Spike Lee loves to talk. He talks to Reggie Miller at NBA basketball games. He talks to the press. He talks about films he doesn't like. He talks about a society which, for the most part, pisses him off. But Lee has always backed up his talk with assured filmmaking bravado. The tumultuous soul has the kind of writing and directing skill that comes along only once in a generation.
I suppose one could compare Lee to New York neighbor Martin Scorsese. Both men come from minority backgrounds, their films taking place in the unique land of the Big Apple. Like Scorsese, Lee has never made a completely poor film. Like Scorsese, Lee's films are noted by fierce vision and angst. And like Scorsese, Lee has never been truly acknowledged with an Academy Award. When such inferior film directors as Steven Spielberg, Oliver Stone and even Kevin Costner are awarded multiple times, it causes film lovers to scratch their collective heads.
Hollywood is about money, thus it's easier to award financial success rather than artistic merit. And perhaps, there are other factors as well. Scorsese's Raging Bull is generally considered one of the greatest films in history. It is furious, bloody, thought-provoking and poetic. Lee's greatest film, Do the Right Thing will eventually withstand the test of time. It too is filled with rage and unforgettable moments of groundbreaking intensity. Both films leave blood on the cement, and viewers exit the theater having witnessed levels of tragedy as ugly as anything seen in that Rodney King video. New York has a way of spawning such artistic unpleasantness.
Most of Lee's work, well hell, all of it, has dealt with the lives of black men and women in America. So it came as a surprise when he decided to make 25th Hour a couple of years ago. While taking place in New York, it involved Caucasian men and women with a few Russian gangsters thrown in for good measure. It must have been a great challenge for Lee to step outside of his own personal experience - though I suspect he would be the first to admit that's just a load of shit. The argument of cultural appropriation could begin here I suppose. Write what you know, create what you know, sculpt what you've seen with thine own eyes.
I loved Spike Lee's 25th Hour and consider it to be one of his finest films. It will never be considered his greatest achievement, as it is just a few notches below the rollercoaster couplet of Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X. I'm not sure if Lee can ever really top the youthful rebellion of those two classic works (though if I had to bet, I would say he would). But 25th Hour is still a brilliant, at times innovative, work blessed with superb portrayals, an electric eye for New York locale and heartbreaking regret.
Article comments
1 - Chris Puzak
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.
2 - Jim Carruthers
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)
3 - visualsimplicity
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.
4 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
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.
5 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
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.
6 - Chris Kent
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....
7 - Chris Kent
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.....
8 - Chris Kent
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.....
9 - Chris Kent
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!