An entertaining biopic

Rating: 7/10 (13 May 2014)

Spike Lee's Malcom X is entertaining, well-written, well-acted and well-directed, engaging cinema, but it's no masterpiece. Say what you want, but the last ten or so minutes (the eulogy, the kids in the classroom saying "I AM MALCOLM X!", and Nelson Mandela's speech) were not really necessary. In fact, I would have given the film a full ten stars if not for that last ten minutes. But, that is not the case. Still, the rest of the film is masterful and Denzel Washington does a fantastic job in the title role (you forget that that is Denzel Washington on screen, you believe that he's Malcom X).
A masterfully crafted film, but no masterpiece.
3.5/4