Review of Malcolm X (1992) by Richard D — 06 Mar 2015

Now this is a way to do a biopic, 'Malcolm X' is an exceptional film that features one of Denzel Washington's best performances and is perfectly directed by Spike Lee. It feels almost like a cliché to say that Denzel was good because he's always good and he always makes everything effortlessly watchable but he's scarily good in this and looks the part so much, you couldn't have gotten a better actor for this film and to that review, by Jonathan Rosenbaum, that said he was miscast, what? You see footage of Malcolm X at the end and it just solidifies how much of an excellent job Denzel did. It is a performance for the ages that was unfortunately snubbed by a knock-on effect of previous Oscar snubs, I'm not saying that is a good excuse and talent isn't, or to some people- shouldn't, be judged by awards, but still, wow, what a shame. The film has an excellent cast that features some veterans as well and everyone does an excellent job, you really feel invested in its world and for a film that is as long as it is, it couldn't be any other way. It certainly is an ambitious film and it's a miracle Lee got it made but it paid off because it is a truly engrossing experience that earns its length and moves along perfectly. The structure of the film reminded me of, 'The Deer Hunter', which is, funnily enough, Lee's favourite film and the way everything develops is perfect and he tells the story the way it needs to be told. You go on a real epic journey during the course of this film and so much happens; Lee pulls no punches and tells it like it is, which is a great thing to see, especially in a biopic, and it is filled with so many iconic moments. I knew what happened to him before I watched it but I'm still surprised by who did it, I know the devastating conspiracy behind it all, but still, I thought it'd be white people when I first learned about him. I know he said he wasn't afraid but he should have moved! It's heartbreaking to watch.

My only real complaint is with some of the editing, sometimes it'll have a voice-over whilst having a conversation underneath but it wasn't used like how most implement it in their films with one audio track being quieter than the other or playing the tracks one at a time with breaks and it made it jarring because I was trying to listen to both at the same time, even if they spoke about the same thing. Also, it'd show a flashback to scene for a few seconds and then later on show us the full thing and I just found that odd, it also showed a flashback to something that happened in the past that was happening to the characters in the present and I recognised the similar scenario without feeling like I had to be retold. There was also a shot looking up from a piece of grass and it just made me think about props. I understand these are huge nitpicks but in a film that's as perfect as this, that's all I can say. And what else can I say that hasn't already been said? For a film that is as amazing as this one is, there really is no point to repeating myself. It's an intelligent, powerful, engrossing film that is an epic in the full sense of the word and totally earns it. THIS is Best Picture quality and should have been up for more awards, awards don't make a film but this is excellent. I'm so glad that I have finally seen it.