Malcolm X [Criterion Collection] [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray]

Overview

Spike Lee's comprehensive film biography of the slain civil rights leader Malcolm X is much more than the depiction of a great man's life. It is a film that shows, through the powerful story of one man, a person's ability to reinvent himself and change his life. It is fueled by a towering, charismatic performance by Denzel Washington as Malcolm X (Washington had previously played Malcolm in the early 1980s in an off-Broadway play, When the Chickens Come Home To Roost). The film breaks Malcolm X's life down into three acts. The first deals with the troubled childhood of Malcolm Little, whose father is murdered by the Ku Klux Klan and whose mother is institutionalized for insanity. Malcolm grows up and gets a job as a Pullman porter, calling himself Detroit Red. Getting involved with Harlem gangster West Indian Archie (Delroy Lindo), Malcolm finds himself in prison. The second section follows his life in prison, where a fellow inmate, Baines (Albert Hall), introduces him to the teachings of the Nation of Islam. The third section follows Malcolm's religious conversion as a messianic disciple of the Honorable Elijah Mohammed (Al Freeman Jr.). During this fervent immersion into the Nation of Islam, he becomes an incendiary speaker for the movement and marries Betty Shabazz (Angela Bassett). Malcolm X preaches a doctrine of hate against the white man, but a pilgrimage to Mecca softens his beliefs and he endeavors to break free of the strict dogma of the Nation of Islam, with tragic results.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/22/2022
UPC:	0715515279215
Original Release:	1992
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Criterion Collection
Language:	English
Time:	3:21:00
Format:	Blu-ray
Sales rank:	85

