Malcolm & Marie: 5 Ways It's John David Washington's Best Movie (& 5 It's BlacKkKlansman)
The Netflix movie Malcolm & Marie is getting a lot of attention from fans and critics. The black-and-white drama follows a couple, a male filmmaker and his actor girlfriend on the eve of the premiere of his latest movie. As the two await the reviews to roll in, old wounds and new grievances bubble to the surface. Zendaya is getting a lot of praise for her performance, but John David Washington deserves recognition as well for the male half of this movie.
While some are considering this his best movie, BlacKkKlansman is a hard one to ignore in that conversation.
10 Malcolm & Marie: Two-Hander
Like many of Spike Lee's movies, BlacKkKlansman has a really great ensemble cast backing up Washington in the lead role. Along with Adam Driver's Oscar-nominated performance, the movie also stars Topher Grace, Laura Harrier, and Paul Walter Hauser among many great actors.
While Malcolm & Marie doesn't boast as large of an ensemble, it does make great use of its two stars. Washington and Zendaya are the only actors in the movie and there is something so captivating about seeing these two share the screen along and bounce off each other.
9 BlacKkKlansman: Spike Lee
Sam Levinson is the writer-director of Malcolm & Marie. He has previously directed the action-comedy Assassination Nation and several episodes of Euphoria. Given his work here, he could have a very exciting career ahead of him, but he doesn't yet have the legacy that Spike Lee has built.
By the time he directed BlacKkKlansman, Lee was already a legendary filmmaker and BlacKkKlansman just reminded people why that was. Lee's work on the movie is incredible, from his interesting shots to his powerful editing choices. It is a true master at work.
8 Malcolm & Marie: Roller Coaster
Despite only having two actors on screen and despite taking place in one house the entire time, Malcolm & Marie is a bit of an exhausting movie. But that does seem to be the point.
From very early on in the movie, this couple begins arguing and it doesn't really let up from there. Each of them shares their version of things or their point of view. Sometimes the situation diffuses but then something inevitably sparks it back into another blowout, this one angrier than the last. It is a strange and complex journey the characters take and it is captivating to be on this journey with them, trying to decide if these two should be together in the end.
7 BlacKkKlansman: The Story
The story of BlacKkKlansman is an immense one. Lee creates a complex narrative filled with interesting characters that allow the audience to get invested while also being fascinated by the true story.
Though Malcolm & Marie does a good job with its story, BlacKkKlansman is better in this regard.
6 Malcolm & Marie: Complex Character
In BlacKkKlansman, Washington's character of Ron Stallworth is an easy hero to root for. He not only wants to bring down the KKK, but he also has to contend with his narrow-minded and sometimes racist law enforcement colleagues. However, his character in Malcolm & Marie has a bit more range for Washington to explore.
Instead of being simply the hero, Malcolm is a complex character the audience learns more and more about over the course of the movie. He is arrogant, self-centered, and mean-spirited, but also passionate and caring at times. The audience can go from liking to hating him and back again throughout the movie.
5 BlacKkKlansman: The Comedy
In the hands of a lesser director, BlacKkKlansman, may not have been able to deliver on all its nuances. Lee, however, uses the material to explore racism in powerful ways but also doesn't ignore the absurdity of the plot.
It is very impressive how the movie is able to balance the two tones so effectively. But when it lets the comedic side flow, it is to great effect, and Washington is quite good with this material.
4 Malcolm & Marie: Intimate
Malcolm & Marie is a movie that was made during the COVID-19 pandemic. The small cast and single location made it possible to pull off the shoot safely and relatively easily. In another year, the movie might have been overlooked, but it does feel like an interesting highlight of this unusual time.
The shoot also made the movie feel very intimate like the audience is inside that house with this couple throughout this night. That intimate vibe feels very suitable right now and makes the movie more interesting.
3 BlacKkKlansman: The Suspense
Again, the small scale of Malcolm & Marie is quite purposeful and works for what the movie is trying to do. However, in comparison to watching BlacKkKlansman, Spike Lee's movie is just a much more entertaining time.
Along with the exciting premise and fun humor, the movie is an intense crime story. Following this undercover operation and wondering if the risky gambit is going to pay off just makes for a really suspenseful experience.
2 Malcolm & Marie: Commanding Performance
Washington got a lot of praise for his performance in BlacKkKlansman, but it was also clear that he was just beginning to show his promise as an actor. In the short time between the two movies, Washington developed as an actor and he delivers a much more commanding performance in Malcolm & Marie.
While Washington might be overshadowed at times by the story or his co-stars in BlacKkKlansman, he is front-and-center in Malcolm & Marie. Again, this is a type of character that allows him to give a much more varied performance and he does a fine job with it.
1 BlacKkKlansman: The Message
When looking at these two movies, it seems pretty clear which of them is going to leave a bigger impact on the viewer. While Malcolm & Marie might have some memorable moments, the message at the center of BlacKkKlansman is a powerful one.
In the closing moments of the movie, Lee delivers a moment that serves as a fitting cap to the movie and a stirring look at how this hatred is still very much a part of modern society.
No comments: