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Malcolm X (1992)

Malcolm X is a revolutionary piece of cinema directed by one of the most prominent visionaries in film history. Often regarded as one of Spike Lee’s best outputs, the film follows the life of African American activist, Malcolm X (Denzel Washington) and chronicles his rise from turbulent childhood to one of the most prominent human rights activists in history. Malcolm X provides insight into both the personal and professional life of its subject, with director Spike Lee leaving no stone unturned.

It is clear that Malcolm X is a passion project for director Spike Lee. His admiration and determination to bring justice to Malcolm X’s story is evident from the very first shot as we see an American flag burn against a backdrop of historical and contemporary racial practices until the flag has formed an X shape. What makes Lee such a perfect visionary for this film is his fearlessness. Much like Malcolm X himself, Lee has always used his platform to talk about race relations and black empowerment. Through his films, he has given us decades of fully-fleshed characters, including those played by him (Mars Blackmon in She’s Gotta Have It for example). These characters are a stark contrast to the historical racism in cinema where African American characters are reduced to dangerous stereotypes. Lee also cowrote the screenplay with Arnold Perl basing the script on The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley. Incorporating Lee’s signature fast-paced dialogue and reluctance to rest, we are instantly thrust into Malcolm’s world.

In a career that has spanned decades and seen huge range, Denzel Washington hits his peak as the titular character. His portrayal of Malcolm X is vast and layered. Washington embodies the fight and struggle Malcolm X faces throughout his life. Biopics run the risk of becoming Oscar bait with insincere performances that exist solely to win awards. This is not the case with Malcolm X. There is clear passion and heart from the cast and crew which evokes in every minute. The film follows Malcolm X almost exclusively making it an intense and reflective performance. Washington proves himself to be among the greats with his excellent turn.

Angela Bassett is also excellent as Betty Shabazz, later known as Betty X. Bassett can always be relied on to bring a strong and subtle performance. As Malcolm’s public appearances are proving to be popular and controversial, Betty is there as an intellectual and emotional anchor. Commanding the screen, Bassett brings a performance that allows us to see Malcolm’s personal side.

The film has a stellar supporting cast which includes Spike Lee in a delightful turn playing Malcolm’s friend, Shorty. Among the highlights in support are Delroy Lindo and Giancarlo Esposito who are known for their collaborations with Lee. Playing West Indian Archie and Talmadge X Hayer, respectively, these performances are hugely significant to Malcolm’s lifestory. Lindo is fantastic as a gangster who mentors Malcolm as a young man while Esposito is chilling as one of the men who assassinated Malcolm.

With the 4K UHD release, it’s hugely important to discuss the cinematography by Ernest Dickerson. A testament to Dickerson’s work is how refined and elegant the use of lighting is, especially in the first half of the film. The audience is aware of a wider world beyond Malcolm and yet the camera seems intensely transfixed on him. This means the audience is truly seeing the world through Malcolm’s eyes.

Malcolm X marks the second collaboration with Terence Blanchard who provides an exceptional score. Much like the film itself, the music provides a constant backdrop filled with jazz-infused pieces. Blanchard’s use of trumpet echoes the yearning and struggle Malcolm X is faced with. Most of the pieces are tinged with sadness, as though Blanchard is foreshadowing the inevitable outcome. From the impactful “Opening Credits” to the tender choral “Black & White”, Blanchard’s soundtrack for Malcolm X matches the intensity of Lee’s direction.

Malcolm X could arguably be seen as Spike Lee’s magnum opus. Spanning 202 minutes, the film is a departure from Lee’s previous offerings such as Do the Right Thing. Boasting his largest budget to that point, Malcolm X showed that Lee was more than capable of handling an epic feature that allowed him to expand on his signature aesthetic and writing. What makes Spike Lee such an effective filmmaker is not only his distinct style and approach to directing, but the fearlessness in his artistry. Simply put, Lee has earned his place as one of the most important directors in cinema history.

Malcolm X 4KUHD is available to buy 29th July 2024.

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London Film Festival 2021: The Harder They Fall

When it comes to showing a film at a festival, there are few honours more impressive than being the opening night selection for the entire festival. The honour at this year’s London Film Festival goes to Jeymes Samuel’s feature film debut, The Harder They Fall which chronicles a fictional story about real black cowboys in the Old West. In a genre that has been majorly dominated by white men, Samuel flips the script entirely with an all-black cast and delivers a film that is stylish and captivating. Boasting an incredible cast that includes Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, and Regina King among many more, The Harder They Fall shows that there is no slowing down the modern Western trend while also marking Samuel’s exceptional debut and talent as a visionary. The film follows cowboy Nat Love (Majors) and his gang as they embark on a mission of revenge against the cruel Rufus Buck (Elba) who killed the former’s parents when he was younger, leaving Love with a scar of a cross on his forehead. What entails is a game of power between the two gangs in a bid to maintain control.

