his own increasing white supremist hatred. Unbeknownst to Danny, Derek is a changed man. Fresh from prison, he no longer views hatred as a badge of honor. Ashamed of his past he is now in a race to save Danny and the Vinyard family from the violence he brought down upon them.

                         Reviews of American History X
By Carlo Cavagna of AboutFilm.com (7/0)
            For Director Tony Kaye to disown this is irrational beyond belief

By Brian Webster of Apollo Guide (7/0)
            It's difficult to sit through, but well worth the effort.

By Marc Savlov of Austin Chronicle (7/0)
            A violent, sober cautionary tale, strictly middle-of-the-road when it comes to its much-ballyhooe...

By Jonathan Rosenbaum of Chicago Reader (7/0)
            Kaye wants to say something about what produces a skinhead today, and though he doesn't succeed f...

By Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun-Times (7/0)
            The film is always interesting and sometimes compelling, and it contains more actual provocative ...

By Margaret A. McGurk of Cincinnati Enquirer (7/0)
            ...a harrowing morality tale...

                         Reviews of American History X
By David Keyes of Cinemaphile.org (7/0)
            ...a brutal and disturbing movie that discusses and demonstrates racism, prejudice, and human bli...

By Paul Tatara of CNN.com (7/0)
            When Hollywood attacks a volatile issue, it inevitably spoon-feeds you the main components of the...

By Harvey S. Karten of Compuserve (7/0)
            Taut, tension-filled and violent!

By John J. Puccio of DVDTown.com (7/0)
            ...a violent film on a momentous topic. ...entertaining, to be sure, and thought provoking, yet u...

By Emanuel Levy of EmanuelLevy.Com (7/0)
            Well-intentioned and well-acted but unconvicning, this saga provides an instructive example to th...

By Kevin Lally of Film Journal International (7/0)
            Wields undeniable power despite its shaky dramatic contrivances.

                         Reviews of American History X
By Matt Lawrence of filmcritic.com (7/0)
            Edward Norton is brilliant as Derek because he becomes him.

By Matt Lawrence of filmcritic.com (7/0)
            Edward Norton is brilliant...

By Liam Lacey of Globe and Mail (7/0)
            What partly redeems American History X from its most preachy excesses -- and makes it worth seein...

By Ross Anthony of Hollywood Report Card (7/0)
            if you've forgotten how to stay calm while somebody probes you with a pointed object such as raci...

By Steve Rhodes of Internet Reviews (7/0)
            Among the biggest deficiencies in the story is the lack of proper motivation for Derek's beliefs ...

By JoBlo of JoBlo's Movie Emporium (7/0)
            One of the best told movies of the year!

                         Reviews of American History X
By Kenneth Turan of Los Angeles Times (7/0)
            Though well-intentioned, turns out to be a simplistic and unconvincing look at a serious problem.

By Marty Mapes of Movie Habit (7/0)
            No other feature film takes such a cold hard look at the lure, the culture, and the brotherhood o...

By Jorge Avila Andrade of Moviola (7/0)
            Con soberbias actuaciones, ejemplifica como el racismo es una de las ideas más huecas y estúpidas...

By Michael Dequina of Mr. Brown's Movies (6/1)
            For all its faults, still makes a lasting, thought-provoking impression.

By Widgett Walls of Needcoffee.com (7/0)
            What brings it above the problems with its source material is fine acting all the way around.

By Edward Johnson-Ott of NUVO Newsweekly (7/0)
            The film packs a hell of a punch!

                         Reviews of American History X
By Dennis Schwartz of Ozus' World Movie Reviews (7/0)
            I just wish the film didn't give us an entire year's history curriculum about racism in two hour...

By James Kendrick of Q Network Film Desk (7/0)
            does a searing job of portraying the neo-Nazi community and what makes them tick.

By Jeffrey Huston of rec.arts.movies.reviews (7/0)
            If you can stomach the graphic nature of the film, you will witness the most honest depiction of ...

By James Berardinelli of ReelViews (7/0)
            American History X may be flawed, but it's not easily forgotten.

By Jack Garner of Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (7/0)
            Norton delivers a disturbing, heart-felt and ultimately heart-breaking performance.

