miller

If there's a word to describe "American History X," that word would be underachievement. I can think of no other way to sum it up, this movie with so much potential that mysteriously unravels on itself.

But then again, maybe there's no mystery at all. Read on.

"American History X" turns on the lives of two brothers: Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton), a reformed skinhead jailed for killing two black youths he caught stealing his car, and his younger sibling Danny (Eddie Furlong) whom Derek sees mirroring his racist path. Now, the movie's point is simple: Derek must "save" his brother from making the same hateful choices that landed him in prison, breaking the cycle of racism instilled by their father.

However, Derek isn't alone in his intervention. As Danny is bidden by a tough love English teacher (Avery Brooks, of "Star Trek: DS9") to rewrite a class paper he wrote idolizing Hitler's "Mein Kampf." This time, with his brother Derek as the subje...