American History X (DVD+R)
IMDB
- Cast: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Fairuza Balk
Director:
Tony Kaye
Categories: Drama
Rated: R
Running Time:
118 minutes
Synopsis
Tony Kaye made his feature directorial debut with this dramatic
exploration into the roots of race hatred in America. In a shocking opening
scene, teen Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong) races to tell his older brother,
neo-Nazi Derek (Edward Norton), about the young blacks breaking into his car in
front of the house, whereupon Derek gets his gun and with no forethought shoots
the youths in their tracks. Tried and convicted, Derek is sent away for three
years in prison, where he acquires a different outlook as he contrasts
white-power prisoners with black Lamont (Guy Torry), his prison laundry
co-worker and eventual pal. Meanwhile, Danny, with a shaved head and a
rebellious attitude, seems destined to follow in his big brother's footsteps.
After Danny writes a favorable review of Hitler's Mein Kampf, black high-school
principal Sweeney (Avery Brooks) puts Danny in his private "American History X"
course and assigns him to do a paper about his older brother, who was a former
student of Sweeney's. This serves to introduce flashbacks, with the film
backtracking to illustrate Danny's account of Derek's life prior to the night
of the shooting. Monochrome sequences of Derek leading a Venice, California
gang are intercut with color footage of the mature Derek ending his past
neo-Nazi associations and attempting to detour Danny away from the group led by
white supremacist, Cameron (Stacy Keach), who once influenced Derek. Director
Tony Kaye, with a background in TV commercials and music videos, filmed in L.A.
beach communities. Rated R "for graphic brutal violence including rape,
pervasive language, strong sexuality and nudity." ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie
Guide
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