American History X (1998)

[5]

Edward Norton (Fight Club) plays a reformed neo-nazi trying to stop his younger brother (Terminator 2‘s Edward Furlong) from following in his ugly footsteps in American History X. But breaking free from the skinheads who idolize him turns out to be a bigger challenge than expected. Norton shows commitment and range in a flashy role that earned him an Oscar nomination, but I can’t help but wonder if another, more rough-around-the-edges actor might have been more convincing. The film is problematic in other ways, too.

Director Tony Kaye, who tried to have his name removed from the final cut, takes a more stylistic approach than I’d prefer with such serious subject matter. Slow-motion is over-used, Anne Dudley’s music is often overbearing, and the decision to make all the flashback scenes black and white feels pretentious. American History X is also over-written, with pointed dialogue and character transformation moments that feel more convenient than believable. The unnecessary flourishes and overstatements steer the film out of reality into the suds of soap opera.

For all the criticisms I have with American History X, I give the filmmakers credit for bravely tackling an ambitious story dealing with some of the most important issues of our day. Trying to depict both how a character becomes racist and how he sees the light is a noble endeavor. At its best, the movie is provocative and capable of spurring conversation. It also does a great job showing the difficulty young people have fighting against indoctrination in claustrophobic subcultures — what gang life is all about. Elliott Gould and Beverly D’Angelo have the juiciest supporting roles. The rest of the cast includes Avery Brooks (Deep Space Nine), Ethan Suplee, Fairuza Balk, and Stacy Keach.

Oscar Nomination: Best Actor (Edward Norton)