Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Spike Lee 7 Joints
- Commentary: Still workin' on it, honey. Got a ways to go.
Funny, though, I'm having a hard time finding an interesting, informative review of this specific collection. Not sure why, and it's possible I'll be completely unsuccessful, but, in the meantime, I think it's important to include the fact that no one seems to want to take on a critique of this collection.
In the meantime, you might want to read a short, pithy interview Roger Ebert conducted with Spike Lee as Lee was preparing to shoot Malcolm X in 1991. I attached the interview to the title of this post.
This is, of course, not the only collection of Spike Lee films in existence, nor will it be the last. In the meantime, for what it's worth, here is the official Wikipedia perspective on Spike Lee, his life and career.
- Do the Right Thing
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Spike Lee Mookie Danny Aiello Sal Ossie Davis Da Mayor Ruby Dee Mother Sister Giancarlo Esposito Buggin' Out Bill Nunn Radio Raheem John Turturro Pino Richard Edson Vito Rosie Perez Tina Joie Lee Jade Martin Lawrence Cee Samuel L. Jackson Mister Señor Love Daddy Robin Harris Sweet Dick Willie Paul Benjamin ML Frank Vincent Charlie John Savage Clifton Leonard L. Thomas Punchy Frankie Faison Coconut Kid Rick Aiello Officer Gary Long Luis Antonio Ramos Stevie
→ john-turturro; ruby-dee; ossie-davis
Roger Ebert included this movie in his "Great Movies" collection, the review for which is connected to the title of this movie.
This movie is loaded with cameos. Although I listed 20 actors, above, the actual list could go on forever. You'll notice this, if you watch the movie, as every other scene involves an actor of which you think, "I know that one. Who is that?" A more complete list (although I can't swear that it contains all the cameos) can be found in the Wikipedia write up for this film, linked below.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 1989
Directed by Spike Lee. - Mo' Better Blues
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Denzel Washington Minifield "Bleek" Gilliam Spike Lee Giant Wesley Snipes Shadow Henderson Joie Lee Indigo Downes Cynda Williams Clarke Bentancourt Giancarlo Esposito Left Hand Lacey Bill Nunn Bottom Hammer Jeff "Tain" Watts Rhythm Jones Dick Anthony Williams Mr. "Big Stop" Gilliam Abbey Lincoln Lillian Gilliam John Turturro Moe Flatbush Nicholas Turturro Josh Flatbush Robin Harris Butterbean Jones Samuel L. Jackson Madlock Coati Mundi Roberto Rubén Blades Petey
→ john-turturro
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Spike Lee. - Jungle Fever
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Wesley Snipes Flipper Purify Annabella Sciorra Angela Tucci Spike Lee Cyrus Ossie Davis The Good Reverend Doctor Purify Ruby Dee Lucinda Purify Samuel L. Jackson "Gator" Purify Lonette McKee Drew Purify John Turturro Paulie Carbone Frank Vincent Michael Tucci Anthony Quinn Lou Carbone Halle Berry Vivian Tyra Ferrell Orin Goode Phyllis Yvonne Stickney Nilda Nicholas Turturro Vinny Miguel Sandoval Officer Mark Ponte Debi Mazar Denise Tim Robbins Jerry Brad Dourif Leslie Queen Latifah Lashawn Giancarlo Esposito Homeless Man
→ john-turturro; debi-mazar; ruby-dee; ossie-davis; tim-robbins
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 1991
Directed by Spike Lee. - Crooklyn
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Alfre Woodard Carolyn Delroy Lindo Woody David Patrick Kelly Eyes Zelda Harris Tony Carlton Williams Clinton Sharif Rashed Wendell Tse-Mach Washington Joseph Chris Knowings Nate José Zúñiga Tommy La La Isaiah Washington Vic Powell Ivelka Reyes Jessica Spike Lee Snuffy N. Jeremi Duru Right Hand Man Frances Foster Aunt Song Norman Matlock Clem Patriece Nelson Viola
→ delroy-lindo
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 1995
Directed by Spike Lee. - Clockers
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Harvey Keitel Det. Rocco Klein John Turturro Det. Larry Mazilli Delroy Lindo Rodney Little Mekhi Phifer Ronald "Strike" Dunham Isaiah Washington Victor Dunham Keith David Andre "The Giant" Ashley Sticky Fingaz Andres "Scientific" Atkins Regina Taylor Iris Jeeter Fredro Elvis "Go" Atkins Tom Byrd Errol Barnes Lawrence B. Adisa Stan Gilmore Hassan Johnson Trevor "Skills" Jeeter Michael Imperioli Det. Joey "Jojo" Thompson Mike Starr Det. Shawn "Thumper" Ferrell Paul Calderon Jesus at Hambones Spike Lee Chucky Bridges Sr.
