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Review

An uneven but powerful drama of racism, American History X was the focus of a postproduction battle between director Kaye and New Line studio (Kaye wanted a different cut of the film released). The studio won out. Norton plays a white supremicist, neo-Nazi skinhead whose charisma and strength make him a hero to his younger brother (Furlong). After finishing a prison term (for the murder of a young black man, a gruesome scene cut from this studio version), Norton is a changed man, much to the chagrin of his sibling, girlfriend and fascist friends. It's difficult to tell if this studio version is improved or weakened, because it's so hot and cold. Norton's commanding, riveting performance, however, rescues potentially pretentious moments, making the stronger scenes much more powerful. While the screenplay doesn't quite convince us of Norton's transformation in prison, that segment remains engrossing.