Malcolm X Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Malcolm X
Year: 1992
Director: Spike Lee
Country: U.S
Language: English

I have seen many great biographical films like Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List and Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull. I have also seen the great films of Spike Lee like Inside Man and Do the Right Thing. So it's not out of character for me to want to watch Spike Lee's great biographical film Malcolm X. A film based on an extraordinary black man, I've heard of him for an incredibly long time but just haven't gotten around to the film. Recently I saw it and I can say that without a doubt it is one of the greatest films ever made.

This film is about Malcolm X (Denzel Washington) he famous African American leader. Born Malcolm Little, his father (a minister) was killed by the Ku Klux Klan. Malcolm became a gangster, and while in jail discovered the Nation of Islam writings of Elijah Muhammad.(Al Freeman Jr.) He preaches the teachings and then realizes the errors of his ways and soon finds himself a target for assassination.

Part of this film reminds me of David Fincher's Fight Club, Edward Norton founds a cult, but when he realizes his mistake the cult that he once controlled completely turns on him. Essentially this is what happens to Malcolm X, the film is almost Shakespearean in the way it deals with doom. Earlier scenes feel eerie when you re-watch them, he leads an army of militant blacks who seem unable to think for themselves. There is scary foreshadowing as Malcolm is on cocaine and his friend pretends to shoot him in the chest, he pretends to fall down. There is a great deal of character development, in the beginning Malcolm is a foolish thug and could care less about if he dies. Near the end Malcolm is quite intelligent and he fears for his life due to the daily death threats.

Malcolm X is more epic in scope than anything Spike Lee has ever done, it is also more of a statement that something to watch for entertainment, like Do the Right Thing. It depicts a leader for very oppressed people, it has a very positive message that you must stand up to the people that limit you but you also must do it in a non-violent manner. Lee's depiction of Malcolm X is admirable because he does not portray him as just a one dimensional character. His Malcolm X is full of flaws, he can be a complete dick at times, but he is an important and overall good person/

In conclusion, Denzel Washington's performance as Malcolm X was brilliant. He almost looked like X's twin. He should have won the "best actor" Oscar that he was nominated for, though I haven't seen Scent of a Woman so I can't comment on Al Pacino's performance.There are few biographical films this well made and this engaging. It was three hours long but I felt like it was too short, I would have loved more detail. Praise it! 5/5