American History X

[CH David]

Ok, so this has puzzled me for a while and unless this thread is hidden I can't seem to find it.

So I can't for the life of me find a thread on the movie, you guessed it, American History X, and I am wondering why not? This movie is a hell of an eye opener, and has a pretty stellar cast. Edward Norton, need I say more, Edward Furlong (the famous John Connor from T2), Ethan Suplee (Boy Meets World, Remember the Titans, My Name is Earl), William Russ (Who knew Alan Matthews from Boy Meets World was racist? lol), to name a few.

So Edward Norton played his role to perfection, and in doing so actually caused him physical ailment after each take because he was so disgusted at what he was having to say. Edward Furlong was no longer John Connor, and did a hell of a job acting.

When other people start getting into this thread, I will discuss it more, but I don't want to ruin it for those who haven't seen it. I recommend you see it ASAP, it is an awesome movie, and had me shocked throughout. So what are your thoughts on this movie?

 

[X]

American History X is a great film. It's also probably the most overrated movie of the last 20 years. The hype this movie gets I just don't understand. It's good, it's even great at times, but it's not even the best movie about neo-Nazi's in the 90's, let alone of all time. Better films to check out would be "Romper Stomper" (Russell Crowe's first film as a batshit crazy Aussie neo-Nazi) and the more recent "This is England". Though This is England deals a lot more with the rise of English white nationalism and skinhead culture then neo-Nazism.

Still, American History X is good, don't get me wrong. Fairuza Balk always pissed me off so much in that movie when she starts calling Ed Norton a "******-lover". Plus Stacy Keach is always great. Obviously Norton & Furlong are great as well. Now that I think about it maybe it's not as overrated as I originally thought. Something about it though always felt so Hollywood and polished. Romper Stomper is a better depiction of the raw street skinhead culture.

"Life's too short to be pissed off all the time" was a line that always stuck with me as well, very true.

 

[jmt225]

I loved American History X. I haven't seen Romper Stomper, but I have This is England on DVD and even though that's fantastic, I still prefer American History X over it.

From start to finish, American History X is as compelling and entertaining of film as you'll ever see, for me at least. I never seen a movie where both present time and the flashbacks are equally as great (outside of The Godfather 2, of course), but American History X pulled it off. Usually a film saves its best parts for present time or for the flashbacks, but there's not a dull moment in American History X. It keeps your full attention the entire time and makes you keep wondering what’s going to happen next and why the characters are the way they are.

And the acting is just terrific. Edward Norton's performance as Derek Vinyard ranks right up there with James Van Der Beek in The Rules of Attraction as Sean Bateman and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction as Vincent Vega as one of my favorites performances of all time in the history of cinema. I loved the way he portrayed Derek. In the flashbacks, he was brutal and you just hated him, but yet... at the same time he was intelligent and actually made a lot of sense, which made you feel guilty in return. Edward Norton was just so convincing in flashbacks, and in present time so sympathetic. It was quite the performance. And everyone else was great in it, too, but Norton completely made that movie if you ask me.

 

[RVDgurl]

Ya know, I just watched this movie for the 700th time on TV the other night. Of course, some of the language and more graphic scenes were removed for TV, but the point still comes across. I don't get into analyzing movie like some people do- I just watch them for entertainment- but this is one of the few movies that is truly very powerful for me.

The characters in the movie are so strong- and not just the main characters. Yes, Derek and Danny Vinyard are both well developed and brilliant characters, but I found myself drawn to Danny and Derek's mother this time around. Maybe it's because I'm a female, but her character is so powerful. There is a line during the flashback scene at the dinner table which is something to the effect of "I'm ashamed that you ever came out of my body", that mother says to Derek. God damn, that's deep if you think about it. That one line really captures the affect that hate and hate groups have on everyone, not just the people involved.

Great movie.

 

[CH David]

I completely agree with all of you. xfear, I need to see both This Is England and Romper Stomper, so hopefully I will be able to catch that at a movie store or online sometime. So I am glad you mentioned those as I can broaden my horizon on the subject.

RVDgurl, you hit the nail on the head with that quote, it is deep, and you feel the hatred. I'm sure if your any of your moms ever told you that they were ashamed they had you, that would hit you pretty damn hard. I know for me I would probably be devastated as my mom means a hell of a lot to me.

Now a quick question, what was the most surprising or horrific moment of the movie for you? For me it haaaas to be the infamous Curb Stomp scene. My jaw was in pain the rest of the movie and just imagining someone doing that was a "Holy Shit" moment.

 

[jmt225]

Yeah, it's funny how that out-does the rape scene, but I think that's because we've all seen brutal rape scenes in movies before we ever watched American History X, whereas we've, or at least I know I haven't, have never seen anything like that Curb Stomp. It was really stomach wrenching stuff.

And my favorite quote in the movie is the one X mentioned, "Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time. It's just not worth it." That quote is just so true. There are way too many people in this World who are mad 24 hours a day, 7 days a week about shit that will never change, no matter what happens. And it just doesn't make sense to spend your entire life being pissed like that all the time.

 

[CH David]

Yeah, it's funny how that out-does the rape scene, but I think that's because we've all seen brutal rape scenes in movies before we ever watched American History X, whereas we've, or at least I know I haven't, have never seen anything like that Curb Stomp. It was really stomach wrenching stuff.

And my favorite quote in the movie is the one X mentioned, "Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time. It's just not worth it." That quote is just so true. There are way too many people in this World who are mad 24 hours a day, 7 days a week about shit that will never change, no matter what happens. And it just doesn't make sense to spend your entire life being pissed like that all the time.

Yeah, the only thing that kind of pissed me off about the rape scene was the prison guard just shutting the door, but i shouldn't have been surprised.

And your quote jmt225, I am in complete agreeance with you. People that walk through out their lives just pissed off are wasting energy on something so stupid. Personally, yes I do get pissed off, it happens to everyone, but it is something that can usually be gotten over fairly quickly. But to go through life, like in the KKK, or as some racial supremacist, your life must really suck that you have to branch out against other races or religions like that.

I may be completely offbase with this, but was Guy Torry aka Lamont, was Lamont the first black guy to be the helpful guy to get through prison in movies,? It is probably some earlier movie if anyone pays that close attention to detail, so I think I am wrong with that, but if anyone could possibly help with that question I would appreciate it.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Good as an entertainment film. But as for one that supposed to have a message it's not great.

Romper Stomper is better. This Is England shows that Skinheads aren't actually racist. Made in Britain is probably a more accurate view of what a racist Bonehead is like.

Norton is good, but a little over the top. Furlog sounds as camp as usual.

 

[Razor]

I loved American History X. Mostly for Edward Norton. But then again, Ed Norton is awesome. His work in Kingdom of Heaven was awesome, Fight Club, top notch. His time as The Incredible Hulk was just as good, to me. But I'm a silly Hulk fan boy.

The cast overall delivered on the acting side. Edward Norton pulled off a crazy Nazi at the beginning, then reformed prisoner perfectly. Furlong did his part, as did the others. Even that black kid who shot Furlong's character into the really long urinals. He looked pissed. And you believed it.

That curb stomp is sick. Mostly because when I see the rape scene, I think of the rape scene in Pulp Fiction and shrug it off. I myself think Pulp Fiction's rape scene landed harder, what with the general atmosphere of the basement and gimp and everything. That curb stomp though....damn.