American History X

The movie starring Ed Norton and Edward Furlong has been one of my favorites for quite a while now. It’s a feast for the eyes from start to finish, with an apt portrayal of the knucklehead infested American white supremacist movement. What becomes apparent right off is that the philosophy fills a void within each of these characters, and as things crumble all around them, the hatred is embraced tightly like a security blanket. In great numbers these wounded souls are able to draw from each other a sense of community. Anti-social is happily segregated, easily identifiable and intoxicated on near-beer.

Somewhere along the line a smart racist realized that a literal application of what an Aryan was during Hitler’s life would prevent a good percentage of whites from joining up. Blond hair and blue eyes being harder to come by as the world moves towards more of a tan look with each passing year, the folks who call themselves Aryans today will shave their heads. As for eye color, they could care less. So the end result is not only a person who’s flawed mentally, but goofy looking as well. Adults who organize these groups understand that once a kid goes that far to fit in, it’s less likely they just wake up one day and decide on their own to change.

And that’s what American History X is really all about. It follows the lead character Derek Vinyard (Ed Norton) as he is released on parole. A natural leader, Derek inspires his followers, who in turn look up to him with a level of admiration that can be described in one word – disturbing. While the natural inclinations of those around him lean heavily towards playing the part with minimal discipline or dedication, Derek’s influence manages to bring them together. He buys into the doctrine of hatred completely and demands the same from everyone around him. Admiration abound, no one looks up to Derek more than his younger brother Danny (Edward Furlong). The hold that his pre-prison persona maintains over Danny represents the key struggle American History X centers around.

Director (Tony Kaye) tells the story through the brilliant placement of flashbacks throughout the movie, each time to the benefit of the film’s continuity. We slowly discover reasons for why Derek became who he was when he entered prison. Equally powerful though is the story behind how he came out with an entirely different point of view. Prison being the antithesis of America’s melting pot, his Aryan beliefs keep him safe. Meanwhile the reality behind ‘why’ these people shave their heads and celebrate the life of Adolph Hitler becomes clear to him. He’s the ‘true believer’ amidst many pretenders who merely embrace the look and the words for their own needs. Self-righteousness and a lack of common sense prompts a falling out that ends up changing his life forever.

Not a movie for everyone, American History X tells a disturbing story that takes place in present day southern California. Truth trumps marketability, as nary a hint of Hollywood’s touch of death is allowed to cheapen the final product. For an American public so used to stories like this centering around the influence of drugs or greed, this film manages to open up a world that most of us will thankfully never encounter first hand. A ticking time bomb, the recent effects of racial hatred within several riotous French communities reminded me of this powerful film. Racism having been covered so well by cinema in terms of our past, it’s important to understand how large of a role it plays in American lives today as well.