Film: Malcolm X
Director: Spike Lee
Country: USA
Released: November 1992
Runtime: 201 minutes
Genre: Biopic
Studio: 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks / Warner Bros
Influenced: Antoine Fuqua, Steve McQueen, Ava DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, Raoul Peck
Denzel Washington is one of the finest actors of his generation and I'd argue that his portrayal of Malcolm X is the greatest performance of his career. Some would argue that he did his best work with one of the Scott brothers, either Ridley (American Gangster) or Tony (Man On Fire, Crimson Tide), or would even point to his role in Edward Zwick's Glory (1989) or Antoine Fuqua's Training Day (2001). But this is the highlight of his acting work for me, as well as being Spike Lee's second best film. Whatever you think of Malcolm X's early firebrand and separatist politics, some familiarity with his ideas and his life is essential in the modern world, and watching this film is nearly as good as reading Alex Haley's autobiography, on which the film is based. The movie's development was long in the pipeline, going back as far as the late 60s, when legendary writer and former friend of Malcolm X, James Baldwin, was first asked to work on the script.
Norman Jewison was initially earmarked to direct the film, but Spike Lee's passion for the project and the (correct) decision that a black director would be better placed to make the film led to a change of direction. Lee and screenwriter Arnold Perl reworked the script and shortened the movie's length to around 3 hours, but still struggled to secure financing. Warner Bros was initially hesitant to fund the project owing to concerns about the film's political themes and potential controversy, and it was only when Lee secured funding from prominent black individuals, including Bill Cosby and Oprah Winfrey, that the project was able to move forward. Another stumbling block was securing the rights to Haley's autobiography, which were controlled by the estate of Malcolm X, but again Lee's dedication and persistence paid off after several years of negotiation.
The film traces the life of Malcolm Little, who later becomes known as Malcolm X. It begins with his troubled childhood, his involvement in criminal activities and his imprisonment. In prison, he undergoes a transformation, converts to Islam, and becomes a follower of Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X becomes a charismatic and influential speaker for the Nation of Islam, advocating for black pride, self-sufficiency and separatism. Washington’s powerhouse central performance is essentially a depiction of not one man but three or four, and it's incredible to see Malcolm X evolve in front of our eyes from light-fingered teenager to spiritual leader. Washington underwent a physical transformation for the role, gaining weight and adopting Malcolm X's distinctive voice and mannerisms. Lee made the decision to open the film with the dramatic scene of Malcolm X's assassination in 1965 and then go back to his childhood, adding to the movie's sense of suspense.
As the civil rights movement gains momentum in the 1960s, Malcolm X's views evolve and he breaks away from the Nation of Islam. He embarks on a pilgrimage to Mecca, where he experiences a profound spiritual awakening and embraces a more inclusive view of Islam and race. He returns to America with a message of unity and justice for all races. Malcolm X's daughters from his marriage to Betty Shabazz (played with grace in the film by Angela Bassett) – Attallah, Qubilah and Ilyasah – served as consultants on the film to ensure its accuracy, and the film even features a cameo appearance by Nelson Mandela, who was still in prison at the time of the film's release. Lee's movie received critical acclaim and was nominated for two Oscars, Best Actor (Washington) and Best Costume Design (Ruth E. Carter), and won several awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor (Washington). However, Al Pacino took the Best Actor Oscar, to widespread disbelief. “I'm not the only one who thinks Denzel was robbed on that one,” Lee reflected later.
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