Spike Lee Responds to the Whole Eastwood Kerfuffle
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, War
First, let's recap: On May 21, Eugene posted about Spike Lee's continued criticism of Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima for not including African Americans. Lee was asked why Eastwood did it as he did, and I have to say, I don't blame him for responding: "If you reporters had any balls you'd ask him why. There's no way I know why he did that -- that was his vision, not mine..." Today, we got word that Eastwood has responded, with the eloquent "A guy like him should shut his face." He then went on to talk about revisionism.So, MTV went back to Lee, who is taking, and I quote: "the Obama high road." (New political slang alert! What's next?) He continued: "I've said my statement. I have no ill will towards Mr. Eastwood. What I said to him was not a personal attack, it was an observation. So that's really the end of it."
Think what you will of Lee, but this whole thing is a little ridiculous. If you head back to Erik's 2007 post about Miracle at St. Anna, Lee discussed how he'd met a black veteran who fought at Iwo Jima and was disappointed in Eastwood's portrayal, and how this inspired him to make the film and pay tribute to African American soldiers. Now he's getting crap thrown at him about revisionist history, and all of this is stemming from people asking him to talk about it, and him saying he couldn't answer for Eastwood. Lee might say some controversial things sometimes, but he was really backed into a corner this time around.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-07-2008 @ 11:53AM
Richard von Busack said...
It always creeps me out when reporters try to squeeze one director into denouncing another one. I did it myself when I was starting out, but I've quit doing it. If they do it on their own, like Tarantino does when he's had too much coffee, great, it's news...but it's our job to go out on the limb and say a popular movie is crap...
Lee was absolutely right that reporters are too balless to ask Eastwood why there weren't more black people in his movie. It isn't even that tough a question, if you frame it right. Despite his seriously uneven career as a director, Eastwood gets a pass from the press because of his standing as an actor. As for Lee, he's been a rhubarber all his life, and Eastwood ought to know that and not rise to the bait.
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6-07-2008 @ 1:15PM
T said...
Well, that's not all Spike said. He also said, "First of all, the man is not my father and we're not on a plantation either." That's just so funny to me... it proves that it's all about race with Spike. Somebody tells him to shut up because he's wrong about something, and it's "Don't treat me like a slave." Good God, Spike... is that all you've got? (So much for Spike taking the "high road...")
Interestingly, the above entry also fails to mention that Spike also said at the original press conference that started this ridiculous b.s., "I have a different version" of Iwo Jima. Unfortunately for Spike, there is only ONE version, and that is the truth. Black soldiers did exist at Iwo Jima, but only in the form of one munitions company. If Spike wants to complain that those soldiers played a greater role in the victory there, he should tell us how that happened. Or better yet, he should make his own movie and show us what we're missing. As for Eastwood's film, "Flags Of Our Fathers," other than the obvious dramatization of the story, it is historically accurate. I know that probably grates on Spike's nerves, but changing history for his sensitivities and feelings is probably a bad idea.
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6-07-2008 @ 3:22PM
isaiah said...
I would like to remind T,Please don't belittle the service of any veteran.I am a veteran, and a member of the VFW,All veterans of the U S armed services deserve respect.By your statement "they only servered in one munitions company"in reference to the black soldiers is disgusting.Never mind that when these BLACK SOLDIERS returned home they had to put up with descrimination and a JIM CROW POLITICAL SYSTEM.So T, if you want to exercize your right to free speech,by all means do so.But never ,ever, forget those BLACK SOLDIERS that only served in" only one munition company" helped secure that right for YOU!
6-08-2008 @ 1:48PM
Jim said...
Isaiha,
You're doing exactly what Spike Lee does - making it about race and twisting someone's words and/or intentions. T was obviously referring to the physical number of black soldiers at the battle. By using the word 'just', he was not demeaning them, merely saying their involvement was, by they're numbers as compared to white soldiers, literally (not figuratively) a small one. I think you know that, and are just looking for a way to cause more controversy and make it look like you are the only one that supports veterans. Just like those people who put those silly ribbons on their cars saying that they support the troops, but saying that the rest of us don't. Or claiming to understand our constitution, yet blasting anyone who speaks out against the war or against certain politicians (obviously, if they understood our rights that our soldiers have fought and died for as they claim, they would understand that freedom of speech is a key, protected, and sacred value.