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Denzel Washington	Malcolm X,Augusta,Mrs. Johnson,Student in Harlem Classroom
Angela Bassett	Betty Shabazz
Albert Hall	Baines
Al Freeman Jr.	Elijah Muhammad
Delroy Lindo	Archie
Theresa Randle	Laura
Kate Vernon	Sophia
Spike Lee	Shorty
Lonette McKee	Louise Little
Tommy Hollis	Earl Little
James McDaniel	Brother Earl
Ernest Thomas	Sidney,Leon Davis,Crowd Member,Roseland Dancer,Shorty's Dance Partner
O.L. Duke	Pete
Larry McCoy	Sammy
Maurice Sneed	Cadillac
Debi Mazar	Peg
Phyllis Yvonne Stickney	Honey
Scot Anthony Robinson	Daniel,Roseland Dancer,Roseland Dancer,Roseland Dancer
James E. Gaines	Cholly
Joe Seneca	Toomer
LaTanya Richardson	Lorraine
Wendell Pierce	Ben Thomas
Michael Guess	William X
Leland Gantt	Wilbur Kinley
Giancarlo Esposito	Thomas Hayer
Roger Guenveur Smith	Rudy,Brother Gene,Roderick,Elijah Muhammad's Grandson,Ilyasah (age 2-3),Wilfred (age 4),School Teacher,Customer,Fountain Waiter,Brother Gene,Roderick
Craig Wasson	TV Host
Graham Brown	Dr. Payson
Gerica Cox	Eva Marie
Kristan Rai Segure	Saudi
Lauren Padick	Lisha
Danielle Fletcher	Attalah
Robinson Frank Adu	Chuck
Aleta Mitchell	Sister Robin,1st Man
Curt Williams	Mr. Cooper,JFK Reporter,Roseland Dancer
John Ottavino	Blades
John Reidy	Simmons
Frances Foster	Woman Outside Audubon Ballroom
Reggie Montgomery	Dick Jones
David Patrick Kelly	Mr. Ostrowski,Guard Cone,TV Reporter
Gary L. Catus	Doctor
Shirley Stoler	Mrs. Swerlin
Oran 'Juice' Jones	Hustler,Barber's Customer,Pullman Porter,Hooker
Ricky Gordon	Lionel Hampton,Elijah Muhamad's FOI,Elijah Muhammad's FOI
George Lee Miles	Preacher
Raye Dowell	Sister Evelyn Williams
Veronica Webb	Sister Lucille Rosary
Abdul Salaam El Razaac	Fox
George Guidall	Mr. Holway
James L. Swain	Conductor
Pee Wee Love	Speedy
Lawrence James	Tully,TV Reporter
Steve White	Brother Johnson
Christopher Rubin	Sophia's Husband
Matthew Harris	Malcolm (age 5),Roseland Dancer
Zakee Howze	Young Malcolm
Cytia Fontenette	Hilda (age 3)
Marlaine Bass	Hilda (age 8)
Benjamin Atwell	Philbert (age 1)
Peter Dunn	Philbert (age 6)
Dion Smack Jr.	Reginald (age 2)
TaiNesha Scott	Elijah Muhammad's Granddaughter
Chelsea Counts	Yvonne (age 6 Months),Yvonne (age 6 Months)
Natalie Clanton	Yvonne (age 1),Fruit of Islam
Jessica Givens	Attalah
LaToyah Bigelow	Quibillah (age 3)
Martaleah Jackson	Ilyasah (age 2-3),Ilyasah (age 2-3),Tenor Saxophone Player
David Thomas Jr.	Wilfred (age 8)
Simon Do-Ley	Son of Elijah Muhammad and Secretary Evelyn Willia
Bill Goldberg	The `John'
Leonard Parker	Jason
Dyan Humes	Maid at Open Air Market
Lizabeth MacKay	White Woman in Market
Terry Layman	CIA Agent
Terry Sumter	CIA Agent
Jasper McGruder	Hotel Clerk
Wyatt T. Walker	Hospital Spokesperson,Hooker
Hazel Medina	Cashier Person
Wendy E. Taylor	Numbers Woman
Ed Herlihy	Joe Louis Announcer
Ralph Cooper Sr.	Radio Announcer
Christian J. Dacosta	Passerby
Karen T. Duffy	Sophia's Friend
Marc Phillips	Photographer
Showman Uneke	Hustler at Grand Central Station
Theara Ward	Movie Goer
Larry Cherry	Prison Barber
Clebert Ford	Barber
Grafton Trew	Barber
Rogers Simon	Barber
George T. Odom	Barber
Vincent Moscaritola	Prison Guard
Larry Attile	Guard Baines
John Griesemer	Guard Wilkins
Fia Porter	Coed
Kent Jackman	2nd Man
Beatrice Winde	Elderly Woman
Fracaswell Hyman	Bartender
Rion Johnson	Shoeshine Boy
Charles Weldon	Follower at Temple Number 7
Mike Hodge	Follower at Temple Number 7
Ira Little	Follower at Temple Number 7
Ilyasah Shabazz	Follower at Temple Number 7
Bahni Turpin	Follower at Temple Number 7
Aaron Blackshear	Student in Harlem Classroom
Nilyne Fields	Student in Harlem Classroom
Rudi Bascomb	Student in Harlem Classroom
Muhammad Parks	Student in Harlem Classroom,Roseland Dancer
Chinere Parry	Student in Harlem Classroom
Ian Quiles	Student in Harlem Classroom
Sharmeek Martinez	Student in Harlem Classroom
Chuck Cooper	Customer
Damon Chandler	Customer
Shellye D. Broughton	Customer
Nicholas Barnwell	Customer
Sam Dixon	Customer
Rome Neal	Prisoner
Earl Whitted	Prisoner
Michael Mahon	Prisoner
Addison Cook	Prisoner
Byron Utley	Prisoner
George Rafferty	Prisoner
Maxwell Sinovoi	Prisoner
Eric Swirsly	Prisoner
Stewart J. Zully	TV Reporter
Colleen Cowan	TV Reporter
Armand Schultz	TV Reporter
Janet Zarish	TV Reporter
