Malcolm X (1992)
Country: US/JAP
Technical: col 202m
Director: Spike Lee
Cast: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee, Albert Hall, Theresa Randle
Synopsis:
Standard biopic material given expansive treatment, from Malcolm's larcenous youth to his recruitment to the Brooklyn numbers racket, his prison term and conversion to Islam, and finally his triumph as a speaker in favour of passive force and repatriation, under the aegis of Elijah Muhammad, leading to hubris, envy and murder.
Review:
Lee clearly has a lot he admires in the figure of Malcolm X, and this leads to considerable indulgence particularly in the so-called 'War Years' segment. More time could have been spent on the man's progress from inarticulate hoodlum to erudite public speaker (with the exception of the phrase 'you and I' in the accusative), and on the events conspiring to bring about his killing. It's a remarkable achievement of organisation for a close to début director, and a great performance from Washington, but the length was self-defeating in box office terms.
Country: US/JAP
Technical: col 202m
Director: Spike Lee
Cast: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee, Albert Hall, Theresa Randle
Synopsis:
Standard biopic material given expansive treatment, from Malcolm's larcenous youth to his recruitment to the Brooklyn numbers racket, his prison term and conversion to Islam, and finally his triumph as a speaker in favour of passive force and repatriation, under the aegis of Elijah Muhammad, leading to hubris, envy and murder.
Review:
Lee clearly has a lot he admires in the figure of Malcolm X, and this leads to considerable indulgence particularly in the so-called 'War Years' segment. More time could have been spent on the man's progress from inarticulate hoodlum to erudite public speaker (with the exception of the phrase 'you and I' in the accusative), and on the events conspiring to bring about his killing. It's a remarkable achievement of organisation for a close to début director, and a great performance from Washington, but the length was self-defeating in box office terms.
Country: US/JAP
Technical: col 202m
Director: Spike Lee
Cast: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee, Albert Hall, Theresa Randle
Synopsis:
Standard biopic material given expansive treatment, from Malcolm's larcenous youth to his recruitment to the Brooklyn numbers racket, his prison term and conversion to Islam, and finally his triumph as a speaker in favour of passive force and repatriation, under the aegis of Elijah Muhammad, leading to hubris, envy and murder.
Review:
Lee clearly has a lot he admires in the figure of Malcolm X, and this leads to considerable indulgence particularly in the so-called 'War Years' segment. More time could have been spent on the man's progress from inarticulate hoodlum to erudite public speaker (with the exception of the phrase 'you and I' in the accusative), and on the events conspiring to bring about his killing. It's a remarkable achievement of organisation for a close to début director, and a great performance from Washington, but the length was self-defeating in box office terms.