→ john-turturro; delroy-lindo
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 1995
Directed by Spike Lee. - Inside Man
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Denzel Washington Det. Keith Frazier Clive Owen Dalton Russell Jodie Foster Madeline White Christopher Plummer Arthur Case Willem Dafoe Cpt. John Darius Chiwetel Ejiofor Det. Bill Mitchell Spike Lee Civilian Kim Director Valerie Keepsake/Stevie James Ransone Darius Peltz/Steve-O Carlos Andrés Gómez Kenneth Damerjian/Steve Bernie Rachelle Chaim Waris Ahluwalia Vikram Walia
→ christopher-plummer; jodie-foster; willem-dafoe
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 2006
Directed by Spike Lee. - BlacKkKlansman
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role John David Washington Det. Ron Stallworth Adam Driver Det. Philip "Flip" Zimmerman Laura Harrier Patrice Dumas Topher Grace David Duke Topher Grace Kwame Ture Harry Belafonte Jerome Turner Jasper Pääkkönen Felix Kendrickson Ryan Eggold Walter Breachway Frederick Weller Pt. Andy Landers Paul Walter Hauser Ivanhoe Ashlie Atkinson Connie Kendrickson Michael Buscemi Jimmy Creek Ken Garito Sergeant Trapp Alec Baldwin Kennebrew Beauregard Nicholas Turturro Walker Damaris Lewis Odetta
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this film.
Release Date: 2018
Directed by Spike Lee.
Wikipedia doesn't have a write-up of this specific film series. I've included the Wikipedia links for the individual movies in their write-ups, above.
Labels: christopher-plummer, debi-mazar, delroy-lindo, denzel-washington, giancarlo-esposito, jodie-foster, john-turturro, ossie-davis, ruby-dee, samuel-l-jackson, spike-lee, tim-robbins, willem-dafoe
Friday, December 16, 2022
Malcolm X - Criterion Edition
- Commentary: Yes, I already own this movie. When I heard, though, that Criterion recently released this movie, complete with its stunning (as usual) restoration work and a slate of Special Features that I can't wait to view, well, I knew I had to add it to my collection, which is probably a good idea, anyway, because, since I first added it to my collection in August of 2016, I've watched it at least once a year, occasionally more. It's one of those movies for which I find myself hungering. So, I have two copies, now. Chances are, I won't view my original copy, again, but I'm going to hang on to it, for awhile, just in case. I don't ever want to be without a copy of this movie.
If the Special Features are intriguing, I'll return here to write about them. The movie, itself, is a wonder to behold, full of amazing acting and Spike Lee's innovative, intriguing auteurism at its best. The design and execution of so many of the scenes grab you by the ears and force you to get each and every moment of this astonishing story of, not only a man, but a people-movement that has yet to achieve ultimate success.
Yes, I've listed it as both a biography and an autobiography. For those of you who are familiar with Alex Haley's and Malcolm X's collaborative book, as well as this movie, you'll understand why I did this.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Denzel Washington Malcolm X Angela Bassett Betty Shabazz Albert Hall Baines Al Freeman Jr. Elijah Muhammad Delroy Lindo West Indian Archie Spike Lee Shorty Theresa Randle Laura Kate Vernon Sophia Ernest Lee Thomas Sidney Christopher Plummer Chaplain Gill Lonette McKee Louise Little Tommy Hollis Earl Little Giancarlo Esposito Talmadge X Hayer Wendell Pierce Ben Thomas Leonard L. Thomas Leon Davis Leland Gantt Wilbur McKinley Roger Guenveur Smith Rudy James McDaniel Brother Earl Steve White Brother Johnson Veronica Webb Sister Lucille Rosary Jean-Claude La Marre Benjamin 2X Debi Mazar Peg Karen Allen Miss Dunne Peter Boyle NYPD Captain Green
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1992
Directed by Spike Lee.
Labels: biography1, christopher-plummer, debi-mazar, delroy-lindo, denzel-washington, drama6, film-art1, giancarlo-esposito, haunting1, period2, political2, spike-lee
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Goodfellas - WB 20 Film Collection Thrillers
- Commentary: I'd seen this movie more than once before I saw it again in this collection, and watching again was absolutely a pleasure. It's a one-of-a-kind gangster movie, and I love both gangster movies and one-of-a-kinds. There is nothing I don't like about this movie and many things I adore about it. Joe Pesci, for instance: a singular performance of a singular character. The generosity of the other stellar actors toward his performance is a thing of beauty to behold. Such a beauty, it seems, that Roger Ebert christened this movie as one of his Great Movies.
