Movies Edward Norton acting performance in American History X

[Takes Two To Tango]

What a transformation Edward Norton did for this film.

His physical transformation alone was impressive from a skinny guy in his previous film to a buff muscular build.

And his acting was perfect, you honestly believe he was that character.

An Oscar worthy winning performance, that didn't actually win.

 

[tgv976]

When the skinheads beat the black guys in basketball, that's when any hint of reality disappeared from this film.

 

[ricc505]

When the skinheads beat the black guys in basketball, that's when any hint of reality disappeared from this film.

It's been since I saw it in theaters but didn't the skinhead leader turn out to be an informant? That's pretty realistic. Most realistic would of been if nearly half of the "skinheads" were FBI assets.

 

[tgv976]

It's been since I saw it in theaters but didn't the skinhead leader turn out to be an informant? That's pretty realistic. Most realistic would of been if nearly half of the "skinheads" were FBI assets.

Honestly I don't remember if that's the case in the film, but agree 100% if gov't agents are there to infiltrate, run rackets, and then process everyone under rico statutes.

 

[ricc505]

Honestly I don't remember if that's the case in the film, but agree 100% if gov't agents are there to infiltrate, run rackets, and then process everyone under rico statutes.

The whole skinhead boogeyman thing is very overplayed in my opinion. I'm not saying that they aren't out there. But it looks more like small gatherings of loser kids then any large scale organization.

I remember a bunch of the movie but it didn't have big rewatch potential. I saw it in a packed theater, but I remember more of the whole night's shenanigans then the movie. High School was so much fun.

 

[LEWIS540]

The love making scene in the shower was intense.

 

[tgv976]

The whole skinhead boogeyman thing is very overplayed in my opinion. I'm not saying that they aren't out there. But it looks more like small gatherings of loser kids then any large scale organization.

I remember a bunch of the movie but it didn't have big rewatch potential. I saw it in a packed theater, but I remember more of the whole night's shenanigans then the movie. High School was so much fun.

Drink beer, listen to some shitty music, dress like the backroom goons in a speakeasy, edgelord racial slurs, while the ugly girls with the shaved side heads fawn over anyone in good shape. Someone call the national guard. Lol

 

[Deleted member 449757]

Norton was good in the movie. I'm more impressed with the fat guy who became skinny 10 years later and nowadays is jacked.

 

[ricc505]

Drink beer, listen to some shitty music, dress like the backroom goons in a speakeasy, edgelord racial slurs, while the ugly girls with the shaved side heads fawn over anyone in good shape. Someone call the national guard. Lol

One of the kids I went to see the movie with was a wannabe skinhead. He grew out of it and married an Indian girl. He was just a dumb kid with a rough childhood. I don't think he ever really believed any of it, just wanted attention. Any attention

 

[SalvadorAllende]

It was convincing. I liked it.

 

[I Am Legion]

He put on a clinic in this movie for sure. And quite prophetic. "This is about your life and mine; it's about decent, hardworking Americans falling through the cracks and getting the shaft because their government cares more about the constitutional rights of a bunch of people who aren't even citizens of this country!".

 

[Ibm]

One of the kids I went to see the movie with was a wannabe skinhead. He grew out of it and married an Indian girl. He was just a dumb kid with a rough childhood. I don't think he ever really believed any of it, just wanted attention. Any attention

It was the generational thing. 90's to the early 2000's was racist af, many people don't talk about it.

 

[Lycandroid]

I heard that the biopic about the Pantera story was scrapped after Phil Anselmo found out he was being played by Edward Norton

 

[ICHEERTHEBULL]

It's been since I saw it in theaters but didn't the skinhead leader turn out to be an informant? That's pretty realistic. Most realistic would of been if nearly half of the "skinheads" were FBI assets.

Not so much an informant more a ‘snitch’ transpires he gave evidence against his co defendants to get off

 

[gspieler]

It was a masterful performance. That character would've required a lot of range, and to walk a fine line of being believable but not being too over the top about it. Late 90's Edward Norton seemed like he was the next De Niro, or something. Psycho from Primal Fear, Derek from AMX, Worm from Rounders, and narrator from Fight Club, all in the space of a few years.

 

[gspieler]

When the skinheads beat the black guys in basketball, that's when any hint of reality disappeared from this film.

I would agree with you, except it was already established in the film that Derek was a prep basketball star. There's no reason to think a star high school player and his boys, can't take some random gang bangers in a game of street ball.

 

[IDGETKTFO]

I liked him in the first half of the movie.

 

[ricc505]

It was the generational thing. 90's to the early 2000's was racist af, many people don't talk about it.

I agree with it being generational, like greasers, hippies, punks, metalheads and my generation has skinheads. I don't know what the kids get up to after my generation. Each looking to be more outside the norm then the last. Trying very hard to be edgy.

When I went to American history x it was a theater full of skin-heads-against-racial-prejudice. They wanted the look but didn't want to hate anyone but racists or something

 

[Loiosh]

He put on a clinic in this movie for sure. And quite prophetic. "This is about your life and mine; it's about decent, hardworking Americans falling through the cracks and getting the shaft because their government cares more about the constitutional rights of a bunch of people who aren't even citizens of this country!".

This is the first time on Sherdog I've seen someone quote Neo-Nazi recruiting propaganda and call it prophetic.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

American History X's neo-Nazi speech eerily mirrors modern GOP talking points

These people have always been around, but were considered to be on the fringe. It wasn't until Trump came to power that these nativist sentiments became mainstream and acceptable in the GOP. The election will decide which way this country is going to go.*

*It went very badly, and don't complain about MAGA/Nazi comparisons.

 

[stalehotdog]

I only knocked off one point from perfection with the ending. It just never sat right with me even with the first viewing. I’m not sure if it was the directors fault or editing but I did not believe those tears in the end.