Should Denzel have won a Oscar for Malcolm X?

[MartyMcFly]

He basically crushed three different roles in one film. He deserved it. I did think Downey was good that year as well.

However, whats this Spike liberties yall talking about

Did black people back in the day think Spike cost him the Oscar

Spike wasn't the first choice for the movie by black people standards. Lot of brothers and sisters felt he'd take it too easy on the subject and make it nice for white people. Spike's reputation in 92 is a lot different than now.

But to answer your question, that didn't cause him the Oscar. Them giving Pacino a makeup Oscar for at least three roles is what cost him the Oscar. Pacino easily could've had one for Godfather 2 and Dog Day Afternoon and probably should've for both. Instead he got awarded for Scent of a Woman as a makeup. Much like Denzel got his makeup with Training Day. Denzel's Malcolm X is one of the best performances in history, period. Should've gotten it but didn't but he's got two now and I think he's okay with that

 

[Dr. Narcisse]

no and no

Denzel lost because they kept robbing Pacino in the 70s and had to finally give it to him.

Look at this shyte:
47th Academy Awards - Wikipedia

Spike wasn't the first choice for the movie by black people standards. Lot of brothers and sisters felt he'd take it too easy on the subject and make it nice for white people. Spike's reputation in 92 is a lot different than now.

But to answer your question, that didn't cause him the Oscar. Them giving Pacino a makeup Oscar for at least three roles is what cost him the Oscar. Pacino easily could've had one for Godfather 2 and Dog Day Afternoon and probably should've for both. Instead he got awarded for Scent of a Woman as a makeup. Much like Denzel got his makeup with Training Day. Denzel's Malcolm X is one of the best performances in history, period. Should've gotten it but didn't but he's got two now and I think he's okay with that

Even after Do The Right Thing?

I know Norman Jewison (A Soldier's Story) was first tapped to direct and had to leave in favor of a black director, but did not know this.

I'm trying to think of another black director alternative....and I just can't. Maybe Melvin Van Peebles or Sidney Poitier.


Edit: Carl Franklin did have the cred at the time, but he would have been great.

 

[MartyMcFly]

Even after Do The Right Thing?

I know Norman Jewison (A Soldier's Story) was first tapped to direct, but did not know this.

He did Mo Betta Blues after do the right thing and jungle fever. Do The Right Thing, like both of those movies, is about bringing the gap between races and trying to achieve a harmony and a peace among us. Malcolm X, at least in the first few acts, ain't about that shyt. So yeah here's a whole section on it in the Wiki:

Soon after Spike Lee was announced as the director and before its release, Malcolm X received criticism by black nationalists and members of the United Front to Preserve the Legacy of Malcolm X, headed by poet and playwright Amiri Baraka, who were worried about how Lee would portray Malcolm X. One protest in Harlem drew over 200 people.[6][8] Some based their opinion on dislike of Lee's previous films; others were concerned that he would focus on Malcolm X's life before he converted to Islam.[6][8][9] Baraka bluntly accused Spike Lee of being a "Buppie", stating "We will not let Malcolm X's life be trashed to make middle-class Negroes sleep easier", compelling others to write the director and warn him "not to mess up Malcolm's life."[6] Some, including Lee himself, noted the irony that many of the arguments they made against him mirrored those made against Norman Jewison.[8]

Looking back on the experience of making the film and the pressure he faced to produce an accurate film, Lee jokingly stated on the DVD's audio commentary that when the film was released, he and Denzel Washington had their passports handy in case they needed to flee the country.[10]

Then you add on the fact the production went over budget and he had to get help from damn near every famous black person to finish the movie, yeah man that wasn't easy. Context matters. We need to study context a lot more on this site because shyt like that makes stories like this so much more interesting.

 

[Dr. Narcisse]

He did Mo Betta Blues after do the right thing and jungle fever. Do The Right Thing, like both of those movies, is about bringing the gap between races and trying to achieve a harmony and a peace among us. Malcolm X, at least in the first few acts, ain't about that shyt. So yeah here's a whole section on it in the Wiki:



Then you add on the fact the production went over budget and he had to get help from damn near every famous black person to finish the movie, yeah man that wasn't easy. Context matters. We need to study context a lot more on this site because shyt like that makes stories like this so much more interesting.

