Malcolm X

Spike Lee's masterwork Do the Right Thing (1989) could easily have made this list, but Lee's epic portrayal of the controversial 1960s activist is the other apex of his career. Denzel Washington's towering performance is central to the story, with a burning charisma throbbing behind a calm facade. Lee, unafraid to delve into the man's ideological and personal flaws, takes on the mission of demythologizing a modern legend. The evocative use of Otis Redding's A Change is Gonna Come, when the rousing cry for civil rights is contrasted against the tragic lead-up to Malcolm X's death, provides an ominous high point in the film - Christina Newland.

The script for Malcolm X, co-written by Lee and Arnold Perl, is primarily based on Alex Haley's 1965 book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Haley began working on the book alongside Malcolm X in 1963 and finished it after Malcolm X's death. The film depicts key events in Malcolm X's life, including his criminal career, incarceration, conversion to Islam, ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam and later falling out with the organization, marriage to Betty X, pilgrimage to Mecca, and reevaluation of his views on whites, and assassination on February 21, 1965. In flashbacks, defining childhood events such as his father's death, his mother's mental instability, and his encounters with racism are portrayed.

Detailed Information:
Year: 1992
Director: Spike Lee
Stars: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr., Delroy Lindo
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 201 minutes