not just a thumbs up

Rating: 9/10 (7 December 2014)

Spike Lee's adaptation of Malcolm X showcases the major events in Malcolm X's life while still portraying specific events without unnecessarily prolonging the film. Lee divides the film into two major chapters: Malcolm's life as a hustler and his life after discovering Islam. During Malcolm's years as a hustler, Lee uses a constant and upbeat soundtrack to give a glamorous feel to life as a hustler. The soundtrack romanticizes Malcolm's life as a hustler in an attempt to portray the double standard in Hollywood. This double standard is that when whites are participating in illegal activities in films, it is often romanticized, however when blacks are seen participating in illegal activities, it is seen as negative. Lee's romanticism of Malcolm's hustling draws parallels to Malcolm's work to advance black society.
In the scene when Malcolm talks to Elijah Muhammad after discovering the accusations against Elijah Muhammad, Lee uses lighting to portray Elijah Muhammad's guilt. Lee uses light from outside a window to cast shadows of the blinds over Elijah Muhammad's face. The shadows are black lines across Elijah Muhammad's face, causing the viewer to think of prison bars. These implied prison bars show both Elijah Muhammad's guilt and Malcolm's loss of faith in Elijah Muhammad.
While someone who read Malcolm X's autobiography may be disappointed that some scenes were eliminated from the film, it cannot be reasonably expected for every story from the book be portrayed in the film. With that said, Lee does an excellent job in including the most important scenes and also developing an atmosphere around those scenes. This atmosphere makes it obvious to see from a few frames of the film if it is during Malcolm's days as a hustler or his years as a preacher of Islam and black unity.