Rating: 
Summary: Highway robbery!
Review: Hey, I like Kevin Spacey, and God knows I love a good Pacino flick, but Denzel Washington has been straight robbed by the Academy two times. Once for The Hurricane, and more notably for this film, Malcolm X. I think it's safe to say that Denzel is the preeminent actor of the last 50 years (yes, even beyond Brando, Olivier, and everyone else). He most certainly should have won for Malcolm X. I remember back in 1993... I was flipping through the channels looking for something to watch. I turn on one channel, and it's Malcolm X. It happened to be at the point where Malcolm was giving a news conference, so I thought it was a documentary, I watched for a minute and turned it off. It wasn't until I flipped back about an hour later and the credits rolled that I saw it was a movie, and Denzel was playing Malcolm X. That's how good he was. I'd recommend this movie to anyone who wanted free acting lessons... except maybe a Klan member.
Rating:
Summary: Malcolm X
Review: Why how come the Afro and all Americans can enjoy this movie and learn how there are us in American History too. This is brother Densel telling it and actling so good in the lead role. The one who play Betty is Angela Bassett, and she is wonderful. This is a good history lesson that everyone should know is very much like it really happen. Good script writiing based on the real deal. You can learn and be proud of such a movie.
Rating:
Summary: The emergence of a new art form
Review: While studying acting at the American Theatre of Harlem with teacher director Hal DeWindt a few years ago (a man who also knew Malcolm personally) he challenged us all to a debate about Spike's film. He expressed dismay that Norman Jewison did not in fact get the rights to this project that Spike fought so hard for. He saw the movie as a whole deeply flawed, missing the essential elements of a "bio-pic" beyond the reported and witnessed events that make a figure stand out in one's mind, or in history, and therefore, despite Denzel, despite Angela Bassett, unsuccessful at portraying the "Shining Black Prince" (Ossie Davis) of our modern day lives.As you can imagine, he was alone in belieiving the film to be flawed. I and my friends had long since come to the conclusion that Spike Lee had made one of the most important films of the latter half of the 20th Century with this, his masterpiece of masterpieces, and that Denzel Washington had stepped into immortality with his eerily accurate portrayal. but because of his immense knowledge of both the medium of film and the subject matter, we listened on, and found ourselves consistently challenged to understand the nature and the purpose of film, and the actual characteristics of the art form of cinema. In the end, the students and myself began to question what I think is now still slowly becoming self evident: Spike Lee created another art form with this movie. A general theme underpinning this representation of the life of El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, aka Malcolm X, is actually missing. And yet the picture, structurally if nothing else, in its near pure devotion to the Autobiography creates a transformational and transcendent portrait of the subject that far exceeds the majority of most of the bio pics that have ever been made (with the possible exception of THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD with Max von Sydow as Jesus, and GHANDHI, with Ben Kingsley). It seems as if there was no need to underpin his perspective of Malcolm with an obvious or personal unifying theme or message, because there is one already there- just one so profound, so elemental, so transcendentally human, spiritual and universal that it could only be expressed through the telling of the story. If Spike had followed the expectations of many in Hollywood and throughout the Black communities of this country, the film probably would have suffered immensely. He tells the story of Malcolm in such a way as to practically have the spirit of Malcolm telling you the story himself. You feel as if you are becoming one with Alex Haley, Malcolm's co-writer of his autobiography, while simultaneously becoming one with every emotion and every transformational experience he had throughout his life- and the ramifications on our world- practically unencumbered by his or someone else's perspective, regardless of it being one of praise. This is not just Spike Lee's Masterpiece. This is not just a magnificent film, worthy of five stars easily, and cheated ridiculously (albeit expectedly) during the Oscars- even with the only drawback of Spike playing one of the characters (the only time you are reminded that you are watching a movie). This is a new art form, masquerading as a fantastic film. Watch it.
Rating:
Summary: Spike Lee's greatest work to date!
Review: This movie is hands down the very best of Spike Lee's career! Emotional, powerful, passionate...all these words can be used to describe the mega-talented Denzel Washington's role as Malcolm X, former hustler, drug dealer and thief to his metamorphasis to a respected Muslim leader who loved his family, his religion, and his life. Disappointing to know that he didn't receive the Oscar that year for this performance, because without a doubt he deserved it. Spike Lee outdoes himself in this movie...He should have gotten an Oscar for Best Director. This movie will keep you glued to the screen for the three hours that it runs, and will bring tears to your eyes. BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY...get this movie.