Included at the site is a thoughtful meditation on Scorsese and morality throughout his movies, by Jim Emerson.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ray Liotta Henry Hill Robert De Niro Jimmy Conway Joe Pesci Tommy DeVito Lorraine Bracco Karen Hill Paul Sorvino Paulie Cicero Frank Vincent Billy Batts Catherine Scorsese Tommy's Mother Jerry Vale Himself Samuel L. Jackson Stacks Edwards Illeana Douglas Rosie Kevin Corrigan Michael Hill Debi Mazar Sandy
Originally published in this journal on 081416.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Labels: debi-mazar, gang-movie, joe-pesci, robert-de-niro, samuel-l-jackson
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Malcolm X
- Commentary: I initially saw this years ago, and it has haunted me, since, as an innovative biography as well as its depiction of the man. Yet another serendipitous going-out-of-business find.
This is another one of those movies where several people working for and contributing to RogerEbert.com wrote articles pertaining to this movie. Just search it at the site.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published August 14, 2016. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Denzel Washington Malcolm X Angela Bassett Betty Shabazz Albert Hall Baines Al Freeman Jr. Elijah Muhammad Delroy Lindo West Indian Archie Spike Lee Shorty Theresa Randle Laura Kate Vernon Sophia Ernest Lee Thomas Sidney, Fruit of Islam Christopher Plummer Chaplain Gill Lonette McKee Louise Little Tommy Hollis Earl Little Giancarlo Esposito Talmadge X Hayer Wendell Pierce Ben Thomas Leonard L. Thomas Leon Davis Leland Gantt Wilber McKinley Veronica Webb Sister Lucille Rosary Jean-Claude La Marre Benjamin 2X Debi Mazar Peg Peter Boyle NYPD Cpt. Green
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1992
Directed by Spike Lee.
Labels: biography1, christopher-plummer, debi-mazar, delroy-lindo, denzel-washington, drama6, film-art1, giancarlo-esposito, haunting1, period2, political2, spike-lee
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Women (2008)
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: This is one of the few movies I've purchased since Mom died. It came out the Tuesday after she died. We'd talked about getting it so that we could compare it with the first version and looked forward to seeing it. I'd talked, the week before she died, about it's release coming up the next week. Thus, of course, I bought it.
There are two critical schools of thought on this remake. The first is echoed in the link to the title of the movie above. The second is here, courtesy of The New York Times. The former expresses my sentiments, although not completely. Roger Ebert seems not to have watched either movie closely enough to realize that the remake actually follows the structure of the first one very closely. Some of the dialogue is even repeated. The resolution is completely different and the satire is toned down significantly so, yes, these are two "different" movies. And, I definitely missed the presence of the hats and the silly clothes that Sylvia wears in the first movie. I also missed the hilarious actress credit sequence from the first movie that wasn't even attempted in the second. I was curious to see what the producers of the remake would do with that. The second movie also explores the eternal mother character much better than the first, and I like the twist in the remake on the relationship between the mother and daughter. The first is much cattier, but the second portrays deeper friendships which would be trivialized by the catty fast talk of the first. Both movies, as well, have interesting fashion runway sequences. My preference is for the first. I prefer the context, love the fact that the movie switches to color for that sequence, and I love the clothes in the first movies' fashion sequence much better than the clothes in the second. I should have been born so that I could have been in my clothes-horse prime during the thirties through the early forties. For satiric dazzle I prefer the first movie. For emotional satisfaction I prefer the second. I'd love to know which my mother would have preferred. I will be keeping both movies.
You'll notice that I categorized the first as a romance. It was. I can't categorize the second as such, because it isn't; unless you count romancing one's friends, and one's self, which is a clear slant of the second movie. Ah, what the hell; why not. It's a romance. Just not the usual kind.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Meg Ryan Mary Haines Annette Bening Sylvia Fowler Eva Mendes Crystal Allen Debra Messing Edie Cohen Jada Pinkett Smith Alex Fisher Candice Bergen Catherine Frazier Cloris Leachman Maggie Debi Mazar Tanya Bette Midler Leah Miller Carrie Fisher Bailey Smith India Ennenga Molly Haines Lynn Whitfield Glenda Hill
In case you have trouble accessing the NYT review of this movie, above [NYT is now a major butt about free access to their newspaper. They weren't when I originally wrote this post. When will these oligarchic publishers learn! Probably not until the people with pitchforks come for them.], there are two alternate links, one to the Wikipedia article and the refreshed link (my former link had gone bad) in the title to Roger Ebert's review.
Release Date: 2008
Directed by Diane English.
Labels: 21st-century-chick-flicks, annette-bening, candice-bergen, debi-mazar, dramedy1, female-director3, meg-ryan, popcorn-and-soda2, romance2, satire1, women's-movie1
