Hollywood Feud: Clint Eastwood vs Spike Lee
By Warner Todd Huston Posted in Hollywood — Comments (5) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
In this corner, Clint Eastwood, Dirty Harry himself. And in that corner, the self-appointed guardian of America's black population, Spike Lee. It's shaping up to be a battle royale, folks, with Lee rabbit punching the aging action star while Eastwood uses his smarts and experience to deliver a knock out blow.
In round one, Lee came out swinging at Director Clint Eastwood's WWII films, "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima," claiming that Eastwood "erased the role of black GIs from history." Lee tried on his self-righteous air of moral certitude and labeled Eastwood a racist. "Many black veterans who fought in Iwo Jima were hurt that there was no representation of them in both of those films," Lee said in an interview in Rome last year.
But not to fear for Eastwood losing the bout, as he is about to show us all that Spike Lee doesn't have what it takes to go toe to toe with a master.
Round two began as the blow fell upon Eastwood in an interview with Focus magazine. Why was Eastwood such a racist, they wondered? Eastwood, momentarily rocked on his heels, came back with a knock out blow showing the world that, aging or not, he was still faster and smarter than the bespeckled, racemongering Lee.
"Does he know anything about American history?" Eastwood told Focus when asked about Lee's criticism. "The U.S. military was segregated til the Korean War, and the blacks in World War Two were totally segregated. The only black battalion on Iwo Jima was a small munitions supply unit that came to the beach.
"The story was about the men who raised the flag and we can't make them black if they were not there. So tell him: Why don't you go back and study your history and stop mouthing off!"
Looks like Lee is on the ropes and being shown for the palooka he really is. The decision goes to Eastwood for showing us all that Spike Lee has no idea what he is talking about. Not that anyone suspected otherwise, mind you.
Dontcha just hate all this actor on actor violence?
Be sure and Visit my Home blog Publius' Forum. It's what's happening NOW!
Spike Lee sucks as a director. All his movies look like a sophomore film school projects. They're unrealistic, and full of stereotypes.
He fills every movie with simplistic views about complex issues like racism. Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubrick are directors. Spike Lee is a joke.
|
"..so ask yourself...Do I feel lucky?" |
Ha, this is just like Spike Lee claiming that Hoosiers was a racist movie because they didn't face any black players until the state championship, and therefore the movie was taking advantage of a racist "white underdogs vs. evil blacks" storyline. The only problem with this thesis? The real life team the movie was based on did not face any black players until the state championship versus South Bend Central, just as depicted in the movie.
I think that Eastwood tried to get it right and came as close as one can.
But I think that so much of Hollywood's version of history is what the left wing WISHES history was (FDR walking in "Pearl Harbor", a surprisingly moderate and well-tempered Malcolm X in "X", a southern conspiracy to kill JFK in "JFK", a seemingly pro-gay rights Queen Elizabeth in "Elizabeth", pirates that don't attack an attractive Keira Knightly on board their ship in all 3 "Pirates" movies) and far from what history actually was.
For good historical fiction that feels genuine, I recommend "Flags of our Fathers", "Gods and Generals", and "Gettysburg". I like the cinematography and the Greek-tragedy aspects of Oliver Stone's "Nixon" although I'm sure that Stone got just as many things wrong in that movie as he did in "JFK".
Proudly supporting John S. McCain for President (McCain/Romney?)
I wondered about the actual role of African Americans on Iwo, and looks like Eastwood has done his homework. Good for him, but wonder how his real facts will be answered by Spike who does seem to be concerned with facts.
______________________________________
Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !