It is a transforming performance revealing something mind blowing and eye opening. Whether it proved to be psychological, social or even political on a certain level. Norton's performance though wasn't just about range but exploring different dimensions of life.
His words may not be of the most inspiring but his actions and messages sent across are subtle yet strong and to the point. Avery Brooks also gives a great performance as Derek Vinyard's former teacher and now principal of his former school. Through all his efforts though some things just prove to be inevitable. When he comes out of jail he attempts to stop his brother played Edward Furlong from going down the same road he had done. Norton plays Derek Vinyard, a skin head that realizes through cruel yet necessary events in his life that he has gone down the wrong path. The range he shows here is astounding in only his fifth movie. Who better than to display these wild but common complexities within people than Edward Norton.
What it is about, is the battle over ourselves.
There isn't a genre you can place this film in because it is a not a crime story, action or even a simple drama instead it is a humanistic thriller. This of course making it a very though provoking film. It has a little bit of everything in the way it touches you. American History X is a movie of its own.
