The Spike Lee interview that I covered yesterday was done with The Daily Beast immediately following the Oscar nominations announcement. TDB published Spike’s thoughts on Selma’s snubs, and then they did an interview with him about his new film, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, which is what he’s actually promoting right now. It comes out on Valentine’s Day, the same as Fifty Shades of Grey, but Spike laughed off the comparison (“We’re not competing against one another”). You can read the new Spike interview here. I’ll admit it, I’m liking Spike this year. He was pissing me off a while back, when he wouldn’t shut up about Tyler Perry. But Spike seems more like an elder statesman these days and he has some really interesting stuff to say. Some highlights:
Whether white directors are given more opportunities after one film bombs: “That’s definitely true, but the marketplace has changed. Look at all the franchise and tentpole films studios are making. Studios don’t want to make movies that are going to be a slight profit; they want movies that are going to open worldwide on the same day. If your métier isn’t special effects-driven, IMAX, 3-D, comic book sh-t, then it’ll be tough.”
On the Sony Hack email claiming international markets are “racist”: “See, I don’t really believe that. Will Smith plays globally. Denzel plays globally. When studios do their formula for budgets a big part of that is what it’s going to make internationally, so automatically when people believe in this mantra that “black doesn’t sell overseas,” you’re going to get less money for your budget. But if you go through the numbers, you’ll see plenty of Caucasian-American actors that don’t travel well overseas, too. A lot of white actors don’t pass Denzel, Will Smith, or Samuel L. Jackson overseas, so this myth that we don’t travel? I don’t believe it.
Whether he & Denzel Washington will do the sequel to Inside Man: “Tell Universal Pictures. That’s our biggest hit, me and Denzel. But tell Universal Pictures!
America’s relationship with the Muslim world: “Here’s the thing: the United States is always going to need a boogie man. The Native Americans, black people, immigrants, the Nazis, Russia and the Cold War, and now it’s Islam. You can tell by James Bond movies who the villain is!
The Eric Garner video made Spike think of: “Radio Raheem. When I saw the footage I got my editor, Barry Brown, who was my editor for many of my films including Do the Right Thing, and we put a clip up on YouTube that intercuts between the real-life murder of Eric Garner and the movie murder of Radio Raheem. And it’s the same damn thing. When I wrote the script in 1988, it was based on the chokehold of Michael Stewart. But you have Michael Stewart, Ed Koch, The Central Park Five, Eleanor Bumpurs…I don’t think we’ve progressed as much as we’d like to think. Those decisions by the juries in Ferguson and Staten Island are mind-blowing to me. But it’s important to also not have a short memory. Everybody also saw the Rodney King video, and what happened? It was moved to Simi Valley, and the cops got off at first. It was only when the Feds came in that they went to jail, and that’s what we hope will happen in Ferguson, and in Staten Island. The Feds have to come in. The precedent has been set already.
His favorite movies of the year: “I liked Birdman. I liked Selma a lot. You know what film I also liked? I liked Nightcrawler a lot. Jake did it. He’s great in the film.
What I like about Spike is that he really does come at it with a comprehensive knowledge of film. He’s like Quentin Tarantino in that way – we can debate their messages, their styles, their language, but there’s no debate about their knowledge of film and their love of the medium. And everything he says about black movie stars versus white movie stars selling internationally is dead-on, as are his comments about the shift in the industry to comic-book films and franchises. Call me crazy, but I really liked Spike here.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I didn’t know the cops who beat Rodney King ended up in jail. How did I not know that? I’m glad they did.
Could Spike Lee be mellowing, or am I mellowing? He didn’t grate on my last nerve here.
I feel like he’s mellowing too. And I really like the boogie man comment… so true about the James Bond movies 🙂
I love this statement:
“You can tell by James Bond movies who the villain is!”
Me too.
Christopher Waltz!!
It’s a funny statement but not a true one. It would be Javier Bardem and Christoph Waltz.
So the Spanish and the Germans?
