You can’t talk about activism without mentioningMalcolm X. If you don’t really know why, a good starting point is the 1992 film starringDenzel Washington(Gladiator II). An epic in many senses, the movie clocks in at 3 hours and 22 minutes, and it’s also mandatory viewing for anyone who considers themselves aSpike Lee(Da 5 Bloods) fan. Starting in February, you will be able to checkMalcolm Xout when it comes to the Max catalog.
The movie doesn’t shy away from the controversy that surrounds Malcolm’s (Washington) life. It chronicles his criminal career, his stint in prison, his conversion to Islam, and the subsequent problems he had with religion. At the same time,Malcolm Xdoesn’t ignore that the title character was shaped by a violent and dreary environment that, among other things, pushed him to fight for Black individuals to have access to basic human rights. Malcolm became a key figure during the civil rights movement alongsideSam Cooke,Jim Brown,Martin Luther King Jr.,Bayard Rustin, andMuhammad Ali.
OnRotten Tomatoes,Malcolm Xhas earneda respectable 89% score. Famous criticRoger Ebertsingled it out as hands-down the best movie of 1992, and some time later legendary filmmakerMartin Scorsese(Killers of the Flower Moon) putMalcolm Xamong the best movies made in the 90s.Newsweek’sDavid Ansenwrote that the movie is “fascinating” and that Denzel Washington’s performance is “quietly majestic.”
‘Malcolm X’ Has a Powerful Cast
The movie also earned Denzel Washington a nomination at the Oscars — the third in his career and the first in the Lead Actor category. After that, Washington was nominated an additional seven times for his performance in movies likeTraining Day,Flight,FencesandThe Tragedy of Macbeth. But he wasn’t the only standout inMalcolm X, since the cast also featured heavyweights likeAngela Bassett(Black Panther: Wakanda Forever),Delroy Lindo(The Good Fight),Albert Hall(Apocalypse Now),Kate Vernon(Battlestar Galactica), andAl Freeman Jr.(Down in the Delta). The movie also features cameos by important political figures likeNelson Mandela,Rev. Al Sharpton, andBobby Seale.
The screenplay ofMalcolm Xwas co-written by Spike Lee himself along withArnold Perl(Fiddler on the Roof). The duo adapted the story from 1965’sThe Autobiography of Malcom X, written byAlex Haleywith Malcolm and finished after the activist’s assassination.
You will be able to streamMalcolm Xas early as February 1 on Max.
A portrayal of a controversial and influential leader in the fight for civil rights, the narrative tracks his evolution from a criminal to a fervent advocate for the rights of African Americans. His pilgrimage to Mecca brings about a significant change in his approach to activism, leading to a broader vision of peace and unity that challenges his earlier views.
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