American History X
1998
****½
Director: Tony Kaye
Cast: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Stacey Keach, Fairuza Balk, Elliott Gould, Avery Brooks, Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Lien, Ethan Suplee, William Russ
Edward Norton gives his career-best performance as a former neo-Nazi leader who tries to prevent his younger brother from following in his racist footsteps. This is an intense, moving, and very powerful, if not entirely believable drama. David McKenna's semi-autobiographical script deals with racism, redemption, and the cycle of violence and prejudice. Tony Kaye lost the final cut for his impressive feature debut, and destroyed his promising Hollywood career in the process.
