Malcolm X (1992)

Director:

Spike Lee

Writers (WGA):

Alex Haley (book) and
Malcolm X (book) ...

Release Date:

18 November 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Plot:

The biopic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader.

Plot Keywords:

Jail | Ku Klux Klan | Gangster | Islam | African American

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Denzel Washington	...	Malcolm X
Angela Bassett	...	Dr. Betty Shabazz
Albert Hall	...	Baines
Al Freeman Jr.	...	Elijah Muhammad
Delroy Lindo	...	West Indian Archie
Spike Lee	...	Shorty
Theresa Randle	...	Laura
Kate Vernon	...	Sophia
Lonette McKee	...	Louise Little
Tommy Hollis	...	Earl Little
James McDaniel	...	Brother Earl
Ernest Thomas	...	Sidney
Jean-Claude La Marre	...	Benjamin 2X (as Jean LaMarre)
O.L. Duke	...	Pete
Larry McCoy	...	Sammy

Also Known As:

X (USA) (poster title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for a scene of violence, and for drugs and some language.

Runtime:

202 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | New Zealand:PG | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

300 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Trivia:

The speech that plays over the documentary footage of Malcolm X's life near the end is read by actor Ossie Davis who wrote and delivered the speech at Malcolm's eulogy in 1965.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the "Russian Roulette" sequence when Malcolm holds the gun up to Rudy's face, the chamber to the (screen) right has a bullet in it. This is the chamber that Malcolm had just "fired" at his own head. Since the gun didn't fire, there would have been nothing but an empty chamber

Quotes:

[first lines]
Announcer: In the name of Allah the merciful, all praises due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. The one God to whom praise is due forever. The one who came to us in the person of Master Fard Muhammad and raised up the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Amen.
[pause]
Announcer: Asalaamalaikum!
Crowd: Alaikum-salaam!
Announcer: How do you feel?
Crowd: Good!
Announcer: Who do we want to hear?
Announcer: Malcolm X!
Announcer: Are we gonna bring him on? Yes, we gonna bring him on. Well let us hear from our minister, Minister Malcolm X. Let us bring him on with a round of applause!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Chez Whoopi (1991) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Honeydripper

One of the Best Films In History

Malcolm X is one of the most influential, positive, and empowering movies I've ever watched. I knew little of Malcolm X before watching this film. Now, I've seen it a total of 10 times. I've also downloaded and read many of Malcolm's greatest speeches, " Ballot or the Bullet" is an example of one. As is visible, this movie has touched me in many ways. Denzel Washington's performance of the ex-Muslim leader is amazing. The only thing more amazing is the fact that he lost out in the Oscar race to Pacino, who portrayed a less important figure, by far. Angela Bassett, a beautiful black actress, plays his wife, Betty Shabazz, in a magnificent role. Delroy Lindo, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr., Theresa Randle, and Spike Lee himself all play great roles in the movie. Spike Lee was right. I found this movie to be more informative than two six hour days of any school, grade school, middle school, high school, and/or above.