He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, though the movie implies he got off easy, and that they could have charged him with murder. I have a sense that if an incident like this happened today, he might also be charged with a hate crime.
He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, though the movie implies he got off easy, and that they could have charged him with murder. I have a sense that if an incident like this happened today, he might also be charged with a hate crime.
the swastika on his chest would be a dead give away
I thought he got off extremely light. I don't know if the filmmaker were trying to imply that it was because he was white but I think his lawyer could have pulled off a stand your ground sorta deal. Still though, the guy was already shot. How you can say you still feared for your life that you needed to curb stomp the guy is beyond me.
I thought he got off extremely light. I don't know if the filmmaker were trying to imply that it was because he was white but I think his lawyer could have pulled off a stand your ground sorta deal.
I think one possible criticism of the movie is that it didn't do enough to highlight the concept of systemic racism in the justice system--but the concept is there. It comes up in the scene where Lamont explains how he ended up with a 6-year sentence for stealing a TV and accidentally dropping it on a cop's foot. So yes, I do think the movie was intending to imply that Derek got off easy because he was white. Not all viewers get that implication, but I believe it's what was intended.
I thought he got off extremely light. I don't know if the filmmaker were trying to imply that it was because he was white but I think his lawyer could have pulled off a stand your ground sorta deal.
I think one possible criticism of the movie is that it didn't do enough to highlight the concept of systemic racism in the justice system--but the concept is there. It comes up in the scene where Lamont explains how he ended up with a 6-year sentence for stealing a TV and accidentally dropping it on a cop's foot. So yes, I do think the movie was intending to imply that Derek got off easy because he was white. Not all viewers get that implication, but I believe it's what was intended.
Yeah, it totally makes sense to me especially when you reminded me of the Lamont scene. I'm actually glad that Kaye didn't spoon feed the point too extremely. It's annoying when film makers bop you over the head with the message. It's one of the greatest criticisms with a lot of modern films that people feel the movies are too preachy or too "SJW". The truth is films have always had a social engineering message, its just film makers were more subtle with it. Anyways, great film and probably more relevant today than ever before.
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Reply by questions and answers
on April 5, 2022 at 5:32 PM
answer - because derek kills one man on purpose even after he surrendering on basis of religion
Reply by Kylopod
on July 13, 2022 at 7:17 PM
He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, though the movie implies he got off easy, and that they could have charged him with murder. I have a sense that if an incident like this happened today, he might also be charged with a hate crime.
Reply by DanielCrazed
on November 25, 2022 at 10:52 PM
the swastika on his chest would be a dead give away
Reply by movie_nazi
on December 1, 2022 at 1:54 PM
I thought he got off extremely light. I don't know if the filmmaker were trying to imply that it was because he was white but I think his lawyer could have pulled off a stand your ground sorta deal. Still though, the guy was already shot. How you can say you still feared for your life that you needed to curb stomp the guy is beyond me.
American History X (1998) - 9 outta 10 stars
Reply by Kylopod
on December 1, 2022 at 2:14 PM
I think one possible criticism of the movie is that it didn't do enough to highlight the concept of systemic racism in the justice system--but the concept is there. It comes up in the scene where Lamont explains how he ended up with a 6-year sentence for stealing a TV and accidentally dropping it on a cop's foot. So yes, I do think the movie was intending to imply that Derek got off easy because he was white. Not all viewers get that implication, but I believe it's what was intended.
Reply by movie_nazi
on December 1, 2022 at 3:32 PM
Yeah, it totally makes sense to me especially when you reminded me of the Lamont scene. I'm actually glad that Kaye didn't spoon feed the point too extremely. It's annoying when film makers bop you over the head with the message. It's one of the greatest criticisms with a lot of modern films that people feel the movies are too preachy or too "SJW". The truth is films have always had a social engineering message, its just film makers were more subtle with it. Anyways, great film and probably more relevant today than ever before.