6-07-2008 @ 1:22PM
akaison said...
One of the issue is that white people as a general rule become defensive when you discuss race issues with them. They circle the wagons as I've seen on any number of blogs on this issues. Yes, reporters are partially to blame for trying to manufacture controversey to sell their product. However, rather than addressing Lee's point, way too many people resort to calling Lee names. Or, pretend that "yes there were no blacks, and it was all white, and how dare you question my ignorance about history, and blah, blah blah." This is something I saw in the other thread in which other 'history experts' swore that there was no way there were any blacks at Iwo Jima." Or, they get defensive by trying to make fun of those who question them. It's simply the power of the majority using that power to control history rather than talk about it openly and honestly. This country has always done that, especially on race. And, Hollywood has more than willing to go along with it because a) it's conservative industry despite what people think b) most of the people in power are middle class white and often male and a lot of other reasons. Rather than having this discussion- we are regularly subjected to how up is down, and down is up. For example, one of your posters kept talking about how their are no roles for Asian actors as if one bad treatment justifies another. Like I said in another diary, the fact is that 5 percent of all directors in the DGA today are any minority status at all. If you think that number doesn't affect the creative output of Hollywood, then you are blind to reality.
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6-07-2008 @ 2:54PM
Synonymous said...
"the Obama high road"
From my experience with the flak many Obama voters threw at Clinton and Edwards supporters on message boards and blogs, I imagine this means that Lee will be calling Eastwood a c*** and a b**** a lot from now on.
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6-07-2008 @ 3:26PM
akaison said...
I supported Edwards, so i feel I can say this- Get over it. We lost, and most Edwards supporters were dignities about it. Clinton realizes she lost and has shown dignity and class about it. Shit happens in primaries. Stop acting like you are special. You aren't. If you want to see some nasty stuff go back to 1992. Hell go back to some of the shit that the founders of the country said to each other when running against each other.
6-07-2008 @ 3:41PM
T for Texas said...
Oh, hey, I wasn't belittling black soldiers' contribution to the victory at Iwo Jima at all! My point (that I am guessing sailed by you at somewhere close to the speed of light) in the form of a question was that, in a two hour movie, what kind of role would you expect one munitions company to have? If they get two minutes in the movie, I'm just guessing that Spike would have said something like, "Might as well not even mentioned them if that's all you're gonna show of them." Again, the main thrust of my earlier post is this: how much coverage can you give one company that didn't fire their weapons, when the movie was about the battle itself? Maybe it's me, but it sure does sound like a lot of whiny immaturity on Spike's part.
P. S. No comment on the part of my post about Spike tossin' that race card down at every opportunity? "...[N]ot on a plantation"? Please.
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6-07-2008 @ 9:39PM
AJ Wiley said...
I seriously cannot find myself able to defend Spike Lee in this situation. Flags of Our Fathers was primarily about those who raised the flag. That was the central point of the film. None of those people were black.
And Letters from Iwo Jima? Those were about Japanese troops. There were no black Japanese soldiers. And the American forces are hardly seen.
Plus, there was a post here recently showing that back when Eastwood made Bird, Lee said that Eastwood shouldn't be making movies about black people. And now he wants him to?
I like Spike Lee's movies, for the most part, but he comes across as a self-righteous ass. I probably would've said the same as Eastwood, and not just because I'm white, but because most of what Lee says in cases like these are ridiculous.
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6-08-2008 @ 3:38AM
Ghonius said...
"the obama high-road"? Is that a term we're using now to describe a non-reactionary response from an African-American. Why not just say Obahiroad, it's shorter and you can yell that at African-Americans when they're just staring at you after you tell them to "shut their face" for pointing out your ignorance. Also, Spike Lee is done with his version of the story idiots. That's why he said "his version", it's a project he just finished shooting. Such retards writing for cinematical.
