Malcolm X (Widescreen) (Restored / Remastered)
- Starring: Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Angela Bassett
- Director: Spike Lee
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Description
Writer-director Spike Lee's epic portrayal of the life and times of the slain civil rights leader Malcolm X begins with the cross-cut imagery of the police beating of black motorist Rodney King juxtaposed with an American flag burning into the shape of the letter X. When the film's narrative begins moments later, it jumps back to World War II-era Boston, where Malcolm Little (Denzel Washington) is making his living as a ******. The son of a Baptist preacher who was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan, Little was raised by foster parents after his mother was deemed clinically insane; as an adult, he turned to a life of crime, which leads to his imprisonment on burglary charges. In jail, Little receives epiphany in the form of an introduction to Islam; he is especially taken with the lessons of Elijah Mohammed, who comes to him in a vision. Adopting the name 'Malcolm X' as a rejection of the 'Little' surname (given his family by white slave owners), he meets the real Elijah Mohammed (Al Freeman, Jr.) upon exiting prison, and begins work as a spokesman for the Nation of Islam. Marriage to a Muslim nurse named Betty Shabazz (Angela Bassett) follows, after which X spearheads a well-attended march on a Harlem hospital housing a Muslim recovering from an episode of police brutality. The march's success helps elevate X to the position of Islam's national spokesperson. There is dissension in the ranks, however, and soon X is targeted for assassination by other Nation leaders; even Elijah Mohammed fears Malcolm's growing influence. After getting wind of the murder plot, X leaves the Nation of Islam, embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca that proves revelatory; renouncing his separatist beliefs, his oratories begin embracing all races and cultures. During a 1965 speech, Malcolm X is shot and killed, reportedly by Nation of Islam members. Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
Features
- Genre: Drama
- Category: Biopic [feature], Political Drama
- Theme: Conspiracies, Fighting the System, Inner City Blues, Race Relations, Rise To Power
- Release Date: January 18, 2000
- Rating: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)Rating Opens in New Window - Adult Situations, Profanity, Questionable for Children, Violence, Watch With Your Teen
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Lead Actors: Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Angela Bassett, Al Freeman Jr., Delroy Lindo
- Supporting Actors: Cynthia Thomas, Larry Cherry, Benjamin Atwell, Barbara Smith, Anthony Nocerino, Ali Abdul Wahbah, Aleta Mitchell, Jasper McGruder, Jean-Claude LaMarre, Jodie Farber, George Lee Miles, Keith Randolph Smith, LaToyah Bigelow, Bill Goldberg, Brendan Kelly, Christian J. Dacosta, Christopher Rubin, Craig Wasson, Curt Williams, Cytia Fontenette
- Director: Spike Lee
- Picture Format: Widescreen
- Run Time: 3 hr 21 min
- Subtitle Language: English, French
- Format: DVD
Awards
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Nominations: Academy Awards (2), Golden Globe Awards (1)
Nominee: Academy Awards Best Actor 1992, Denzel Washington
Additional Information
- DPCI: 058-12-1929
- ASIN: B002FN06ZE
- Catalog #: 11297774
- Item can not be gift wrapped.
Shipping & Policies
- You may return this item to any Target store.Opens in New Window
- Shipping & Delivery InformationOpens in New Window
- Estimated Ship Dimensions : 7.5 inches length x 5.6 inches width x 0.6 inches height
- Estimated Ship Weight: 0.23 pound.
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Expert Reviews
Malcolm X is an epic in the truest sense, conveying the life and times of one of the most remarkable men of his era and making clear why he continues to matter. The screenplay (credited to Spike Lee and Arnold Perl) telescopes a tremendous amount of information into 3 hours and 25 minutes without seeming either overstuffed or excessively detailed. Lee's potent and eloquent visual style is used to superb effect, with the invaluable assistance of cinematographer Ernest Dickerson and production designer Wynn P. Thomas. While Lee's sympathies are easy to detect, the film presents Malcolm as a three-dimensional human being whose message was powerful and necessary but often flawed. As the story spans the four decades of Malcolm's life, Denzel Washington captures with equal conviction and accuracy the sullen teenager, the hardened criminal, the fiery activist, and the mature martyr. Terence Blanchard's score, combined with a stack of vintage music from Big Joe Turner and Louis Jordan to Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, is the perfect emotional match for this material. Never afraid to present controversial opinions or take chances, Malcolm X is also a deeply moving biopic that puts a human face on an often misunderstood man. Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