Annie Corley	TV Reporter
Steven Randazzo	TV Reporter
Christopher Skutch	TV Reporter
William Swinton	TV Reporter
Marcus Naylor	TV Reporter
Anthony Nocerino	TV Reporter
Stephen Hanan	JFK Reporter
Richard Schiff	JFK Reporter
David Berman	JFK Reporter
Michael Imperioli	Reporter at Fire Bombing
Steve Stapenhorst	Reporter at Fire Bombing
Arthur French	Pullman Porter
Lex Monson	Pullman Porter
Erika Smith-Brown	Waitress
Delilah Picart	Crowd Member
Michael Ralph	Crowd Member
Monique Cintron	Hooker
Neisha Folkes-Le'Melle	Hooker
Lenore Pemberton	Hooker
Felicia Wilson	Hooker
Yvette Brooks	Hooker,Skeleton Crew Dancer
Teresa Yvon Farley	Young Hooker,Mounted Police
John Sayles	FBI Agent
Martin Donovan	FBI Agent
Jay Charbonneau	Cop at Audobon
Joe Pentangelo	Mounted Police
Nick Muglia	Mounted Police
David Reilly	Mounted Police
Nick Turturro	Boston Cop
James Murtaugh	Cop at Harlem Station
William Fichtner	Cop at Harlem Station
Tim Kelleher	Cop at Harlem Station
Michael Cullen	Desk Sergeant
James MacDonald	Lieutenant
Steve Aronson	Black Legion Leader
Bill Anagnos	Black Legion Member
Don J. Hewitt	Black Legion Member,Black Legion Member
Joe Fitos	KKK Member
Manny Siverio	KKK Member
Jack McLaughlin	KKK Member
Shaun O'Neil	KKK Member
Andy Duppin	KKK Member
Elmer Licciardello	KKK Member
Matt Dillon	DJ at the Harlem `Y' Dance
Renton Kirk	DJ at the Harlem `Y' Dance
Tim Hutchinson	Fruit of Islam
Andre Blair	Fruit of Islam
Abdul Kakeem Hijrah	Fruit of Islam
Scott Whitehurst	Malcolm's FOI
Eric Payne	Malcolm's FOI
Ali Abdul Wahbah	Malcolm's FOI
Terry Hodges	Malcolm's FOI
Kevan Gibbs	Malcolm's FOI
Dana Hubbard	Malcolm's FOI
David Reivers	Elijah Muhamad's FOI
Robert Jason	Elijah Muhamad's FOI
Kevin Rock	Elijah Muhamad's FOI
Mansoor Najeeullah	Elijah Muhamad's FOI
Dion Graham	Elijah Muhamad's FOI
Zaahir Muhammad	Elijah Muhamad's FOI
Gregory Bargeman	Elijah Muhamad's FOI
Lee Summers	Elijah Muhamad's FOI
Larry Rushing	Elijah Muhamad's FOI
Monty Ross	MC/Roseland
Eddie Davis	Trumpet Player,Eulogy Performer
Reggie Pittman	Trumpet Player
Patrick Rickman	Trumpet Player
Gerald Brazel	Trumpet Player
Clark Gaton	Trombone Player
Richard Owens	Trombone Player
Douglas Purviance	Trombone Player
Mark Gross	Alto Saxophone Player
Cleave Guyton Jr.	Alto Saxophone Player
Lance Bryant	Tenor Saxophone Player
Danielle LeMelle	Baritone Saxophone Player
David Fludd	Piano Player
Marcus Lauper	Bass Player
Dwayne 'Cook' Broadnax	Drummer
Preston Vismale	Music Assistant
Miki Howard	Billie Holiday
Terence Blanchard	Trumpet Plyer,Composer
Bruce David Barth	Piano Player
Rodney Whitaker	Bass Player
William E. Kilson	Drummer
Sonny Allen	Roseland Dancer,Miss Dunne
Vanessa Benton	Roseland Dancer
Cheryl Burr	Roseland Dancer
Leslie Dockery	Roseland Dancer
Cisco Drayton	Roseland Dancer
Byron Easley	Roseland Dancer
John Elejalde	Roseland Dancer
Debra Elkins	Roseland Dancer
Gina Ellis	Roseland Dancer
Sharon Ferguson	Roseland Dancer
John Festa	Roseland Dancer
Robert H. Fowler III	Roseland Dancer
Ryan Francois	Roseland Dancer
Phillip Gilmore	Roseland Dancer
Jauquette Greene	Roseland Dancer
Wendy King	Roseland Dancer
Jerome Jamal Hardeman	Roseland Dancer
Dawn Hampton	Roseland Dancer
Monique Harcum	Roseland Dancer
Delphine T. Mantz	Roseland Dancer
Bernard Marsh	Roseland Dancer
Greta Martin	Roseland Dancer
Norma Miller	Roseland Dancer
Frances Morgan	Roseland Dancer
Greg Poland	Roseland Dancer
Judine Hawkins Richard	Roseland Dancer
Ken Leigh Rogers	Roseland Dancer
Eddie Sanabria	Roseland Dancer
Eddie Shellman	Roseland Dancer
Lynn Sterling	Roseland Dancer
Charles F. Young	Roseland Dancer
Anthony Dewitt	Roseland Dancer
Laurieann Gibson	Skeleton Crew Dancer
El Tahara Ibrahim	Skeleton Crew Dancer
Keith Lewis	Skeleton Crew Dancer
Dereque Whithurs	Skeleton Crew Dancer
Steve Reed	John F. Kennedy
Jodie Farber	Jackie Kennedy
Randy Means	Governor Connally
Columbia DuBose	Nellie Connally
Vincent D'Onofrio	Bill Newman
Cliff Cudney	Limo Driver
George Marshall Ruge	Secret Service Man
Bobby Seale	1st Speaker
Al Sharpton	2nd Speaker
Christopher Plummer	Chaplain Gill
Peter Boyle	Captain Green
William Kunstler	The Judge
Henry B. Walthall	Actor
Jean LaMarre	Actor
Ashanti	Student in Harlem Classroom (uncredited)
Nelson Mandela	Soweto Teacher
Al Freeman	Actor