Rating:
Summary: ONe of Spike Lee's best and Denzels absolute best performanc
Review: Spike Lee's malcolm X in my opinion is one of the great fil Bio pictures of the 90's. It's easily Spike Lee's most ambitious effort to date. The film scope is expansive. The story ranges from the streets of Boston to the city of Mecca. The films look is very rich, with vibrant colors and sets. The cinematography is excellent as usual from Ernest Dickerson who goes into his usual bag of visual tricks. Malcolm X has a look that's all of it's own. It has the look and polish of a big studio movie. There's even a dance number that's a sight to see. The cast is impeccable. Stand Out performances go out to all of the cast. Al Freeman Jr. is a virtual clone Elijah Muhammad. His role should have at least earned a nomination for best supporting actor. Delro Lindo also stands out as the wicked number runner West Indian Archie. Angela Basset providesample support as Betty Shabazz. And Albert Hall is splendid as the ficitious Baines. Hey even spike lee has his moments althought I think he should've skipped out on this shot. But the real star of this movie is Denzel Washington. His performance simply breathtaking. He is Malcolm X. He utterly becomes him down to his mannerisms ,speech patterns, he even look more than a little bit like him. I think this was his best on screen performance that should have earned him an Oscar. Talk about robbery. His performance simply towers above the rest of the cast. In a fair world this movie should've won at least three or four oscars. But unfortunately many in the hollywood community refused to give Malcolm X a fair deal. So unfortunately the movie (with the exception of best actor and best costume design) was virtually shut out of the Oscars. Politics. Arguably Spike lee's best film, although Do the right thing is very close. It's a wonderful sprawling oddesey of the life of one of the most influential Black leaders of the 20th century.
Rating:
Summary: Life and Times of Malcolm X (pbuh)
Review: This in my opinion, is without a doubt, Spike Lee's best. This movie is very long, but, I don't think that you could get all of Malcolm's life into the big screen if it were a 5 hour movie. Great story-Great video-Great audio (for this type of movie), uplifting, and very sad. This is one movie I could watch a million times and it would still move me.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Biopic, One of the Best!
Review: A sweeping biopic of an admirable man, who, while his ideas were wrong, had the will and the determination to defend his ideas and to say them publicly. A powerful film, with a sweeping force and excellent production values. While the film is extremely long (200+ min.), it is never boring ans always fascinating, it is divided in equally interesting stages; Malcolm's youth, prison time, his dedication to Elijah Muhammad, and the ultimate betrayal and death of Malcom X. A compelling study of a complicated, angry man, and whether you agree with his ideas or you don't, the movie remains a riveting biopic that is one of the best movies of the 90's. The reason the film works so well is mainly because of the performances and the assured direction by Lee. Not as incendeary or provocative as one would expect from a Spike Lee film, only the first and last few minutes are controversial. Denzel Washington delivers a powerful performance that ranks among his best. Also Angela Bassett is great in support. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 9!
Rating: 
Summary: Fine biopic is hurt by awful coda
Review: When I watched Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" on TV, it was a pleasurable surprise. Despite the film's three-hour-plus length, it was never boring and it managed to keep me interested until the last five minutes or so. It tells the story of Malcolm X and shows the enormous changes he went through in his remarkable life. Though the film often fails to take a really intimate look at Malcolm X, Denzel Washington's superlative performance successfully counters this weakness. He keeps us interested in this man, despite the fact, that Lee's film, though it is exquisitely filmed, lacks the courage to explorethe person Malcolm X. The film rather deals with the historical figure of Malcolm and the key events of his life. This makes his picture sometimes seem more dutiful than dramatic. Still, "Malcolm X" is one of the best biopics, not only because of Denzel Washington and the other very good actors. I also liked the cinematography by Ernest Dickerson, the music and the production design which added to the authentic mood of the movie. If Lee had ended his movie five minutes earlier, I would have given it four stars, but unfortunately, he made the disastrous decision to add a closing coda that one can only call embarrasing. It's nothing else but clumsy propaganda and nowhere near the subtlety that the rest of the film displayed. It even features Nelson Mandela who seems to feel uncomfortable in front of a film camera. Maybe Lee was afraid of the subtlety of his picture and feared that someone couldn't get the message. I know that this is just speculation. Whatever his motives were, he didn't do his film a favour.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Not my favorite Spike Lee movie, but near the top of his game...this is a must see move. It's history baby!
Rating:
Summary: Lee's finest
Review: This is as fine a screen biography of this great, misunderstood man, as you could expect in three and a half hours. It's a great introduction to his life. It would have been nice if there had been more info about his work in the last year of his life, which I consider to be the most important. But you'd almost need a miniseries for that. Actually, that's not a bad idea for Spike or some other uncompomising filmmaker to tackle in about 10 years. In the meantime, it's hard to expect more than what was delivered in `92.
|
