Both Joad and I have been ripped a bit for discussing the issues raised by a film, instead of the plot of the film. The film in particular is AMERICAN HISTORY X. There is a reason for this. To summarize in brief what occurs in this film is to trivalize it. It reduces what is an otherwise powerful experience to it's bare essentials. After seeing the film, talking about performances, cinematography, score, writing, etc... Well it all seems rather useless. Why? Because the film makes you introspective, at least it did for me. I wasn't interested in writing about what happens to John Connor or Benjamin Sisko or Mike Hammer. No. I was interested in discussing the issues it raised in me. My reviews are not written with you in mind. I'm sorry, they aren't. My reviews are written for me, the person that saw the film, and wanted to document his thoughts. Here's Quint's review.. it carries a bit of a summary.. so gosh... it must be a review..
Hey Harry. I just read Tom Joad's review and thought I'd share mine as well. What inspired me to write this? Not just reading Joad's review, but ready the talk back. He poured his heart out for you, the reader so you could understand why the movie affected him and there was not one positive talk back.
Harry, why do so many heartless assholes read your site? I guess these idiots are drawn to AICN like flies to shit. Well, I guess I'm talking only about those who commented on Joad's review. Yes, it is a review. He told us whether or not he liked the film, right? Yes he did. What you guys are asking for is a summery. Well, since you are too lazy to pick up an Entertainment Weekly or visit the IMDB, I'll give you one.
Ed Norton and Edward Furlong are brothers. Norton's a huge skinhead. He has posters of Hitler up. He constantly goads the African-Americans in his neighborhood. The Big "N" word is uttered multiple times. I won't give anything away, but Norton ends up in jail and comes out a different man only to find his brother doing exactly what he was before entering jail.
I'm not a big Spike Lee fan, so this really isn't my kind of movie, but it affected me. Deep down inside. It didn't make me feel guilty for being white, like most of these types of movies do. This movie showed just how stupid these neo-Nazi, skinhead, racist shits are. I know a few of these kind of people. They are stupid. Almost as stupid as the idiots who do nothing but bitch about putting real news up on the site, then commenting on how fake the prequel stuff is. Get a life, people!
My best friend growing up was a kid named Omar. Yes, he was black. It's almost a cliche now to say that a friend you had growing up was black as a basis for establishing that you are not racist, but it's true. How could I be racist if one of the best friends that I've ever had in my life was black? How could I be racist if my favorite actor is Sam "The Man" Jackson? There are so many blue-eyed, blonde-haired, white actors out there to choose from, but I choose Jackson. Then you have the other cool people that I idolize: John Woo (Oriental, duh), Chow Yun Fat (there's a hyphen in there somewhere), James Earl Jones, Robert Rodriguez, and on, and on, and on, and on.
Again, my point: this movie is disturbing as hell, but it should be seen by everybody; white, black, Hispanic, Oriental, everybody. It has a purpose that is succeeds in without being preachy.
To the many, many hate posts that are sure to follow: I don't care what you say. I can legitamitly have an opinion on this film because I have seen it. I don't want to hear, "It'll suck." or "Quint doesn't know shit." You don't know. You haven't seen it, you don't know me, so shut the fuck up.
I believe I have made my point. This is Quint, signing off.
