CWT #201: Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" (1992) biopic, starring Denzel Washington

"Malcolm X" is a 1992 biographical drama film directed by Spike Lee

and starring Denzel Washington in the title role. The film tells the

story of the life of Malcolm X, an African American activist and

leader in the civil rights movement who was assassinated in 1965.

Malcolm X's screenplay, co-credited to Lee and Arnold Perl, is based

largely on Alex Haley's 1965 book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

The film traces Malcolm X's early years as a small-time criminal in

Boston, his time in prison where he converted to Islam, and his rise

as a charismatic and controversial figure in the Nation of Islam. The

movie also portrays his eventual break from the Nation of Islam, his

pilgrimage to Mecca, and his growing advocacy for racial unity and

equality before his assassination.

The film received critical acclaim for Washington's performance and

Lee's direction. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, including

Best Actor for Washington, and won the Best Costume Design award.

Overall, "Malcolm X" is widely regarded as one of Spike Lee's most

significant films and a powerful portrayal of one of the most

important figures in American history.