“Malcolm X” is a biographical film about the life of American civil rights activist Malcolm X (1925-1965). Director Spike Lee (“Do the Right Thing” 1989) created a film with good performances, marvelous production values, and an engrossing story from a screenplay he wrote with Arnold Perl. The running time of 202 minutes was a bit long at over three hours, but Lee made good use of the time, covering his childhood in the Midwest, a stint in prison, conversion to the Nation of Islam, and his public speaking tours.
Denzel Washington delivered a powerful performance in the title role. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. (The only other Oscar nod for “Malcolm X” was Best Costume Design.) Co-stars include Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Kate Vernon, Christopher Plummer, Lonette McKee, Giancarlo Esposito, Debi Mazar, Karen Allen, Peter Boyle, Spike Lee, and Al Freeman Jr. as Elijah Muhammad. There were cameo appearances by Nicholas Turturro, Nelson Mandela, Bobby Seal, Al Sharpton, Michael Imperioli, and John David Washington.
The watchable “Malcolm X” was not enough of a box office draw to make a profit with the large production budget and advertising expenses, much to the chagrin of producer Spike Lee, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, and Warner Bros. Pictures.
Malcolm X (1992)
cinema
My Review
“Malcolm X” is a biographical film about the life of American civil rights activist Malcolm X (1925-1965). Director Spike Lee (“Do the Right Thing” 1989) created a film with good performances, marvelous production values, and an engrossing story from a screenplay he wrote with Arnold Perl. The running time of 202 minutes was a bit long at over three hours, but Lee made good use of the time, covering his childhood in the Midwest, a stint in prison, conversion to the Nation of Islam, and his public speaking tours.
Denzel Washington delivered a powerful performance in the title role. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. (The only other Oscar nod for “Malcolm X” was Best Costume Design.) Co-stars include Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Kate Vernon, Christopher Plummer, Lonette McKee, Giancarlo Esposito, Debi Mazar, Karen Allen, Peter Boyle, Spike Lee, and Al Freeman Jr. as Elijah Muhammad. There were cameo appearances by Nicholas Turturro, Nelson Mandela, Bobby Seal, Al Sharpton, Michael Imperioli, and John David Washington.
The watchable “Malcolm X” was not enough of a box office draw to make a profit with the large production budget and advertising expenses, much to the chagrin of producer Spike Lee, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, and Warner Bros. Pictures.