I write this review at midnight, with Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” still playing in my head. Spike Lee’s biographic of Malcolm X takes you on a walk in another man’s shoes. Based on The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley, this film details the life of civil rights leader and Muslim minister Malcolm X.
This film sticks out for several reasons, the pacing, editing, acting, and lighting. The film is Lee’s longest, with a run time of 3 hours and 22 minutes. However, the intentionally slow pacing immerses you in Malcolm’s story, creating a bond with the audience that is brutally shattered for a moment at the end.
The editing stuck out to me, which was done by editor Barry Alexander Brown, prior credits include Do the Right Thing (1989) and BlacKkKlansman (2018). The switch from TV footage to the press conferences was good, and, towards the end, when the doors bang open twice was another moment that stood out. Other moments include the final thirty minutes, with the buildup to the inevitable ending.
Denzel Washington’s performance in this film was phenomenal. His portrayal of Malcolm, the slow shift from a drug dealer and robber to a Muslim minister to a civil rights leader was incredible. Angela Bassett, as Malcolm’s wife Betty, also gave an outstanding performance.
As with any film, the lighting was deliberate. Cinematographer Ernest Dickerson, prior credits include Do the Right Thing (1989), had the different chapters of Malcolm’s life lit in particular ways. In prison, everything is blue, cold, and desolate, which contrasts with his life in the city. The TV footage was kept in black and white, which would then shift to the live event in color.
Overall, I rate this film 5/5. It is an incredible depiction of Malcolm X’s life and an incredible film. It is available to stream on Max and to purchase on Apple TV.
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