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Malcolm X the Film:Thread hard to believe it's been almost 10 years when this film had a Major Impact&introduced a Whole New Generation to the Legacy&Genius that was Malcolm X.Spike Lee did a Great Job&Denzel Washington to me did His Best Acting Yet with this Film IMHO.any Reflections on this Film&what it means to you??? mistermaxxx | |
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Incredible movie and powerful book. I always felt Denzel should have won best actor over Al Pacino that year.
It is amazing to see the transfomation a human being will go through to achieve his/her highest thought. To shed dead weight and elevate the people, its just a matter of listening to the word. It is being spoken every moment we live...peace Life IS... a Parade | |
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It presented an adequate summary of Malcolm's story and is one my favourite Spike Lee (and all time) films, but for the full experience the "Autobiography Of Malcolm X as Told To Alex Haley" is untouchable. | |
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mistermaxxx said: hard to believe it's been almost 10 years when this film had a Major Impact&introduced a Whole New Generation to the Legacy&Genius that was Malcolm X.Spike Lee did a Great Job&Denzel Washington to me did His Best Acting Yet with this Film IMHO.any Reflections on this Film&what it means to you???
"Hey Daddy-O" I recently rented this flick again...after rereading the autobiography this summer...the entire film but especially the ending with all the footage gets me everytime...but nothing compares to the impact the book had over me...it's the only book I've ever read where I had to put it down and just cry...this past summer when I reread it and finished it I found myself balling so hard, I freaked out my friends, they thought someone I knew had died...it just gets me...one of my all time faves...it needs to be required reading in every high school in America... 
Also, did u all know that Prince contributed money (along with Oprah, Janet Jackson to name a few) so Spike Lee could finish off the film since Warner (no surprise here) would not put up the money for Spike to finish his epic. Prince is thanked at the end credits... 
"...literal people are scary, man literal people scare me out there trying to rid the world of its poetry while getting it wrong fundamentally down at the church of "look, it says right here, see!" - ani difranco | |
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Could have been better; needed 30 - 40 minutes editing of unnecessary footage.
Reshoot Spike's scenes witha qualified actor. Frankly, I liked Mario Van Peebles as Malcolm in ALI much better. test | |
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This ole white gal here thinks that Denzel was 100% robbed. He deserved that award so much. Needless to say, I was thrilled when he walked away with it this year. Can anyone say "my nigga"?? Malcolm X was a fabulous movie. I had just finished reading the booked about 2 months before the movie came out. I loved both the book and the movie. Malcolm was a great man with a great vision. It is truely sad that he is still not with us. Long live X and Denzel! | |
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TheResistor said: Also, did u all know that Prince contributed money (along with Oprah, Janet Jackson to name a few) so Spike Lee could finish off the film since Warner (no surprise here) would not put up the money for Spike to finish his epic. Prince is thanked at the end credits... It was also interesting that he, Tracey Chapman, Janet Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Peggy Cooper-Cafritz were all credited as "Thank Allah", but Aretha Franklin was credited as "Thank Jesus".. 
VBt -----------------------------
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Thank god 4 that movie, I'm sick and tired of white non-muslims directors stepping in and say a lot of foul shit about Islam and Muslims(Nothing but BOMBERS  ), they're talking about a LIFE then neva lived LOL its like bringing a white teacher who teach(DUH:roll:) black history to black folks. Spike Lee on the other hand was THE 1ST one who showed America the real picture of Islam, hope he can bring another killer movie like that. | |
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My whole family stopped eating pork after watching that film. So I thank that film for that. It made an impact. [This message was edited Fri Aug 9 14:05:43 PDT 2002 by JANFAN4L] | |
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To me that was the best film Spike Lee has made. I also agree that Denzel should have one the Oscar for his performance as Malcolm X. | |
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One of my fav Spike Lee films. I had the chance to meet Denzel sometime after the Oscars and I told him, "He was robbed". He thanked me and smiled. IMHO Pacino should have won for "Glen Gary", while Denzel nabed Best Actor for Malcom. The other hard part is that Spike actually had to got to Black enteraitnwers to help out with the budget as Warner Bros would not give him enough money, yet these studios constantly dole out money for pieces of shit all the time  "May U live 2 C the Dawn" |
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slvrhrt7 said: One of my fav Spike Lee films. I had the chance to meet Denzel sometime after the Oscars and I told him, "He was robbed". He thanked me and smiled. IMHO Pacino should have won for "Glen Gary", while Denzel nabed Best Actor for Malcom. The other hard part is that Spike actually had to got to Black enteraitnwers to help out with the budget as Warner Bros would not give him enough money, yet these studios constantly dole out money for pieces of shit all the time we all know the HollyWood Game.Al got Robbed in the 70's IMHO not so much since to me.Glen Gary He did Well but Alec Baldwin was better IMHO overall.mistermaxxx | |
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This was the best Spike project in part because he started out with a good script, the one developed by James Baldwin, entitled "One Day When I Was Lost." Spike writes for art houses and having a good start with the Baldwin/Arnold Perl (I think?) screenplay really helped him. (Funny that Spike made such a big deal about getting a black director for the project, when he was basing it on a screenplay co-developed by a white writer.)
