Review of Malcolm X (1992) by Gavin M — 27 Feb 2015

This is without a doubt one of the best films ever made. Denzel Washington gives without a doubt one of his best performances of all time as Malcolm X, the civil rights leader who was pro-violence against the white people during the civil rights movement before coming to his senses and realizing the Muslim religion he was so eager to lay his life down for was hypocritical and in some ways I felt used Malcolm X, or just got too jealous once his stature in the Muslim religious group was getting him so much attention that people believed he was the voice of Allah; not the honorable Elijah Muhammad. They turned on Malcolm X, just after he literally devoted his life for their cause because their religion helped him get sober, and allow him to find himself again before becoming just another degenerate in Harlem. Denzel literally is Malcolm X. Just like Daniel Day-Lewis was Lincoln, and like Sean Penn was Harvey Milk in Gus Van Zant's "Milk." No one, and I mean no one could have had the strength and endurance to play Malcolm X as Denzel Washingoton did in this movie just makes me believe that Denzel is without a doubt one of the best actors that has ever lived. He's a fearless actor, the man has a true potential for acting. I mean come on the guy did not win his two Oscars for "Glory" and "Training Day" for nothing. But there is something about "Malcolm X" that just hits you hard when you watch it, mostlt because Denzel is just so damn good throughout the whole movie that he is truly the driving force behind this.

Whole movie. There are also great supporting performances by Delroy Lindo, the hoodlum gangster of Harlem, who takes Denzel's Malcolm X under his wing after he sees him smash a guys with a glass bottle after insulting him and making a comment about his mother which Denzel tells him ferociously to never say another word about his mother again. Albert Hall, who played the chief in Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam achievement "Apocalypse Now," is great as Bane, the man who shines the light onto Denzel's Malcolm X and converts him into the realm of Islam and helps him become a Muslim. And then there's Angela Bassette and even though they toned her looks down a little bit for the movie so she can look like a typical Muslim wife of Malcolm X, she still looks good and even today at 56 she still rocking it if you ask me. She gives a very, very strong performance as Malcolm X's wife and even though I have only seen a handful of her films, I find she delivers every time I see her in a movie. Even Spike Lee, the Director of this movie who I know is very controversial subject matter these days even bring a great presence as Malcolm X's hoodlum buddy in the film. This is a movie not be missed as I would definitely put it in my "1001 Movies You Need To See Before You Die" list and just want to say one more thing. This is the most historical bio I have ever watched and truly believe this was my first Denzel Washington movie and I remember even seeing "Malcolm X" at a young age when I believe it had just started coming on TV after being in the movies and thinking the whole time watching Denzel Washington in this movie that this is an actor I have got to keep an eye on as he is truly, TRULY a remarkable actor who I hope keeps bringing us more great performances for years to come. Also about Spike Lee, even though like I said before he is a controversial subject matter these days I will admit one thing, no one but him could have directed this movie as for a man of Spike Lee stature I would like to say this is his "Goodfellas" as nobody but him could have made a movie like this I truly applaud him for this was a very fierce movie to make and even though he was nominated for Best Director for this movie even though I feel he should have; Denzel Washington was able to execute Spike Lee's vision....and that's all that matters.