The film is directed by Samuel who cowrote the script with Boaz Yakin and the result is a film that follows a classic Western plot but this is in no means an insult. The plot’s simplicity allows more time for the characters to shine and gives them ample material to play with and become well-developed. Both gangs are filled with memorable characters which can seem overwhelming at times as you don’t know where to look during fight scenes but the chaos that ensues between the gangs and the individual tensions that arise between the members are an absolute thrill to watch. Samuel can only be described as a visionary when it comes to his method of storytelling. The way he combines the tight writing with music and beautiful direction results is on par with some filmmakers who have been working for decade. He clearly is someone who loves film and has a passion for the subject and the characters.

Leading the Nat Love Gang is Majors who plays Love and his partner, Mary (Zazie Beetz). The great thing about this film is that the line between good and bad becomes blurred so even though they lead a life of crime by stealing from outlaws, they have good intentions to serve the community and don’t mistreat anyone who is innocent. Majors’ performance is absolutely magnetic and he leads the film with ease. Love’s quest for revenge is perfectly set up as we see the tragic story play out from his childhood to help us understand his plight better. Love is an incredibly charismatic character who knows how to command a situation and Majors is perfect casting. Playing his love interest, Mary, is Zazie Beetz and the two share a brilliant chemistry together as the dynamic between the shifts and changes. What is great about the female characters in this film is that they don’t rely on a man as they have agency and strength and Beetz has become well-known for her feminist roles which makes her ideal for a character like Mary.

On the other side of the coin is the Rufus Buck Gang led by Buck (Elba) and Trudy (King). Their dynamic is similar to Nat and Mary’s as they are loyal to each other while also enabling each other’s independence. Elba’s role is one of the best in his career as he brings a darkness to the role of Buck that is very unexpected. Buck’s character is one that could be played over the top but Elba’s calm demeanour results in a performance that commands the audience’s attention every time he is on screen. Quiet and calculating, Buck is careful with his words and clearly intelligent and always thinking ahead. It’s also clear that Elba is having a lot of fun with the character and it wouldn’t be surprising if he were to receive some awards attention in the supporting categories come awards season. Playing Buck’s partner in crime, Trudy, is Oscar winner Regina King whose performance is terrifying and probably the most violent out of everyone in the film. Unapologetically tough, King’s ability to tell a story through expression works incredibly well as Trudy. The scene in which we are first introduced to Trudy as she and the rest of the Rufus Buck Gang break Buck out of his cell on a train is among the best in the film. Simply watching Trudy force the train to the stop by fearlessly stopping her horse over the track is both terrifying and leaves you on the end of your seat.

There are so many fantastic support performances that it feels unfair to only discuss a couple but the highlights from the supporting cast have to be Lakeith Stanfield as Cherokee Bill and Delroy Lindo as Bass Reeves. Oscar nominee Stanfield is on form as the unpredictable Bill, a man who gained a reputation for his fast shooting speed. In true Stanfield fashion, his performance is subtle which works well as it provides a sinister undertone and fearlessness to the character that makes every move he makes unsettling to the viewer. On the other hand, Delroy Lindo can always be relied upon to give a fantastic performance and his turn as Deputy Marshall Bass Reeves is no exception. Reeves acts as the voice of reason and has the strongest moral compass of all the characters, despite his clear affiliation with a wanted man; however, Lindo portrays Reeves as a man with dignity who knows that he is doing the right thing. In a film that is littered with stars, it’s just a shame that we don’t see more of Reeves throughout.

It would be impossible to review this film and not discuss the music and score. Samuel’s background is in music and he puts this to use by contributing remixes and the score himself. The result of which is absolutely stunning as he merges classic Western sounds with RnB to create a sound that is completely unique but fits in with the film perfectly. In many ways, the music is just as integral to the plot as the visual is. Mixing a variety of genres such as RnB, rap, and Church music to name a few, the score helps with the pacing of the film and works brilliantly, especially in scenes such as the train scene in which Buck’s gang breaks him out.

