Malcolm X

One of the best pieces of cinema, ever. Denzel Washington brings such a special and talented performance, for most of the film it feels like I’m watching Malcolm. Spike Lee is the only person who could have made this film, and of course like many of his works it is gorgeous. It is so grand in its scope but it really is just about this man. Got to see this at the modern art museum and it was a fantastic expirience. There was a discussion after between a couple of TCU professors, and it really helped contextualize how a single identity can create these massive ripples that rewrite the world around it. The cinematography is stunning, moving from the vibrant, saturated energy of the early street scenes to a more stoic and deliberate lens as the story grows. It doesn't shy away from the wounds or the heavy burdens of leadership, showing the human being behind the icon. By the time the credits roll, it feels less like a biography and more like a story of a soul constantly evolving, searching for light in a world that feels determined to stay in the dark. Also loveee when they used a nelson mandela cameo like stan lee