American History X

[mayorquimby]

watched it for the first time in years last night.
i remembered it as being good but it is truely brilliant.
Norton is class the whole way through, a vivid reminder of how dangerous these white power groups are at roping in disaffected white youths, and not overly preachy as it paints the black gangs to be equally racist,mindless and vicious.
i know it;' the guts of a decade old at this stage but just thought i'd try and get some people to watch it again as i enjoyed it a lot.

[VictorianSqualor]

I hate this film, but I think you're meant to to be honest.
The kerb scene makes me feel physically sick, but then I used to know people who would talk about it in such a way that they thought the skinheads were right Same with films like football factory, to too many people they glorify violence.

[LippyGobshite]

I love that film. I can't watch the kerb scene either. First class acting all the way through, and the ending made the whole film for me.

[mayorquimby]

"I used to know people who would talk about it in such a way that they thought the skinheads were right"

that's one of the reasons i love this film, not in a promoting skinhead kind of way, but in that it shows you how easy it is for seemingly intelligent people to fall for their bullshit.
you see it in documentaries on white power groups as well. they get a somewhat valid point about positive discrimination or the social normalisation of racism against whites being no big deal. but then make the completely illogical jump to blacks/jews/hispanics being lesser humans, and those who are disposed to violence or simply angry at the system are willing to suspend any intelligent thought and make the jump with them just for inclusion and so their life has a purpose.

it's truely scary,much like that movie "this is england" that came out about a year ago.

[StealthPolarBear]

I think this film is fantastic but I don't enjoy watching it!
Yes, I have always taken the ending to mean how easy it is to start off down that sort of road, ho 'normal' people can end up in Edward Norton's type of situation

[StealthPolarBear]

VS, IMO they have completely missed the point of the entire film!

[greenday]

Yes, agree its a great film. The frankness makes for uncomfortable viewing though. Watched it several years ago and even now, the kerb scene makes me shudder!

[Mamazon]

It is a film i would call brilliant.
I can't say i love it, as to be honest i find it very difficult to watch (yes the Kerb scene really is on of the most disturbing i have ever known in a film)

but yes it's brilliance is the fact that neither "side" are seen as right. both are portrayed as extreme and pointless.
It doesn't preach at you it just shows you how utterly tragic the whole thing is.

[StealthPolarBear]

I disagree - I do think the film portrays "right" and "wrong" with his little brother being "right" and him slowly coming round to that way of thinking. I also think at the end of the film you are begging EN to carry on doing the "right" thing and not revert to his skinhead ways.

[VictorianSqualor]

SPB, I know, completely missed it. I gave up trying to tell them that.

[StealthPolarBear]

I thought I should apologise for using skinhead as a term for white supremacist. That wasn't intentional. My Dh is one from time to time and although I don't like it it's not because I think he is also a WS!

[VictorianSqualor]

Oh, me too, but I only said skinheads as it's what they call themselves

[mayorquimby]

"I have always taken the ending to mean how easy it is to start off down that sort of road, ho 'normal' people can end up in Edward Norton's type of situation "

and any time i have seen documentaries e.g. louis therouxs "louis and the nazis" that is the over all feling that you get.
you can see the kids being indoctrinated because they don't know better and you hope they realise the error of their ways when they mature.
you also see how it could be so easy for some to go down that route because for the most part they will have logical premises for their arguments but illogical conclusions. so you could see how someone who is pissed off at reverse discrimination or feel that certain minorities "play the race card" yet if they voice an objection to this they are labelled racist could be sucked in.they find inclusion from these groups and all of a sudden normal teens become filled with hate.
also the way they showed the subtle racism of nortons father in the movie over a family dinner and how that planted the seed was brilliant. and he was doing just what i described above, giving out about the inequality of " positive Blaction" as he put it.

sorry i know i'm rabbitting on but i'd honestly forgotten just how good this movie is.

[MrsSnape]

I think this is a brilliant film too. Can't really add to what others have already said but definately one of the best I've ever seen.

[wuzzlefraggle]

LOVE Edward Norton...should watch this film properly I think...I've only half assed watched the first half hour or so. Wasn't paying attention so I switched it off. Must catch it again when it's next on Sky

For anything, just to see what you all mean by the whatever the dreaded kerb scene is...lol

[Heated]

Such a powerful film & brilliantly acted, but I have to watch it through my fingers. One that I recommend to my 6th form.

[3andnomore]

Yes, it is one of the most powerful movies I have watched.It has such a strong message.
And that Kerb scene is sickening....it mkaes me shudder everytime.