Overall, The Harder They Fall is a strong opener for the London Film Festival with one of the strongest casts in a film this year and marking a fantastic debut for Samuel. As we have seen a huge increase in Westerns being made in recent years, Samuel shows that there is plenty of room for his vision and executes it brilliantly. It’s hard to believe that this is his first feature film and hopefully promises to be the start of a great career as a filmmaker and writer.

The Harder They Fall is available to watch on Netflix from November 3rd 2021!

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Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Admittedly, it has taken me a long time to get around to watching this film but it has been one of my most anticipated for the year. As a huge Spike Lee fan, I am always excited to see what he brings out. After his brilliant 2018 offering Blackkklansman that finally won him a deserved competitive Oscar, the anticipation for Da 5 Bloods has been a repeat of much discussion for the upcoming awards season. The film follows four American veterans known as the “Bloods” who meet up in Vietnam to reflect on their time in the war and to search for their leader and the treasure they buried. Featuring a fantastic cast led by Delroy Lindo with support from the late great Chadwick Boseman.

As we have come to expect from Lee’s films, the direction and writing is top-notch. For Da 5 Bloods, Lee has collaborated with Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo and Kevin Willmott and I think usually four screenwriters can cause a bit of conflict in tone and dialogue but it works here. Da 5 Bloods is a two and a half epic filled with an array of detailed characters. Having multiple screenwriters actually enriches the quality of the writing and paired with Lee’s realist directorial approach, is pulled off brilliantly. Mixing the modern Vietnam with flashbacks as well as frequent clips from the news to draw parallels with the Vietnam War and the modern racial war in America. What makes Lee’s films so unique is his ability to combine multiple film mediums that feels as though you are watching a documentary at some points. Lee is undoubtedly a political filmmaker and this makes some viewers uncomfortable but it is an unapologetic point of view that I think contributes to a fearless and boundary-pushing approach to filmmaking itself.

As American veteran Paul, Delroy Lindo is phenomenal. Paul is clearly damaged from his experiences in the war. The more time he spends in Vietnam, the more aggressive and vulnerable he becomes. All of the men suffer from PTSD but in Paul’s case, this causes him to lash out violently. In one particular scene, a Vietnamese man tries to sell a chicken and this causes Paul to reach a boiling point, almost jumping to beat the man up when accused of killing his parents. The visit to Vietnam allows Paul to face his demons and confront the problems he has had in the subsequent years since Vietnam. His reluctance to talk about his experiences to a professional has resulted in the issues surfacing in such a way that he is unable to deal with his emotions. Netflix are campaigning for Lindo in the Leading categories for the upcoming awards season and I think he presents a very strong competition. It would be great to see such a challenging and developed role rewarded.

Chadwick Boseman’s performance as squad leader, Norman, is flawless. When onscreen, he commands the scene and acts the hell out of his character. It is clear that he is having fun in the role, maintaining the importance and dignity that the character represents. After gaining worldwide acclaim for his performance as the titular Black Panther, it’s brilliant to see Boseman in a film that is entirely different and demanding in a different way. Boseman’s performance is a snippet of what he could have continued to achieve before his untimely death earlier this year. I hope his performance is recognised in the Supporting categories with at least a nomination come award season. This role is a phenomenal addition to his extensive legacy and showcases his ability to adapt to genre pieces.

As with Blackkklansman, another great collaborator who Lee frequently works with is composer Terence Blanchard. Blanchard’s specialty is the trumpet and the strong brass sounds come through in this score, bringing the militia sound as a constant backdrop to the action. In addition, there are many songs fro. The 1970s included as well as classical pieces such as Richard Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” which has become iconic in modern culture thanks to its inclusion in  the film Apocalypse Now, another film that looks at the Vietnam War. What Lee and Blanchard are doing by including such pieces are subverting the typical white-dominated war film and showing it from an African-American perspective.

Overall, Lee has knocked it out the park yet again with his fearless look into the African-American experience during the Vietnam war. Proving that he is still at the top of his game more than ever, Lee has made a film that again shows parallels with the mistreatment of African-Americans today with the mid-20th century. His ability to masterfully mix various mediums such as feature film, news clipping, cultural references in the music and performances that push the actors to their limits combine to make a film that seems as though it transcends the film medium and becomes art. A fantastic achievement for Spike Lee and I hope his efforts are rewarded come awards season.

What did you think of Da 5 Bloods? Let me know in the comments!

Da 5 Bloods is available to watch on Netflix now.