Well there was this ex-boyfriend of mine but beyond that? 😉
…though Waltz isn’t german 😉
its true, James Bond is an english franchise though. but the english politicians ususally are lap dogs of the USA anyway 🙂
I really intended to come at this article with a serious head on. But I got lost in a mimif-inspired transatlantic vocab series of wordassociationfootballs on bogey, boogie and booger. Now it’s hard to concentrate.
All’s I’ll say is that “overseas” is not homogenous. And there are big differences in what sells where.
Did you get it all figured out FAKE BABY HOARDER?
Good point about “overseas.” Like it’s one big blob of sameness.
One of my FAKE BABIES just walked in the door. He got a lift home and left the other FAKE BABY to fend for himself on the school bus. Charming. I said, “I can’t talk to you. You’re a FAKE BABY and you don’t exist. I can, however, jiggle your hand about if you like.”
GNAT – yes. Exactly. And I think the moneymen of Hollywood see the emerging markets as less PROFIT friendly to minorities (be they gay, black, powerful women, whatever). I think they are probably wrong, but moneymen see risk more than they see potential. And the emerging markets are the ones that are growing in terms of film consumption. I think the moneymen’s risk-averse attitude to up-and-coming profit centres (eg China, which has just censored its most popular TV soap to take out necklines with cleavages) is what is setting us back. So I kinda disagree with Spike.
Pfft… said the Overseas-er, driving roundabouts (in the WRONG DIRECTION) while eating Shepherds pie and yelling “Jolly Good” out the window.
*Offers a huge pitcher of Comet Sophies and a FAKE BABY for my A-murican F_ckery…hides under a flag*
I really like this interview and I agree with so much of what he has to say here.
I dont know and understand what he says about films and awards but what he says about Islam is spot on. He is completely right. It’s amazing how hard this world is fighting an entire religion on the back of some individuals who commit crimes.
He nails on Islam
‘some individuals’ You make out like it’s 8 muslims mutilating young girls genitals and hanging gay people. You shouldn’t have to respect the religion it’s a belief. Just like we can laugh and point at someone for thinking they talk to Elvis, we can laugh can someone things they can talk to god.
What are you even talking about? What Spike is referring to is the villification of Muslims in the media, and what @part said is that people are fighting an entire religion based on the actions of a percentage of certain individuals/organisations. No ones saying you should “respect” anything, but the hatred of Muslims isn’t okay at all.
I do think that in a free society people should be able to question, challenge, or mock religion since religion is basically a belief system, and no belief system or ideology should be above jokes or criticism- whether it’s religious or political. But that doesn’t change the fact that sometimes the way men and women who are Muslim, whom people think are Muslim, or who just may be from the Middle East are viewed and treated by westerners in very discriminatory ways- all lumped into one group. That’s the problem. We need to find the balance between putting any religion on a pedestal to the point where nothing related to it can be criticized, challenged, or mocked vs being intolerant and vilifying all who practice it, or elevating ourselves above them.
Yes for once Spike Lee is right about everything and I like the way he worded his answers. I do believe people have the right to question or challenge any religion however as long it’s done respectfully. It’s all in the way you go about doing or saying things. I do not find humor in poking fun at religion/God. This is one of the biggest problems in the world people have no respect nor consideration for others.
I love this interview. Spike knows his stuff and he sounds like it. I like to think that he’s throwing some awesome shade at the whole Marvel franchise that pumps out CGI special-effects films – and at the directors who do them.
I can remember watching Malcolm X for the first time and having no clue how it did not win any Oscars – and got only one nomination. I genuinely believe that Spike Lee is simply frightening to the Academy and that’s why they seem to ignore him so much. There doesn’t seem to be much reason for that other than simple racism.
It has nothing to do with racism. People just don’t like him. I’ve followed Spike Lee for years and he just rubs people ,no matter the color, the wrong way.