That being said, some of Spike's artistic licenses for commercially driven plot lines familiar to Hollywood were questionable, like the invention of "Baines"--there was no "Baines" in Malcolm's life... he was introduced to Islam by his siblings. The overemphasis on the zoot suiter (nearly 1/2 of the film) was too much as well... the role of the federal government in exacerbating tensions between Malcolm and NOI was really overlooked or barely touched upon. And the ending...wish Spike had gotten more money to do more shooting in Africa to portray Malcolm's meetings with the Organization of African Unity, the heads of state there, and the international obstacles he faced (poisoned in Egypt and barred from France) which would have better illustrated who his friends and enemies were. Nonetheless, it was probably the best biopic that could have been done at the time given all the factors Spike was dealin with. Prince donated money... and Spike returned the favor with the "Money Don't Matter Tonight" video that was the most political visual representation that Prince had ever participated in up to that time(I remember clips of Colin Powell during the Gulf War when Prince sang the lines "snakes in every color..." and discussing dying for oil). Props to Spike for pullin Prince's song to be about more than a man losing his money lookin for love... Spike used it as a critique of poverty. Good to see black folk come out and pay up to help the movie get made... in the true spirit of Malcolm--"Do for self." [This message was edited Sat Aug 10 1:17:15 PDT 2002 by NuPwrSoul] "That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32 | |
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I was so glad to know that Prince helped Spike complete the film. It has to do with friendship and pride, (Yes, WE can have both).
Anyway to the film, I think it was an incredible movie, one that should've garnered an oscar for both Denzel and Spike, but well we know how that goes. The part that gets me the most is near the ending when Malcolm was on his way to his final speaking engagement and Otis Redding's "A Change Is Gonna Come" is playing. Oh, it makes me cry everytime. I thought that song was/is so sad and profound and the way that Spike used it to illustrate the most devastating event about to happen, oh heartbreaking. The movie did a great job in three-hours to try to tell a life of a great man. It couldn't cover the entire autobiography, which was amazingly terrific in itself. Malcolm was/is an amazing man to read about and so are the many, many other great men and women in black histoy who are known and not so known. I'm always collecting books on black history and black culture be it art, literature, everything-- I have two huge bookshelves full. Our history is just as important as everyone else. It's important for us to know who we are and where we've been to know how we're gonna make a change where we go. | |
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I thought the movie was great.A must have in anyone's collection.The look of the set,the acting and the beautiful story make it one of the best movies ever(imo).Very underrated.And who cares about awards.You will see in time there was corruption with the decision making. | |
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CocoSweet said: Otis Redding's "A Change Is Gonna Come" is playing.
I agree with much of what you said... just a point of clarification tho, "A Change Is Gonna Come" is by Sam Cooke 
(Remember that schtick... if you wanna get a Sam Cooke album where do you go? wrecka stow )"That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32 | |
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NuPwrSoul said: This was the best Spike project in part because he started out with a good script, the one developed by James Baldwin, entitled "One Day When I Was Lost." Spike writes for art houses and having a good start with the Baldwin/Arnold Perl (I think?) screenplay really helped him. (Funny that Spike made such a big deal about getting a black director for the project, when he was basing it on a screenplay co-developed by a white writer.)
I Appluad the way you broke everything done.Much Props to you.That being said, some of Spike's artistic licenses for commercially driven plot lines familiar to Hollywood were questionable, like the invention of "Baines"--there was no "Baines" in Malcolm's life... he was introduced to Islam by his siblings. The overemphasis on the zoot suiter (nearly 1/2 of the film) was too much as well... the role of the federal government in exacerbating tensions between Malcolm and NOI was really overlooked or barely touched upon. And the ending...wish Spike had gotten more money to do more shooting in Africa to portray Malcolm's meetings with the Organization of African Unity, the heads of state there, and the international obstacles he faced (poisoned in Egypt and barred from France) which would have better illustrated who his friends and enemies were. Nonetheless, it was probably the best biopic that could have been done at the time given all the factors Spike was dealin with. Prince donated money... and Spike returned the favor with the "Money Don't Matter Tonight" video that was the most political visual representation that Prince had ever participated in up to that time(I remember clips of Colin Powell during the Gulf War when Prince sang the lines "snakes in every color..." and discussing dying for oil). Props to Spike for pullin Prince's song to be about more than a man losing his money lookin for love... Spike used it as a critique of poverty. Good to see black folk come out and pay up to help the movie get made... in the true spirit of Malcolm--"Do for self." [This message was edited Sat Aug 10 1:17:15 PDT 2002 by NuPwrSoul] mistermaxxx | |
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Thank U, NuPwrSoul for the clarification I wasn't sure which artist sang the song Sam Cooke or Otis Redding so I toss a coin and came up with Otis. | |
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Hey NuPwrSoul, I forgot to mention I do remember that schtick, I was just watching UTCM for the millionth time I love that part, Prince is so crazy. | |
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I must agree I cry when that song comes on at the end "May U live 2 C the Dawn" |
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JANFAN4L said: My whole family stopped eating pork after watching that film.
GREAT FILM, beautifully made, Denzel was fantastic. My only beef: when Spike slides into a closeup during the ballroom dance scene - always thought that was cheesy...    I never met you, but I LOVE you & I will forever!! Thank you for being YOU - my little Princey, the best to EVER do it | |
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A work of art.Spike really showed the evolution of Malcom,both mentally and spiritually,and in the process gave a true picture of the man.There aren't many biopics that do that. "Pam...that's just stupid." | |
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don't be too proud of Prince, Michael Jordan, Bill Cosby, Janet Jackson, Oprah, and Magic Johnson chipping in money to finance the Malcom X flick...from what i've seen, their total money given was $70,000 combined. way to get behind the movement...Warners had $28 million invested in the movie, but Spike resorted to his usual tactic of saying the studios are "racist" for not giving him more money. studios are in the business to make money. they're not willing to dump millions into a flick that no one will go see. | |
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Malcolm X was an AMAZING movie!
Denzel definitely should have gotten the Oscar that year. The way he transformed himself into Malcolm X was so good it was eerie. And I agree, the book by Alex Haley is excellent. | |
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