Malcolm X (7.3/10)

Spike Lee, 1992
The film is an excellent introduction to one of the most interesting and influential characters of the century. The biopic starts with Malcolm Little (Denzel Washington) hustling and committing petty crimes in Boston, leading to his incarceration and evidential conversion to the Nation of Islam (NOI), where he takes the name Malcolm X. At this point Malcolm meets Elijah Muhammad (Al Freeman Jr.), who appoints him an assistant minister in Chicago, and soon after a minister of a Mosque in Harlem. This relationship between Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X is extremely interesting, and is what makes the film worth talking about. Granted, for a Hollywood blockbuster, the film is quite good overall, especially the acting. Both Denzel and Al are incredible in their respective roles, but the later steals the show. His subtle calm movements, drawn out voice and gentle demeanor share an uncanny resemblance to the real Elijah, and are a refreshing contrast to Denzel’s energetic and powerful screen presence. The performance won Freeman the 1995 NAACP image award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, and should have won him an academy award. Why the academy nominated Denzel for best actor but not Freedman for best supporting, speaks to the vapidity and irrelevance of the institution.

Elijah Muhammad is equally worthy of having a three hour epic film made about his life. His controversial past, and shadowy relationship with Wallace D. Fard the founder of the NOI, could fill up a hundred screenplays. Spike Lee does not mention Fard in the film and the only reference to him is a self-portrait prominently featured in Elijah Muhammad’s study, which is the only known image of the prophet. This is unfortunate because he is without doubt the most interesting person the nation’s history. With a life truly stranger than fiction, that includes a dubious ancestry, esoteric teachings, involvement in a bizarre ritual murder, and abrupt disappearance after leading the NOI for only three years. Lee could have developed this brief relationship between Fard and Elijah into a very interesting and controversial subplot that would have added to the films mystique. Maybe the director felt it would be too much of a tangent or too distracting from the main point of the film. Malcolm X is typical of Spike Lee’s films, while they are extremely well done, interesting, and intelligent they always follow the typical Hollywood narrative with the same predicable and linear structure.