American History X 1998

Susan Stark, Detroit News: The tone is so muddled that there's a whiff of exploitation to this movie that's unsettling at best. Read more

Janet Maslin, New York Times: American History X has enough fiery acting and provocative bombast to make its impact felt! Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Though well-intentioned, turns out to be a simplistic and unconvincing look at a serious problem. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: Kaye wants to say something about what produces a skinhead today, and though he doesn't succeed fully in this endeavor, he does take us a significant part of the way. Read more

Paul Tatara, CNN.com: When Hollywood attacks a volatile issue, it inevitably spoon-feeds you the main components of the issue several times over. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Riveting! Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: What partly redeems American History X from its most preachy excesses -- and makes it worth seeing -- is a brilliant, career-high performance by actor Edward Norton. Read more

Manohla Dargis, L.A. Weekly: The problem is that Kaye, who's used to selling cars on TV, shoots Derek the Hater as lovingly as he would a new Volkswagen. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: American History X may be flawed, but it's not easily forgotten. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The film is always interesting and sometimes compelling, and it contains more actual provocative thought than any American film on race since Do the Right Thing. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: The ending is a misfire. Read more

David Edelstein, Slate: Norton is an amazing actor, a hot-dog whose delight in transformation is infectious. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Two things hold the interest: Norton's astounding performance, and a feeling for the male reality of reactionary working class environments. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: This jolting, superbly acted film will draw serious-minded upscale viewers interested in cutting-edge fare and the latest outstanding performance by Edward Norton. Read more

Gary Dauphin, Village Voice: Having reduced racism to a kind of adolescent coping mechanism, X takes a mildly curious path to its foregone conclusion, writer-director Tony Kaye putting his leads through the somehow comforting 'hood-film paces. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: Arrestingly photographed, and boasting another intelligent and muscular performance by the chameleon-like Edward Norton, American History X is good! Read more