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American History X

A review by Mike Shea   Movie Rating: ( * * * * · )    DVD Rating: ( * * * * · )

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This was my first dive into the 1998 Oscar nominated flicks, and it was quite a dive indeed. Edward Norton who was up for best actor does an incredible job playing a charactor who goes from a charismatic leader to an uncontrolled animal, a cold killer and a scared child in the span of two hours. At some points he is so intense it is scary. His speech to a large group of uncontrolled skinheads is incredible and terrifying when you realize what it is he is preaching. It is difficult in this day in age to play a neo-nazi as an intelligent passionate and larger than life charactor without being cast as a racist, but here it is done and gives nothing but more realism to the charactors and the situation. The movie is very well done, from the incredible charator shots (chapter 2, 5:45 is unbelivably well done) to the shock you feel at the intense violence (the scene at chapter 14, 53:08 had me in shock). The DVD is a New Line disc which by definiton is perfect. The only thing this one lacked that would have been nice is a directors commentary. It is Dolby Digital 5.1, 16x9 enhanced and includes some deleted scenes. Dont expect a walk in the park, but this movie is a real piece of work.