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Movies / On DVD / American History X
American History X

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American History X (1998)

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83 %
Tomatometer

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Reviews Counted: 72

Fresh: 60

Rotten:12

Average Rating: 7.2/10

Consensus: A compelling and provocative story led by an excellent performance by Edward Norton.

Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Edward Norton gives an impassioned performance as Derek Vinyard, a Southern Californian skinhead who must do time after committing a hateful murder. Once in jail, his mind opens and he sees the... Edward Norton gives an impassioned performance as Derek Vinyard, a Southern Californian skinhead who must do time after committing a hateful murder. Once in jail, his mind opens and he sees the error of his ways. Upon reentering the real world, he must now turn his attentions to his younger brother Danny, who is swiftly heading down the same path as his brother. Controversy surrounded the film when director Tony Kaye disowned it, claiming that Norton had the film re-edited without Kaye's permission. Norton still got an Oscar Nomination for his intense performance. [More]

Starring: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Fairuza Balk, Beverly D'Angelo

Starring: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Fairuza Balk, Beverly D'Angelo, Ethan Suplee, Avery Brooks, Elliott Gould, Stacy Keach, William Russ

Director: Tony Kaye

Director: Tony Kaye
Screenwriter: David McKenna
Producer: John Morrissey
Composer: Anne Dudley

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Apr 7, 2009

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for American History X

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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If didactic and overwrought at times, it's also powerful and persuasive. [Blu-ray]

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
05/25/09
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews

...a violent film on a weighty topic...frank and honest, its characters, actions, and ideas compelling the viewer to look further and become involved.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
04/16/09
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

Any idiot can make us wince at the ugliness of beatings and shootings.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment 7 Comments
07/23/07
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
10/30/06
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

Well-intentioned and well-acted but unconvicning, this saga provides an instructive example to the simplistic approach taken by movies when tackling the social problem of racism.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
02/26/06
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/05
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
04/09/05
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Pesado e incômodo, discute o racismo com inteligência e conta com uma interpretação absolutamente impecável de Edward Norton.

comment Comment
08/29/04
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
07/29/04
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/20/03
Jim Shelby
Palo Alto Weekly

Derrick's journey to hell and the one back are portrayed organically and gradually.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Ron Wells
Film Threat

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
Netflix
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | comment Comment
10/15/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer

The problem is that Kaye, who's used to selling cars on TV, shoots Derek the Hater as lovingly as he would a new Volkswagen.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment 4 Comments
10/07/02
Manohla Dargis
L.A. Weekly
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Montreal Film Journal | comment Comment
09/10/02
Kevin N. Laforest
Montreal Film Journal

What partly redeems American History X from its most preachy excesses -- and makes it worth seeing -- is a brilliant, career-high performance by actor Edward Norton.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
04/12/02
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A work of impressive scale and craft and not a movie that's easy to dismiss in the end.

Full Review Source: Sight and Sound | comment Comment
03/03/02
Andrew O'Hehir
Sight and Sound

The film works because Norton's performance is so rivetting and uncompromising.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
01/15/02
Louis B. Hobson
Jam! Movies
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Latest News for American History X

October 07, 2007: American History X Directors Cut Coming...Sort Of
In 1998, director Tony Kaye battled New Line Cinema over the release of American History X. Dissatisfied with the studio's meddling in his artistic vision, the theatrical cut... More...

August 11, 2005: Tony Kaye Returns to Dish Out Some "Paranoia"
Controversial filmmaker Tony Kaye ("American History X") will direct his first movie in quite some time when he steps behind the cameras on "Paranoia." The... More...

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