Damn.

Yea I just posted that Carl Franklin would have been an interesting alternative. However, I think the choices Spike made for a better FILM. Maybe not the best Malcolm X film everyone wanted (again I've been seeing more complaints the more I check message boards), but it still worked out.

Watching his journey and forcing it to be a 3 hour+ film is why its a classic film to me.

I'd still be interested in watching a new version. Then again I think people would be scared to follow that film (at this time even 26 years later)

 

[jackson35]

Never seen that question here.

why? the movie shytted on Elijah Muhammad?

 

[MartyMcFly]

Damn.

Yea I just posted that Carl Franklin would have been an interesting alternative. However, I think the choices Spike made for a better FILM. Maybe not the best Malcolm X film everyone wanted (again I've been seeing more complaints the more I check message boards), but it still worked out.

Watching his journey and forcing it to be a 3 hour+ film is why its a classic film to me.

I'd still be interested in watching a new version. Then again I think people would be scared to follow that film (at this time even 26 years later)

People also had an issue with Denzel initially so yeah troubled production to say the least and just shows where we were as a people at the time and how things change.

I'm good with the version we got. I don't think you could've made a better movie than what he made or a better adaptation. It's not a situation like The Shining where he took the book and completely threw it out to make his own version; he adapted what needed to be adapted, went way over budget, got a ridiculous ass run time, and the movie was a success. And I doubt anyone is going to try to step in Denzel's shoes. The best we'll get is snippets of Malcolm, like in Selma, and that should probably be it. If you do another Malcolm movie, do one about a particular part of his life, not the whole thing. That would be interesting.

 

[Alexander The Great]

yes and he should have won for the Hurricane too

 

[nieman]

Chaplin gets no love. Damn shame.

 

[R=G]

Chaplin gets no love. Damn shame.

I havent watched it since I was a kid...think we rented from blockbuster when it left theaters.

 

[Extasy]

Yes he should've won. Easily

I think the man he was portraying influenced the vote and to be honest Pacino had been screwed over by the Oscars himself. No way he shouldn't have won one or two in the 70s

That’s just the culture of the academy. They did the same thing for leo a few years back.
Denzel winning it was pretty controversial back then, a lot of people felt that Russel Crowe was better that year, Russel won it for gladiator the year before. So it wasn’t really gut wrenching for anyone in the end

But Denzel should have won best actor 3 times (1993, 2001, 2016). Manchester by the sea was pure Oscar-bait, I think Denzel will end up winning it again in the future, he’s been on quite the roll lately.

 

[jackswstd]

Had Pacino not been nominated he might’ve gotten it. It was just Denzel’s misfortune that they chose to make up for not giving Al the Oscar for Godfather.

 

[Edub]

Uhhhhh.....yea

 

[CROM]

Chaplin gets no love. Damn shame.

I agree with this, but as a whole I don't think the film was as good as Malcolm X. Downey Jr., on the other hand, was absolutely amazing as Charlie Chaplin. I can't give a definitive answer as to whether or not Denzel should've won the Oscar...and it's because of Downey Jr.'s performance. Pacino shouldn't have won it that year. Give him a lifetime achievement award if he MUST have an Oscar...but Washington or Downey Jr. deserved the win that year.

 

[nieman]

I agree with this, but as a whole I don't think the film was as good as Malcolm X. Downey Jr., on the other hand, was absolutely amazing as Charlie Chaplin. I can't give a definitive answer as to whether or not Denzel should've won the Oscar...and it's because of Downey Jr.'s performance. Pacino shouldn't have won it that year. Give him a lifetime achievement award if he MUST have an Oscar...but Washington or Downey Jr. deserved the win that year.

You're right. The movie wasn't as great (really wasn't special at all), as Malcolm BUT RDJ murked that performance. Pacino shouldn't have won it for that, but he didn't slouch in that performance either. Denzel didn't have the award in the bag as some like to say though. That was a tough year

 

[ℒℴѵℯJay ELECTUA]

Denzel put his soul into that role..
Even his arabic qur'anic recitation was on point!!