american history x
directed by Tony Kaye
Plot:
Derek Vineyard is paroled after serving 3 years in prison for killing two thugs who tried to break into/steal his truck. Through his brother, Danny Vineyard's narration, we learn that before going to prison, Derek was a skinhead and the leader of a violent white supremacist gang that committed acts of racial crime throughout L.A. and his actions greatly influenced Danny. Reformed and fresh out of prison, Derek severs contact with the gang and becomes determined to keep Danny from going down the same violent path as he did.
Top-Billed Cast:
Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Lien, Ethan Suplee, Fairuza Balk, Avery Brooks, and Elliott Gould
Academy Awards:
Best Actor in a Leading Role for Edward Norton (nominee)
Hollywood does, however, at times produce films that stay true to their message. Even the ones we wish they hadn't such as American History X. The writers of the film held back nothing when they created this film, and what they created was actually, considered by some, something great. This film is just chuck full of risks, and those risks wound up costing the film when it came to awards season. No academy is going to want to award a film who's protagonist, the character the audience is actually rooting for, is a white supremacist skinhead who goes to prison for killing two men. The film racks in an impressive 205 uses of the f-word along with an unceasing use of the n-word and the amount of violence and gore in the film is very extensive and uncomfortably realistic. That is why this film was so unsuccessful when it was going through the awards circuit, it was too realistic. It prevailed where Gangs of New York failed however, American History X didn't sugarcoat, it didn't water down the content to be appealing to the viewers, no, it was raw and real and I respect the film for it.
Derek Vineyard is paroled after serving 3 years in prison for killing two thugs who tried to break into/steal his truck. Through his brother, Danny Vineyard's narration, we learn that before going to prison, Derek was a skinhead and the leader of a violent white supremacist gang that committed acts of racial crime throughout L.A. and his actions greatly influenced Danny. Reformed and fresh out of prison, Derek severs contact with the gang and becomes determined to keep Danny from going down the same violent path as he did.
Top-Billed Cast:
Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Lien, Ethan Suplee, Fairuza Balk, Avery Brooks, and Elliott Gould
Academy Awards:
Best Actor in a Leading Role for Edward Norton (nominee)
Hollywood does, however, at times produce films that stay true to their message. Even the ones we wish they hadn't such as American History X. The writers of the film held back nothing when they created this film, and what they created was actually, considered by some, something great. This film is just chuck full of risks, and those risks wound up costing the film when it came to awards season. No academy is going to want to award a film who's protagonist, the character the audience is actually rooting for, is a white supremacist skinhead who goes to prison for killing two men. The film racks in an impressive 205 uses of the f-word along with an unceasing use of the n-word and the amount of violence and gore in the film is very extensive and uncomfortably realistic. That is why this film was so unsuccessful when it was going through the awards circuit, it was too realistic. It prevailed where Gangs of New York failed however, American History X didn't sugarcoat, it didn't water down the content to be appealing to the viewers, no, it was raw and real and I respect the film for it.