By Mick LaSalle of San Francisco Chronicle (7/0)
            Director Tony Kaye brings in a whole cast's worth of full-bodied performances.

                         Reviews of American History X
By Craig Marine of San Francisco Examiner (7/0)
            An ambitious, well-acted film!

By Jim Judy of Screen It! (7/0)
            Undeniably one of the more powerful films you'll see this year!

By Rob Blackwelder of SPLICEDWire (7/0)
            [Kaye] employs some audacious and creative storytelling.

By Ken Fox of TV Guide's Movie Guide (7/0)
            Uncompromising piece of filmmaking, intelligently written and dramatically shot!

By Michael O'Sullivan of Washington Post (7/0)
            Arrestingly photographed, and boasting another intelligent and muscular performance by the chamel...

By Marc Savlov of Austin Chronicle (3/4) No reference
            ...a violent, sober cautionary tale...

                         Reviews of American History X
By Wade Major of Boxoffice Magazine (6/1) No reference
            Alternately didactic and visceral, American History X is both difficult to watch and impossible n...

By Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun-Times (3/4) No reference
            This is a good and powerful film.

By Madeleine Williams of Cinematter (6/1) No reference
            A moving and involving film, tackling the tough subject of racism in America, displaying its caus...

By Ted Prigge of Deconstructing Edward (3/4) No reference
            A very good movie.

By Jeff Vice of Deseret News, Salt Lake City (6/1) No reference
            Norton is superb here.

By Kevin Lally of E! Online (3/4) No reference
            Startling but not always believable...

                         Reviews of American History X
By Andrew Collins of Empire Magazine (3/4) No reference
            The film's most incongruous and embarrassing scene is a black-on-white basketball game: shot like...

By Ron Wells of Film Threat (3/4) No reference
            Derrick's journey to hell and the one back are portrayed organically and gradually.

By Ron Wells of Film Threat (3/4) No reference
            This all could have easily turned out like a bad after-school special, but it didn't.

By MaryAnn Johanson of Flick Filosopher (3/4) No reference
            Norton is by turns frightening and heartbreaking, angry and serene. I don't think I've ever seen ...

By Greg Dean Schmitz of Greg's Previews at Yahoo! Movies (3/4) No reference
            Folks, this powerful movie really impressed me with its subtle steps towards its message.

By Bruce Kirkland of Jam! Movies (3/4) No reference
            A powerful and disturbing social document.

                         Reviews of American History X
By Louis B. Hobson of Jam! Movies (3/4) No reference
            The film works because Norton's performance is so rivetting and uncompromising.

By Manohla Dargis of L.A. Weekly (3/4) No reference
            The problem is that Kaye, who's used to selling cars on TV, shoots Derek the Hater as lovingly as...

By Kenneth Turan of Los Angeles Times (3/4) No reference
            ... though well-intentioned, turns out to be a simplistic and unconvincing look at a serious prob...

By Matt Easterbrook of Matt's Movie Reviews (3/4) No reference
            Don't miss out on this one.

By Michael Elliott of Movie Parables (3/4) No reference
            (Norton's) characterization is totally believable and frighteningly real.

By Joe Baltake of Sacramento Bee (3/4) No reference
            As provocative and daring as it is, the film is also rather simplistic and obvious.

                         Reviews of American History X
By Andrew O'Hehir of Sight and Sound (3/4) No reference
            A work of impressive scale and craft and not a movie that's easy to dismiss in the end.

By Richard Corliss of TIME Magazine (3/4) No reference
            A confused, randomly compelling family melodrama.

By Mike Clark of USA Today (3/4) No reference
            While this movie is sometimes overbaked, it is the first major studio release in a while to engro...

By Todd McCarthy of Variety (3/4) No reference
            This jolting, superbly acted film will draw serious-minded upscale viewers interested in cutting-...

By James Berardinelli of ReelViews (3/4) Not Reachable
            American History X may be flawed, but it's not easily forgotten.

Movie Distributors

Production Companies
Turman-Morrissey Company
The
Steve Tisch Company

Movie Studios
New Line Cinema