Blogcritics: Comments on Spike Lee and 25th Hour

Comment by Chris Kent

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 08:00:38 EDT

El Senor Duke, As usual, your comments are appreciated. Thank you my friend. I considered discussing additional Spielberg films and Lee films, which would have been relevant, but decided to keep it simple. I am am really pleased you enjoyed 25th Hour as much as I did.....Thanks!

Comment by Chris Kent

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 07:57:34 EDT

Visualsimplicity, Some films strike people in different ways. Spike Lee is certainly cocky, but I would say 25th Hour is his least "cocky" film...... To me, a "cocky" film would spell disaster for any filmmaker, and 25th Hour is most certainly not a disaster.....

Comment by Chris Kent

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 07:54:26 EDT

Jim Carruthers my fine Canadian friend, to say Jungle Love deals exclusively with the Caucasian race is a pretty shaky stand, but if you would like to make it, be my guest.....

Comment by Chris Kent

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 07:51:45 EDT

Thanks for your comment Chris Puzak. Summer of Sam did indeed focus on a group of Italian Americans, but it also had multiple black characters, Hispanic characters, hell it was a patchwork quilt of New York during the summer of 1980. It was a Spike Lee film (and an interesting one) which did not deal exclusively with the black race, however, it also did not deal exclusively with the Caucasian race....

Comment by Aaron, Duke De Mondo

Sat, 12 Jun 2004 12:20:00 EDT

Chris, i jsut finished watching this. It finally got off my screen select list and arrived in the post. I thought it was utterly brilliant, with enough emotional punch (literally) to make up for the slices of slightly indulgent fare. I think its his most accomplished film, although its usually best to wait a day or two befroe deciding. At the minute, im awe-struck. Even Do The Right Thing didn't affect me the way this did. Brilliant stuff.

Comment by Aaron, Duke De Mondo

Sun, 6 Jun 2004 09:25:50 EDT

I have yet to see 25th Hour, although i've been meaning to since it came out. Too many Lenzi cannibal flicks to endure first, i guess. This was a great review, Chris, as ever. Challenging and thought-provoking. I really didn't enjoy Summer Of Sam. Thought it was bloated nonsense, although Adrian Brody was amazing, much better than when he was The Piano Player or whatever. Apart from SOS, the only other Lee flick i felt underwhelmed by was School Daze, which at least was interesting. Good work Chris.

Comment by visualsimplicity

Sun, 6 Jun 2004 03:37:36 EDT

25th Hour was a fairly good film, but even then I still found myself slightly insulted by it. It was made in such a way that it was as if it demanded that I sit down watch it and be amazed by it's profoundness. I suppose it appeared cocky to me.

Comment by Jim Carruthers

Fri, 4 Jun 2004 17:55:19 EDT

Damn, you beat me to it, I was going to mention "Summer of Sam", but "Jungle Love" is about a mixed race relationship, so that half-counts. Wouldn't you love to see Scorsese and Lee in a spelling bee, just to see who's head would explode first (refereed by Christopher Walken, of course)

Comment by Chris Puzak

Fri, 4 Jun 2004 13:54:47 EDT

Actually, Lee's previous movie, Summer of Sam, had no black characters in it either, so The 25th Hour wasn't exactly a big surprise. They were both excellent movies though.