I’ve always read that Malcolm X is quite different from many conventional biopics out there and probably among the best ever made. Daniel Scheinert sings his praises in the Criterion Closet video featuring him and his directing partner Daniel Kwan. And you know what…what I’ve read and seen is totally accurate. There’s definitely a lot to admire here. This is Spike Lee’s Lawrence of Arabia.
A great biopic equates to a great character study. Malcolm X, or rather the life of the eponymous civil rights leader, can be split into three chapters: his early life before incarceration, his discovery of Islam in prison and participation in the Nation of Islam, and his pilgrimage to Mecca. He realized his mistakes in his judgment, thus catalyzing the transition from one phase in his life to another and finding ways of redemption.
In the beginning, he was blinded by his naivete and was not too aware of the ongoing repression and racial tension present during that time. Even after becoming aware of the racism and preaching his teachings on black nationalism, he still hadn’t self-actualized. It wasn’t until his pilgrimage that he opened his third eye and realized the true meaning of Islam. His metamorphosis can be illustrated by how his name changed, in which he went from being Malcolm Little to Malcolm X and finally to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. During the ~3.5-hour runtime, we get to witness this transformation before our very eyes.
What helps is that in addition to Denzel Washington’s electrifying performance, Malcolm X as a real-life historical figure as well as his autobiography the movie is adapted from are, simply put, interesting. He was a flawed individual, but the characteristics he possessed make him feel believable and full of gravitas. Ultimately, what makes anyone interesting is recognizing that there’s always room to grow and being able to venture outside the comfort zone and confront the unknown. Malcolm did exactly that and grew wiser as he progressed in life. He discovered and spoke the ugly truth to the masses, but no one listened.
Malcolm X really does feel like one of those important movies that everyone needs to watch. The civil rights leader is perhaps one of the most important figures in American history, yet there’s little to no discussion about him in schools and even if there was, his story wouldn’t be told honestly. Writing this essay/review feels like I’m working on a research paper about him for a history class, but I just find him to be really fascinating. After listening to his speeches and reading a bit about him, I can’t help but admire the man. Sure, we may not see eye to eye on all of his beliefs, but it’s his persistence with the fight for black liberation as well as adaptability are qualities that I find most commendable. A man like him was truly ahead of his time. ∎