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6-09-2008 @ 5:18PM
mcafee_matthew said...
why isn't there any controversy over Band Of Brothers? Not that I am trying to start some here...I love the series but there were hardly any black people in that at all, if any. So why don't Spielberg and Hanks get Spike Lee's "observation"?
Seems a little unbalanced if you ask me and while Lee may not have been making a personal attack on Eastwood...it sure seems like it...
I think people who constantly notice racial issues and constantly argue about it and associate it with everything are the one's who are responsible for keeping racism around.
Sorry to say but while I do appreciate Lee's films that aren't "whitewashed" I think there should be more emphasis on the international community and not racial divisions/tensions.
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6-13-2008 @ 6:08PM
Ron said...
Get over it Spike. A black man will soon be president. I support this. I'm white! You are oppressed we understand, everyone else has moved on. We are American!! Not, white American, not black American, not Mexican American, not Egyptian American, not Iraqi American, not Iranian American. We are American!!!!!!! What do you want???
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6-26-2008 @ 5:36PM
GNJ said...
You deserve a three day old cookie for voting for Obama!! Wow are'nt you so kind!! Obama did'nt get the popular vote but the delegates. I love him still but the brother does'nt know what he's in store even he he does win. The US government is controlled by greedy multinational corporations bent on wiping out "third world" populations and expanding Europeans into those said countries. And yes, they'll even use a blackman to do it. A blackman upstairs is still no power. It's a trinket, not the real thing. Spike Lee is making a World War II combat film and it's pissing people off especially white males with bruised egos. I've watched war films since I was a boy. All men all the time fighting the glorious fight for the "free world". It angers you to see us even have a non threatening critique of you. Now Spike is making a war movie. You could'nt wait until he said something so you could pounce on him like hungry wolves!! No sir, don't pat yourself on the back for voting for Obama. Learn and know that the majority of whites in this country HATE US and desire us for lunch. Then there are the whites who are trying desperately to live by truth. They catch hell from whites in denial and the canine types who want to still kill us!! You're no help to them sir. Read, study with new eyes and humble yourself and then you won't be patting yourself on the back but will ashamed of how demonic this country still truly is!! It will shock you!! And grant you sir I'm a former marine with an honorable discharge. My father and all of my uncles are war veterans. My father served in World War II as a tank crewman. He saw so much death that it was unnatural!! See Spike's movie and be humbled.
6-17-2008 @ 7:08AM
fred said...
The event upon which "Miracle at St Anna" based took place on August 12, 1944. Troops from the 16th SS Panzer Grenadier Division killed 560 villagers, including 116 children. Soldiers from the 92nd Division where not involved. One villager stated: "It's a false reconstruction that does not take account of the historical reality," adding "This sort of fiction should be banned, otherwise the damage to the memory and historical truth wil be very serious." I do not advocate banning films and plan to see this one (I already read the book). That said, I DO think Spike Lee needs to get his own act together before throwing stones at Clint Eastwood.
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6-24-2008 @ 5:35PM
GNJ said...
Actually, Eastwood's movies are different from the usual Hollywood fair. But different is'nt always good. Oftimes, Americans will stomach a poorly made foreign film and rave about it because it's different. I've just seen The Miracle at St Anna trailer and it's awesome!! I've the comments about Spike Lee and man does he anger the spineless. He only asked Mr.Eastwood a question but black folks can't do that can we? Just shut up and thank white folks smile at us now! I've also read some Italian reviews of his film and that deep seated racism is there too. Remember, Italy colonized Africa along with Britain, France, and Germany(much later). The "third world" as spoken of by Europeans may have seen World War II as a just dessert for for invading countries without due cause. Remember, Italy used mustard gas in Ethiopia in the 1930s and also remember that 66,000 black men from the United States volunteered for combat duty in Ethiopia. Many of those same men also saw combat in World War II and even in Italy. That's a little known fact! Calling Spike a useless ape is childish, ill thought of and silly. But, of course who are we to criticize such "good" white folks such as yourselves.
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