Yeah, because he isn’t liked, whatever!! There are asshole white directors and they still get awarded. FOH
He doesn’t rub me the wrong way. I’ve disagreed with him on things, but I also get that his perspective is his own. Frankly, James Cameron is, to me, a far bigger douche than Spike Lee could ever hope to be (at least the actors who work with Lee seem to like him and many return to working with him). Lee’s artistic merits shouldn’t be contingent upon his personal life – if that was the case, Woody Allen would never work again. Another example of double standards in the industry.
Spike Lee not getting nominated still doesn’t equal racism. In Hollywood a lot of it is about being liked and respected. A white director can still be a jerk and be respected. A lot of people don’t like or respect him and it has nothing to do with his color.
So you legitimately believe that there is no racial component when a director who has created more than one film that the Library of Congress has determined to be “culturally significant” received almost no attention from the Academy, whereas multiple directors who never receive such recognition do? It must be lovely to live inside such a bubble.
Lee’s personal opinions don’t have any bearing upon his artistic merit. The Academy has had no issues at all honoring directors who are known to mistreat their casts and crews (like Cameron is notorious for) or who have terrible personal lives (Allen, Polanski). Compared to them, Lee looks pretty tame. Personal feelings or reputation clearly count for less than you think they do.
You can’t deny that some of the hatred for him is racial though. Not everyone, but some. There are numerous white stars, directors, writers, executives who are utter assholes who get 10x the respect Spike Lee does and a tenth of the shit he gets.
Can Spike Lee be a jerk sometimes? Yes, absolutely. Has he said massively stupid things in the past? Of course. But James Cameron and David O. Russell are known to be massive, MASSIVE assholes on the set and they get nowhere near the criticism Spike Lee gets. As Sam said above, Roman Polanski raped someone and he gets more respect than Spike Lee gets (who as far as I know has never raped anyone).
I think that’s one of the things I hate the most. They just want to make money, money, and more money. Which is fine. But there has to be a balance, especially when you’re in a medium that isn’t just about money. It’s also supposed to be about art, and about making a difference, a statement about something.
That’s why I kinda hate all of these comic book movies. I didn’t mind them at first, but it’s so freaking annoying to see one company get it right for the most part (Marvel’s roll out), and then see a bunch of people just follow it…..whoever made that awful Green Lantern movie. Try something different yourselves. Don’t just follow.
And don’t be surprised that when you put half assed and formulaic films out, that people aren’t going to respect it.
Yes to him saying international audiences aren’t racist but the people holding back these movies are. It’s the same thing I’ve been telling people. We are far past the point of “Well support the movies and then they’ll make more.”
On a basic level they don’t want certain movies to be successful or more than a flash in the pan. They don’t want to tell other people’s stories, they don’t want to see a hero who doesn’t look like them.
It’s hurting their own market but that’s how strong these inclinations are and that’s what was evidence in the Sony emails. “Oh we can’t do a movie with Denzel it won’t sell” “Oh there’s nothing wrong with us white-washing a movie, it wouldn’t sell otherwise.” “Sure Scarlett Johanson should play a Japanese woman based on cyber-punk manga, we can’t actually hire a Japanese woman to play that role!”
This is something so basic and yet many people don’t get it. You can be a star but if the people who hold the keys to the kingdom don’t want you in you don’t get in. You could be the best but you won’t get that award or even be in the running of the PTB don’t feel like throwing a bone your way and having a reason to pat themselves on the back.
It was one producer who wrote an e-mail about the international market and Denzel. It wasn’t “”Sony” as a corporation. Sony hired Denzel and he brought in a great box office. It’s was one producer’s opinion, not Sony as a whole.
Thank you for that Jayna, it was one email that was released to the public. However, actions speak louder than words. The white-washing of films has been a long-standing tradition with no end in sight. People whine about black people complaining the most but Asian Americans are cheated out of playing stories featuring authors, animators and characters who share their ethnicity without hesitation. It’s the same issue: if they’re not playing a samurai or a soldier from a war they’re not positively and naturally portrayed. This suggests it isn’t simply 1 lone little idiot refusing to be reasonable while the rest of the studios and execs sing and hold hands.