Technical Credits

Spike Lee

Arnold Perl

Spike Lee	Director,Screenwriter,Producer,Producer
Arnold Perl	Screenwriter
Randall Balsmeyer	Special Effects
Steven Kirshoff	Special Effects
Robi Reed-Humes	Casting
Jeff Ward	Stunts
Marvin Worth	Producer
Preston L. Holmes	Producer,Producer
Chuck Jeffreys	Stunts

Editorial Reviews

Spike Lee asserted his preeminence among black filmmakers by virtually insisting that he direct Malcolm X, a Warner Bros. project that Lee wrested away from white director Norman Jewison. Based on Malcolm X's autobiography (as told to Alex Haley), Malcolm X stars Denzel Washington as the eponymous freedom fighter, and through an exceedingly deft use of flashbacks, it tells the whole story of the man's life. We see his salad days as a street hustler, his imprisonment for burglary, his conversion to Islam, his work as a disciple of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad (Al Freeman Jr.), and finally his assassination in 1965. Washington is extraordinary in the lead, effortlessly reproducing the charisma that served Malcolm X so well, whether in the service of crime or politics. A superb supporting cast includes Angela Bassett as Malcolm X's wife, Betty Shabazz, and Lee himself as one of Malcolm X's early partners in crime. Beautifully photographed by Lee's longtime cinematographer Ernest Dickerson, Malcolm X has an evocative period ambience and an epic sweep. Lee pulls precious few punches here, bringing the great man's frequently confrontational politics directly to the screen. The result is a film that angered many, touched many more, and is perhaps the most important film ever made about the black experience in America.

Barnes & Noble - Gregory Baird

Malcolm X is an epic in the truest sense, conveying the life and times of one of the most remarkable men of his era and making clear why he continues to matter. The screenplay (credited to Spike Lee and Arnold Perl) telescopes a tremendous amount of information into 3 hours and 25 minutes without seeming either overstuffed or excessively detailed. Lee's potent and eloquent visual style is used to superb effect, with the invaluable assistance of cinematographer Ernest Dickerson and production designer Wynn P. Thomas. While Lee's sympathies are easy to detect, the film presents Malcolm as a three-dimensional human being whose message was powerful and necessary but often flawed. As the story spans the four decades of Malcolm's life, Denzel Washington captures with equal conviction and accuracy the sullen teenager, the hardened criminal, the fiery activist, and the mature martyr. Terence Blanchard's score, combined with a stack of vintage music from Big Joe Turner and Louis Jordan to Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, is the perfect emotional match for this material. Never afraid to present controversial opinions or take chances, Malcolm X is also a deeply moving biopic that puts a human face on an often misunderstood man.

All Movie Guide - Mark Deming