Hello everyone, I regret to inform you that my review of Rocky was deleted, It was in the wrong category (Bollywood movies, ’’Rocky’’ is a hindu motion picture). Thanks to those who informed me. I hope you enjoy this review of Malcom X. Thanks for reading and commenting.
When ’’Malcolm X’’ was released in 1992 I rushed to the movies to see this outstanding motion picture. I remember the excellent work of this renowned, outspoken civil rights activist. It was his fiery, and steaming speeches of Black Nationalism, along with his out rage of America’s grain of racism for the African American that sparked global attention. “Malcolm X” is an adaptation of Alex Haley’s book The Autobiography of Malcolm X. In this movie director Spike Lee and writer Alex Halely takes an in-depth look at the life of Malcolm X. His childhood, adult life of crime, imprisonment, and his conversion to the Islamic religion/Nation of Islam along with his last days on earth.
The movie opens with Malcolm, a young boy at school Malcolm is the only black child in is predominately white class. He tells his teacher who is also white that he wants to become a lawyer when he grows up, his teacher responds by calling him a nigger, he advises little Malcolm to became a Carpenter because Jesus was also a Carpenter. Meanwhile, Malcolm faces more heart braking hardships when his mother is placed in a mental institution because she refuses to feed her children pork due to her religious beliefs. Malcolm and his siblings are placed in foster care.
Later, Malcolm grows into a young man and begins a life of crime on this streets. Malcolm and his best friend, Shorty (Spike Lee) meet two white girls. (Theresa Randle, Kate Vernon) This quadruple begins a life of crime and love until the Police catches them. They are tried in court, found guilty for the crime of burglary, and given a stiff sentence of ten years in prison; the white girls are given two years. Malcolm now in prison, meets a Muslim inmate they converse on a daily bases about black history, why white people call black people black, and why they call themselves white. He further discusses the myth of Jesus Christ being a white man, but a man of color because of his Middle Eastern birthplace of Jerusalem. Malcolm converts to the Islamic faith, and he gets a special visit from the leader of the Nation of Islam, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. (Al Freeman Jr.)
When leaving prison Malcolm X becomes the national spokesman for the Nation of Islam thus, setting the stage for world recognition, gaining respect from the African and African American community along with a small sector of the white community. He meets and marries a beautiful Muslim woman (Angela Basset) baring three children. Suddenly things change in the relationship between Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam when Malcolm finds out that the leader of the Nation of Islam has fathered children out of wedlock and is facing maternity law suites from Muslim women placed in isolation.
Malcolm makes a decision to leave the nation of Islam; his pilgrimage to the middle east (Mecca) would cause him to abandon his ideology of the separation of blacks and whites. Things take a dreadful turn for the worst for Malcolm X and his family I stop here, you’ll find out what happens when you purchase this outstanding movie.
Final Thoughts on Malcolm X
There is so much I could say about this movie. It’s excellent, it has an excellent cast of actors along with excellent direction from Spike Lee. Denzel Washington is excellent in his lead role as Malcolm X; he displays a strong sense of bold leadership, authority, wit, charm, and sensitivity. I regret that this movie didn’t do well at the box office. Overall, Malcolm X is a must see politically charged movie, it scores 5 stars.