X-traordinary

Rating: 9/10 (24 August 2018)

Let me dry my eyes. I knew what was coming and I still couldn't hold it back.
Although I was born 13 years after Malcolm X was assassinated he is still a hero to me. That's the main reason I hadn't seen "Malcolm X" until now. I knew that I wouldn't be able to handle the inevitable ending.
I remember the hype surrounding the release of this movie. I was in high school and a lot of us were wearing X beanies, caps, and jackets. This movie was going to be a big deal. Well, I refrained. I wasn't emotionally ready.
It took me 26 years to find the fortitude to watch this movie and I still broke down at the end. I'll be the first to say that I'm not a fan of Spike Lee's earlier works but this one was splendid. I think he and Denzel Washington did an honorable job paying tribute to Malcolm X. It was important to see his transitions from early hoodlum, to prisoner, to Elijah acolyte, to independent man. He was a living example of what liberating one's mind can do for an individual.
As a production, this was fantastic. There were a couple of Spike Lee-isms that could have been removed (e.g. himself as an actor and the invasive soundtrack at times) but overall I was pleased. Yes, it took me a long time to gather myself but now I have watched and I am even more impressed with the man than I'd ever been.