American History X - “Some Legacies Must End”

American History X is one of those movies that shocks you, impresses you, and also makes you think about life and even history. I admit that this movie is quite old, it came out in 1998, but I only saw it a few days, thanks to a reader of my blog who told me I had to watch this movie to see Edward Norton’s true value.Derek Vinyard (played by Edward Norton) is a neo-nazi skinhead, who is full of hatred, and who extends his influence on his younger brother, Daniel Vinyard (played by Edward Furlong). When some black people try to steal his car, he is sentenced to 3 years of jail for murdering 2 of them. The time spent in prison is traumatizing, but when Derek finally gets out, he is a new man, abandoning all his former beliefs. But now, his brother Daniel thinks he is a hero, and slowly goes down the path of becoming a skinhead. Derek fights to turn his brother back on the good path, showing him that they were only blinded by hatred in their actions. Unfortunately, the movie ends dramatically, as Daniel is shot and killed.If you ask me, this is the best drama I’ve seen in my entire life. The storyline is absolutely mind blowing, the movie never becomes boring for even one second. The flashback technique is also used, and the scenes that are remembered are in black and white, further adding to the movie’s originality. At, to top everything off, Edward Norton gives an absolutely stunning performance, he becomes one with the character, showing mixed emotions like hatred, fear, and making them vivid.This movie is also a valuable moral lesson, teaching us not to hate each other, not to racially discriminate, showing us the negative effects of conflicts between people. It shows us that we are capable of changing ourselves, of leaving intolerance and racism behind, of becoming better people, in order to transform the world we live in into a better place for all.If you haven’t seen this movie yet, just grab the DVD and see it right away, you won’t regret it.My rating: 10/10

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