Nowadays, the fashion for biopics has trivialized the exercise to the point of rendering it without much interest, as if every single starlet deserved her own film. Conversely, Malcolm Little is one of those extraordinary personalities, undeniably justifying the existence of a filmed bio, as this man’s journey proves fascinating, and tells a facet of contemporary American history.
Spike Lee obviously does not take the most neutral view possible on his subject (but we know that objectivity does not exist in this matter), but I found that the film avoided hagiography. Lee is undeniably fascinated by Malcolm X, but nevertheless maintains a certain perspective.
On the other hand, its production often proves remarkable, rich in numerous ideas for staging and other visual discoveries.
The first hour of the film is widely criticized by the film’s detractors: it is true that Spike Lee takes his time, at the risk of making the whole thing interminable and/or indigestible, and maintains the confusion by giving himself an unnecessary secondary role. But at least the public can tangibly integrate Little’s journey, and his youthful mistakes, which will obviously play a primordial role in his future evolution.
In addition to the length which is undoubtedly a bit excessive, we can criticize “Malcolm. Nevertheless, the film is successful on the essentials, offering a relatively balanced portrait of one of the great black leaders, taking an enlightening look at Islam ten years before September 11, and offering Denzel Washington one of his very best roles.
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