Mo' Better Blues was fantastic, but I love Branford Marsalis so I may be slightly biased. That film has, IMO, the greatest soundtrack of any movie ever. Even if you don't like the movie you should own the soundtrack album.
I don't understand how you don't like Malcolm X. I know people have issue with Spike Lee's aggressive approach to his politics but it was still a fantastic piece of filmmaking and probably the best performance of Denzel Washington's career.