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American History X [VHS] [1999]

VHS ~ Edward Norton

4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (87 customer reviews)

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Product details

Actors: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Avery Brooks, Jennifer Lien
Directors: Tony Kaye
Format: PAL, Widescreen
Language English
Classification: 18
Studio: Entertainment in Video
VHS Release Date: 21 Feb 2000
Run Time: 114 minutes

Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (87 customer reviews)

ASIN: B00004D326
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 19,597 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Perhaps the highest compliment you can pay to Edward Norton is that his Oscar-nominated performance in American History X nearly convinces you that there is a shred of logic in the tenets of white supremacy. If that statement doesn't horrify you, it should; Norton is so fully immersed in his role as a neo-Nazi skinhead that his character's eloquent defense of racism is disturbingly persuasive--at least on the surface. Looking lean and mean with a swastika tattoo and a mind full of hate, Derek Vinyard (Norton) has inherited racism from his father, and that learning has been intensified through his service to Cameron (Stacy Keach), a grown-up thug playing tyrant and teacher to a growing band of disenfranchised teens from Venice Beach, California, all hungry for an ideology that fuels their brooding alienation.

The film's basic message--that hate is learned and can be unlearned--is expressed through Derek's kid brother, Danny (Edward Furlong), whose sibling hero-worship increases after Derek is imprisoned (or, in Danny's mind, martyred) for the killing of two black men. Lacking Derek's gift of rebel rhetoric, Danny is easily swayed into the violent, hateful lifestyle that Derek disowns during his thoughtful time in prison. Once released, Derek struggles to save his brother from a violent fate, and American History X partially suffers from a mix of intense emotions, awkward sentiment and predictably inevitable plotting. And yet British director Tony Kaye (who would later protest against Norton's creative intervention during post-production) manages to juggle these qualities--and a compelling clash of visual styles--to considerable effect. No matter how strained their collaboration may have been, both Kaye and Norton can be proud to have created a film that addresses the issue of racism with dramatically forceful impact. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Synopsis

The actions of Derek end in murder and imprisonment after he has sought retribution for his father's murder. His brother, mother and girlfriend all await his release but find him a changed man...

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Customer Reviews

87 Reviews

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (87 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On of the most powerful films ever, 21 Dec 2006

By	Stampy (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American History X [DVD] [1999] (DVD)

Edward Norton (Fight Club) stars magnificently as derek, an opinionated soul living in Southern America, a place where racism and cultural values are strong. His brother Danny (Furlong) wants to follow in his footsteps but after his time spent in prison, Derek has changed his views about society.

This is an extremly powerful film containing a massive pressure on culture and what various people from all walks of life believe about certain values. Norton is terrific as the hating immigrants emotional dominant protagonist and deservering of an Oscar nomination.

The way the film conveys issues such as racism is remarkable, what certain people will do and say is jawdropping in Kaye's 1998 film. The ending is sensational and had me in tears, showing how powerful it is.

Violence in shooting, gangs, bullying are all used to emhpasise the true meaning of the film, and it came off superbly, catching my breathe on various scenes.

the direction is remarkable, especially the flashbacks which are filmed in black and white to convey passion and recollection for the characters.

without a doubt, this is simply a must watch to make the audience see how wrong racism and violence is in society.

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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We are not enemies., 1 Dec 2001

By	james peter wootton - See all my reviews

This review is from: American History X [DVD] [1999] (DVD)

This is the only film i have seen which really tackles racism in a realistic and intelligent way. The Ed Norton character is an intelligent and articulate individual who convincingly preaches the twisted logic of racism. The film manages to convey most psychological explanations of racism - the authoritarian personality,the scapegoat hypothesis, in-group out-group bias, transference, etc, without feeling preachy. I can't think of a more socially important or responsible film than this. Derek's emotional oddessy is both moving and disturbing, with all points of view given equal airing, no matter how extreme. Personally I found the question asked of Derek 'Has anything you have done made your life better?' a stark and penetrating wake up call for anyone who is unhappy. The ending has been criticised for being overly emotional but I thought it was appropriate, Derek gets hurt by former chosen enemies who have not yet learnt the lesson he has. This makes us question whether Derek was wrong in the first place. This is a complicated film about a difficult subject which should be required viewing in all schools. The ultimate message is to do your best and try to get along with other people. Its not just about racism, its about personal choice, do we live to hate or do we try to make life better for ourselves and others. The director walked away from the film, my question is if he was unhappy with this cut, what would his version be like? This version is a technical, artistic and emotional triumph.

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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ***** EXPLOSIVE AND POWERFUL *****, 17 Oct 2002

By	Mr. N. Carnegie (Kirkcaldy, Scotland, UK.) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: American History X [DVD] [1999] (DVD)

Edward Norton gives an extraordinarily brilliant (and Oscar nominated) performance as Derek Vinyard, a neo-nazi skinhead in this explosive and powerful drama about two brothers caught up in a cycle of racial hatred and violence. Told through the eyes of Derek's younger brother Danny, superbly portrayed by Edward Furlong, this is the story of a family torn apart after the loss of their firefighter father, killed whilst working in a black neighbourhood. As a result, the highly intelligent Derek (Norton), already influenced by his late father's bigotry and manipulated by cowardly fascist Cameron Alexander (Stacy Keach) becomes the charismatic leader of a local gang of skinheads. This inevitably leads to friction within Derek's family and his imprisonment for the murder of two black youths. Whilst in prison hero-worshipping Danny (Furlong) seeks to emulate his older brother and becomes more and more involved with the white power movement and influenced by Cameron (Keach) and his mindless morons. However, with a hero's welcome being planned for Derek's release from prison, he returns to his neighbourhood a changed man and sets out to repair the damage he's done to his family and to persuade his brother not to travel the same road.

Brilliantly written by David Mc.Kenna and with top-notch performances from both its male leads (ably supported by Avery Brooks and Stacy Keach) American History X is an intelligent and powerful examination of the causes and existence of racial bigotry and hatred. It does not seek to sensationalise rascism or violence but neither does it duck the issues. Controversial because of its frank portrayal of rascists as human beings, the scariest part of watching American History X is how credible and believable Edward Norton's rascists arguments (as the charismatic leader Derek Vinyard) can be and how easy it must be for impressionable youth to be drawn into a world of hatred and violence. This is as much education as entertainment and essential viewing for fans of intelligent drama. Described by the critics as "magnificent", "extraordinary" and "outstanding" American History X genuinely is a must see movie and a must own DVD.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Me Rambling as Usual
American History X is a stunning film. For a long time I've believed that all politicians should be forced to go into space and made to look back on the Earth, to give themselves... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Cactus

5.0 out of 5 stars Harrowing... but BRILLIANT
This movie came highly recommended and I was awake one night and unable to sleep so I thought I'd watch it. Not the most sensible thing to do at 1 o'clock in the morning! Read more

Published 3 months ago by O. Towolawi

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely harrowing but uplifting!
I saw this and it blew me away!It's about an ex con who was sent to prison for a violent racist attack. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Mr. A. J. Ralph

5.0 out of 5 stars american history X
WICKED FILM,BUT YOU SUDDENT WATCH IT IF YOUR UNDERAGE,
I DID AND IT SCARED ME.

Published 4 months ago by Ms. Kelly L. Young

4.0 out of 5 stars Incredible - Hard Hitting
First off I would recommend this film to ANYONE. I beleive it to be a true great.

Considering the film, both Norton and Furlong both play excellent roles. Read more

Published 8 months ago by J. Adams

1.0 out of 5 stars American History Zzzzzzzzz
I'm Baffled. I had this film recommended to me by a friend. I even checked the great reviews that this film gets. So I bought it. Read more

Published 10 months ago by stephenarthur

4.0 out of 5 stars Uncomfortably watchable!
The thing which is perhaps most horrifying about this movie is that the majority of the racist points made by the main character ring true. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Patrick H.

5.0 out of 5 stars uncomfortable, disturbing and amazing
Edward norton at his finest and most shocking. This film is absolutley brilliant, I can only assume the Oscar was lost because of the sensitive subject matter. Read more

Published 14 months ago by L. Ward

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerhouse performance by Ed Norton
American History X is a story based on extremist, racial violence in modern day America.
Norton plays buffed up, neo-nazi skinhead, Derek Vinyard. Read more

Published 20 months ago by Atomic Rooster

5.0 out of 5 stars BASED ON A TRUE STORY
Not many people know this, but Ed Norton's character, Derek, is based on an actual person -- a guy that went to my high school a few years before I did. Read more

Published 23 months ago by stuart

› See all 87 customer reviews...

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