Spike Lee's X was a necessary slap on the face for society

"Moviegoers give Spike Lee's epic film 'Malcolm X' two thumbs up," Daily Tar Heel, 11/20/92

By Leah A. Campbell
Staff Writer

Reaction to Spike Lee's epic film, "Malcolm X," was favorable from moviegoers who attended the film's premiere showing in Chapel Hill Wednesday. The movie opened in Chapel Hill at the Plaza Theater on Elliot Road. After seeing the film, Erik Ose, a senior from Providence, R.I., said it was important for everyone to see it. "You can't call yourself an American unless you make the effort to see this movie," he said. Caroline Philson, a senior from Charlotte, said she thought the movie earned an overwhelmingly positive message. "I really thought the movie was beyond words," she said. "It was a necessary slap on the face for society. I just think it is ridiculous that we still have a problem with racism in this day and age."

Carrboro resident Lisa Yonkers said she was pleased with the film. "I thought it was great," Yonkers said. "It really gave a good strong message about the need for brotherhood." Some viewers said they saw the film to compare it to the book. Regina Madison, a first-year UNC law student, said she had wanted to see the film ever since she had read the book. "I have already read the book, and now I want to see Lee's version of the story," she said, while waiting in line to see the film. Madison added that she thought Lee's request for people to skip work and school to see the movie on its opening day was inappropriate. "I think that was very unrealistic," she said. "He should have never asked people to take off from work in this economy."

Ante Gray, a Chapel Hill resident, said he was interested in seeing how Spike Lee would handle the assassination scene. "I'm very curious to find out who Lee is going to say killed Malcolm X," Gray said.

It was not clear whether either the 3:15 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. shows were sold out because the owner of the movie theater, Eastern Federal Corp., would not allow any of the theater's employees to comment. A spokeswoman for the company said the corporation wanted to keep a low profile while the film ran. "We in the film industry have come to the conclusion that the press has the tendency to blow things out of proportion," she said. "This film does not deserve any more press than any other film. This is a simple case of looking for trouble and finding it there."