Malcolm X

“We don't see any American Dream. We've experienced only the American Nightmare!" Very interesting to watch this next to Selma as different views of the civil rights movement. But I mean, this absolutely is so much better than Selma. I just absolutely LOVE Spike Lee’s directing style. It just has soo much personality. One of the only films over 3 hours long that actually deserves the runtime (I’m talking to you The Irishman). It uses every second effectively to move the story and flesh out all the characters. The plot just flows, which I found the style a little bit similar to a Scorsese film, like Goodfellas because of its driving story, changing of characters over a period of time, amazing soundtrack over most of the scenes, plus those freeze frames.  The opening sequence is so cool with the speech in background with the American flag slowly burning into an X. Spike Lee just loves the subversion of the American flag (i.e. the ending of BlacKkKlansman.) That first part before he goes to jail is basically just an hour of exposition, but I still love it. It’s able to actually flesh out his story, his mindset, backstory, and just all around his character. Each hour especially the first and last feel jurastically different which helped convey the passage of his life. That ending is just so good tho with the whole tribute, and the classroom scenes. Still can’t believe they got Nelson Mandela in the end. And the biggest thing about this film which makes it special is obviously Denzel’s performance as the title character. Throughout the film, he’s playing such different eras of the character who are very different from each other, while still tying the character into one. In history, Malcolm X is such an interesting person to study and this film captures his importance while having such an engaging story. He’s also accompanied by extremely excellent performances too that he’s able to bounce off of.  I also love the soundtrack, especially in the first part of the film, which had banger after banger.  The later the film gets, the music become more score-y. Spike Lee is slowly creeping up my top directors list, but I just need to watch some more of his films. Also, he always gives such a good performance when he puts himself on his films. The guy has the style, directing, writing, and like everything else. I also love the cinematography in the film, especially the way it changes the later in the film it goes. The specific shots, effective shaky cam shots, and the wide shots are some of my favorite bits of cinematography. But the greatest shot in the film, and one of the greatest ever is that double dolly shot. Overall, Spike Led is able to again, deliver a perfect film in every aspect from acting, cinematography, directing, writing, editing, and so much more. It’s able to effectively convey Malcolm X’s story in an engaging, captivating story. Pretty fire Spike Lee joint. “We didn't land on Plymouth Rock. Plymouth Rock landed on us!” * * (Also, this is the film I picked for my APUSH extra credit project. Along side my actual review from above, this is the essay I had to write for it): * * Spike Lees 1992 film, Malcolm X, was directed and co-scripted with Lee. Created by Marvin Worth, the film features Denzel Washington as Malcolm X, Angela Bassett as Betty Shabazz and Al Freeman Jr. as Elijah Muhammad. I saw the movie at home in January 2025 by way of a streaming service. The film Malcolm X depicts the extraordinary life trajectory of Malcolm X, from a violent criminal adolescent to the main leader in the Civil Rights Movement. It begins with a description of his youth, outlining the hardships he faced and ultimately, his imprisonment, where he finds Islam and becomes a member of the Nation of Islam. The film follows his rise as a powerful and sometimes controversial leader advocating for Black empowerment. Demonstrating his rupture with the Nation of Islam, his transformative journey to Mecca, and his transition toward racial harmony and equality. When the film concludes with his untimely death with the assassination in 1965, the spectators are left with the feeling of his historical impact. Denzel Washington’s portrayal of Malcolm X is outstanding. As an ideal example, he truly portrays the evolution of Malcolm from grinding hustler to self-assured and inspiring leader. With his acting, not only the charisma, intelligence, and affection of Malcolm are realised. Angela Bassett also shines as Betty Shabazz, portraying her as a strong, supportive wife and mother who provides stability and strength in Malcolm’s life. Betty's persona can be used to underscore the personal losses suffered on the path of Malcolm. This ties directly to what we’ve studied in class about the challenges faced by Civil Rights leaders and their families. The movie’s time period is from the 1940s to the 1960s and includes places such as Boston, Harlem and Mecca. Each setting is shown with impressive historical detail. For example, the zoot suits Malcolm wore in his younger years and the formal clothing of the Nation of Islam members felt authentic to the time period. The shots filmed in Mecca were spectacular and provided an insight into Malcolm's spiritual breakthrough. Props, hairstyles, and scenes contributed to the film's realism, though there were some minor anachronisms (e.g., modern-looking storefront windows), but these did not compromise the narrative. Malcolm X is simply a phenomenal movie. all moments are used to tell an engaging, very meaningful story. Spike Lees direction is outstanding and memorable for the masterfully utilized stylistic devices, such as the flaming American flag sequence changing to an X at the beginning. The film's format is successfully demonstrative of the stages in Malcolm's life and their separateness, while feeling homogeneous. Denzel Washington's performance is the emotional core of the film, and the transformation of the Malcolm is convincing and inspiring. Especially the famous double dolly shot, and the development of music, which adds other sections to the experience. Studying this through this film actually enhanced my comprehension of Malcolm X and the Civil Rights Movement, and I would certainly advise anybody studying this era to watch this. It is at the same time educational and stimulating, bringing history to life in an effective manner. * *