Death of a Prophet

Rating:
Summary: TRUE STORY OF THE EVENS AFTER MALCOM X DEATH
Review: This incredible film follows the events in the final twenty four hours of the life of controversial religious and political leader Malcolm X. Fanatics tried to firebomb his home. They tried to murder him white he slept. Why was he so hated? Where were the police on the day of his assassination? How did his killers manage to escape?

Rating:
Summary: An Intimate View of a Marked Man
Review: This movie is nowhere near as flashy or as gripping as Spike Lee's "Malcolm X". It presents a more low key and gritty picture of a man quietly going on with his life's work even while knowing that someone has marked him for death. The lack of Hollywood flair makes this movie feel more realistic than Spike Lee's film, like you're actually walking around the city with Malcolm. Still I missed the sense of energy that Denzel Washington brought to the role. Freeman's Malcolm is someone you like and respect, but he doesn't charismatically draw you into his vision like Washington did in his portrayal, or perhaps like the real Malcolm did. In any case this DVD is worth seeing for its sense of realism, which perhaps serves as something of a counterbalance to visions of Malcolm X, the demi-god of our imagination, when after all he was a flesh and blood man, albeit a man of great vision, courage and charisma.