American History X
			Dir: Tony Kaye (1999) Starring: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Fairuza Balk, Stacy Keach, Elliott Gould, Avery Brooks and Beverley D'Angelo.
				American History X is told through the eyes of Danny (Edward Furlong) whose brother Derek (Edward Norton) is seeking to avenge their father's murder.  Full of hate and anger Derek becomes the leader of a local white power movement, and despite his intellect his actions eventually culminate in his arrest and incarceration for the brutal murder of a black car thief. Three years later Derek's mother Doris (Beverley D'Angelo), his girlfriend Stacey (Fairuza Balk) and Danny await his release.  However, unknown to all of them, Derek has changed in prison.  Ashamed of his past Derek embarks on a race to save his family and especially Danny, the brother who idolizes him, from the violence that Derek has brought down on them. Ok, this films subject matter, the Neo-Nazi movement of white power, is not guaranteed laughs and certainly is not played for them.  This film is grim viewing, but that is not a negative point here, in fact it is a testament to all those involved that American History X is gritty and real to the core.  There is no absolution; the violence that is inherent within the life that Derek chose is not easy for him to over come despite his best intentions.  He is the returning martyr, the idolized one within his clique of white power supremacists, he however stands far above them all intellectually and when finally he finds the strength to follow his own path it is too late, his brother is too far gone.  The violence is not glamorous, no one is completely innocent and when the violence eventually comes it is swift, and final. The script is above par and the acting is excellent, the direction is spot on.  But it is the relationship between the two Edwards that holds this film together; they are both excellent in what are their finest roles to date. A violent 5 out of 5