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Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9780780625129
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
ISBN: 0780625129
Label: New Line Home Video
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: New Line Home Video
Release Date: August 24, 1999
Running Time: 119 minutes
Sales Rank: 1111
Studio: New Line Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: October 30, 1998
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
Edward Norton was nominated for a 1998 Best Actor Oscar for his role as Derek Vinyard, a thoughtful kid turned neo-Nazi after his father is slain. Edward Furlong plays his younger brother, Danny, determined to follow in his brother's footsteps. The easy routes the film seems prepared to take never materialize. It continually makes Derek's transformation both in and out of his racist beliefs believable and persuasive. Stacy Keach is given the head vampire role of the local skinhead chapter, Cameron, and he's the closest this film comes to an overt overstatement. Norton, however, is fantastic, embodying a person who roller-coasters through hatred like he can't wait to ride again. His diatribes are not unlike what can be heard on any given conservative radio station on any given day, but he doesn't spew them as cant or screed. Only when his violent emotions take charge, negating any sense or stand, is the underlying fallacy and nature of his beliefs made plain. This film was undermined by the film's own director, Tony Kaye, who made such a braying ass of himself and his work that it distorted the public's view of what is an interesting social and psychological lesson in the war between ideas and ideologues, reason and racism. --Keith Simanton
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - 3.5 stars out of 4
The Bottom Line:
American History X is a terrific film; though the director may have tried to distance himself from the final product, the movie is well-directed, well-acted, and well-constructed.
Rating: - Ridiculously Good
This is an amazing movie where Edward Norton gives a spectacular performance. Edward Norton starts out as an unrepentant white supremacist but after his jail experience, he comes out trying to save his younger brother from that life. It is an amazing movie about how racism and hatred doesn't get you anywhere and leaves last ripples. It is somewhat graphic so it is not for the younger crowd. It's amazing from start to finish and the ending leave you stunned (and I cried). It is a must own for anyone ... Read More
Rating: - Racism Gets Curb-Stomped
American History X is what 'Crash' failed to be, that is, a nuanced and believable exploration of the roots and manifestations of racism. The film does not lecture but nor does it pardon - it approaches its delicate subject matter with conviction, maturity and stark imagery.
Set among the resurgence of Neo-Nazism among California's disenchanted urban youth in the 80's and early 90's, X is the story of one family, headed by eldest son Norton, and how the seed of racism takes root in his ... Read More
Rating: - More than just skin deep
Most people have a list of movies that were recommended to them, and are immensely popular, but...they just never get around to watching any. For a time, I had quite a few myself: The Godfather, Pulp Fiction, Platoon, The Usual Suspects and American History X.
One day, I decided to look at the last movie on my list. While it was generally regarded as a positive, uplifting movie, I was a bit skeptical about anything to do with racism: most films dealing with this subject tend to show us ... Read More
Rating:  - One little thing
The only negative thing that I have to say about this movie is the sterotype on skinheads. Not all skinheads are Nazis. Actually, it's only about 10% of the skinhead population that are white supremisists. I personally am not a skinhead but I have friends that are who are completely against that sect of skinheadism and don't even consider those who do fit the racist neo-nazi mold to be real skinheads in the first place. You should check out a documentary called Dark Planet:Visions of America to get ... Read More
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