I don’t always like all of Spike’s interviews, but I enjoyed this interview.
Hm. Now that’s saying something.
mimif, A hundred million FAKE BABIES for the salient and astute comment.
The interview is about many different subjects but after watching Nightcrawler I just wanted to say how right he is about this movie. Gyllenhaal transformed into an entirely different person and I’m not even talking about the weight loss. He talked, walked and even blinked differently in this movie. I hated his character so so much and the second-hand embarrassment made me cringe so hard the entire time but I was also amazed by the acting. Jake himself can be annoying and too hyper in interviews but he managed to make Lou Bloom a completely different kind of hyper and annoying. He should’ve received the Oscar nomination but I knew he wouldn’t because he didn’t campaign at all and the Academy members don’t like him. I didn’t see American Sniper yet and I’m not a Cooper hater but I doubt he has it in him to beat what Gyllenhaal did. There is always a certain similarity in every character he plays and there’s always this – ok, so he plays a hard-drinking teacher, cook, unemployed bi-polar dude or criminal but it’s still Bradley Cooper. Why the voters love him so much?
I could smell his character desperation through the screen. That’s how great Jake was in that role.
Yes! Lou Bloom as a character haunted me for days. I could not stop thinking about that movie.
Good interview. I think he’s spot on concerning most of the things, he mentions, but it would be nice with a little .. diversity about “overseas”. What is overseas exactly? Europe? Asia? Africa? The ME? I don’t know if movies sell the same way everywhere else than in the US.
Spike Lee is truly awful. Good director but he is jealous of anyone with more success than E.g. Eddie Murphy, Quentin and Tyler Perry and he assumes he’s the spokesmen for all black black people.
And people assume commenting on a religion is pure hate, no it’s just criticism. People don’t scream out mormonphobia when bashing Mormonism.
The guy is a peanuthead, why are people taking him seriously now?
People do scream. I can’t say it is specific to Mormons, but it’s practically a mantra on Fox News that Christians claim religious persecution/loss of freedom of religion when they are the predominant religion in the country, and while some often try to legislate dogma.
Jealous of Tyler Perry, really?? That hack, please! When did he said he was the spoke person for black people, typical white person response to a black person who speak about black issues. You guys prefer the Denzel and Will Smith’s types of black people who don’t speak on black issues, because you guys don’t like us to get to black!
I LIKE SPIKE. There, I said it.
LOL @ “the United States is always going to need a boogie man”, so true.
Hi, Actually I don’t think it’s the USA who need a boogie man, it’s actually the arms industry in the USA, to account for spending billions of dollars in manufacturing weapons and not in health care or education.. (point of view of a european, me)… They sell americans and western world this “enemy” idea… unfortunately…
GREAT INTERVIEW!!
How so, because he speaks to truth???
Great interview.
I nearly passed this up because usually Spike Lee makes me roll my eyes, but he really was spot on. He stands up for his beliefs that the grand juries got it wrong, but he also pushes back. Crazy but he may be mellowing. Plus I like hearing him talk about films. I don’t know a ton but i always like to learn.
Im from overseas europe, i never thought about it, if blacks dont sell cause i can tell you you wont find anybody in europe who doesnt love will smith, denzel, beyonce etc. i honestly can say i dont see a color i see only humans. Do you know how many europeans love the sun and always look very orange ? See, aniston is greek thats why she loves to look orange i guess 😉
I disagree with you re. Spike Lee’s comments. Many people (including Spike Lee!) need a boogie man, not just white America. And America is not against the Muslims. We have a terrible security/ terror problem with fanatics not the ordinary man on the street. Spike Lee makes overgeneralized extremist statements as if we’re white and thus racist. I don’t like him. He is a provacateur without being so in a good sense. He perpetuates hateful myths and is monofocused on simply one issue without having a sense of proportion or the complexity of real life.