Its a highly touching and wake-up call movie. Revolving around two brothers, it addresses the issue of racism in 'contemporary' America (movie itself was released in 1998). That's the most important feature of the movie: Unlike other racism-themed movies that talk about how things were in earlier (lets say in the era of Rosa Parks), American History X talks about racism in the times of Gen X. I dont know the significance of X in the title, but I would like to associate it with Gen X. The brothers depcited in movie are as Gen X as they can be in their social behaviour. The movie captures the touching transformation of elder brother beautifully. And the way the futility of racism dawns on him makes you sit up and read his face.
Edward Norton is I think one of the greatest contemporary actors around. He's so friggin incredible, its hard to believe he's acting. For me, after Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate, I think Ed Norton is the greatest actor. Remember Primal Fear? , where he fooled not only Richard Gere but also you? :) He's got it, man!
A particular scene in the movie is quite disgusting and hard to watch, but other than that movie is fantabulous. A not-to-be-missed rating!
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