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19 articles from 2009
'Kobe Doin Work' is More Than Just Hoopla
27 November 2009 11:18 PM, PST
| CinemaSpy
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I have only been to one NBA game in my life and that was 10 years ago (the Vancouver Grizzlies against Portland, I think it was). I didn't understand the rules of this high-scoring sport so I thought the half time acrobat show was the most entertaining part of the event. Nevertheless, I was intrigued when I received a review copy of the Espn basketball documentary Kobe Doin' Work.
Helmed by renowned film director Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing, Summer of Sam, Malcolm X), Kobe Doin' Work focuses on a "game in the life" of La Lakers star Kobe Bryant. From it, I hoped to learn something about how the game of basketball is played and about the life of one of the biggest sports stars in the world. As a fan of other sports (particularly English Premier League soccer) I was also curious to get a sense of what
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James Earl Jones: confessions of Big Daddy
23 November 2009 1:30 PM, PST
| The Guardian - Film News
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James Earl Jones has been breaking down barriers since the 1950s. As he prepares to star in an all-black Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, he tells Maddy Costa about his absent father, elderly sex – and why his stutter was his salvation
The septuagenarian walking slowly through the Novello theatre in London looks like an archetypal American tourist. Tall and wide, he wears a puffy gilet that makes him seem even bulkier, while a faded baseball cap shades his face. Yet this ordinary-looking man is one of America's pre-eminent actors: James Earl Jones. Over the last 50 years, he has won two Tony awards (playing a boxer in The Great White Hope, and for his role in August Wilson's Fences), an Oscar nomination (for the film of The Great White Hope), as well as multiple Emmy nominations and awards for his TV work.
You wouldn't know any of this to look at him,
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- Maddy Costa
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Spike Lee And Antoine Fuqua To Adapt 'Miss: Better Living Through Crime'
18 November 2009 7:01 AM, PST
| MTV Splash Page
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Critically acclaimed filmmakers Spike Lee and Antoine Fuqua will adapt Philippe Thirault, Marc Riou and Mark Vigouroux’ graphic novel "Miss: Better Living Through Crime" for Vigilante Entertainment.
Originally published by French comic publisher Humanoids, “Miss” is a crime thriller set in the 1920s that follows an unusual partnership between two killers for hire: a poor white girl named Nola who becomes a tough femme fatale and Slim, an African-American pimp from Harlem. “Miss” was also published in the U.S. in 2002.
According to Variety, Fuqua will direct “Miss” while Lee is onboard as an executive producer along with Pierre Spengler, Fabrice Giger and Vigilante Entertainment founder Hicham Benkirane. The project is currently being shopped around to film studios.
Lee is widely known for films like “Do the Right Thing”, “Malcolm X” and “Get on the Bus,” while Fuqua’s best-known film is “Training Day” — which earned Denzel Washington the
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- Blair Marnell
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Antoine Fuqua and Spike Lee Team Up for Adaptation of Graphic Novel Miss: Better Living Through Crime
17 November 2009 10:39 PM, PST
| Collider.com
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It’s been twenty years since Do the Right Thing but Spike Lee has continued to grow and innovate as a filmmaker, pushing himself to work outside his comfort zone while never completely leaving his deep-seated convictions about race in America.
It’s been eight years since Training Day but Antoine Fuqua has yet to make another successful film and even Training Day succeeded more because of Denzel Washington than because of Fuqua’s direction. While he did receive positive notices for his most recent film Brooklyn’s Finest, which played at Sundance earlier this year, it’s been a long dry spell for Fuqua. Can he finally up his game by joining forces with Lee? Their collaboration in adapting the graphic novel Miss: Better Living Through Crime may answer that question. Hit the jump for details.
Here’s what Variety has to say about the source material:
[Miss, by French writers Philippe Thirault, Marc Riou and Mark Vigouroux] revolves around Nola and Slim,
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- Matt Goldberg
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Check Out 'The Messenger,' 'Uncertainty' And 'William Kunstler: Disturbing The Universe' In This Week's unLimited
10 November 2009 9:00 AM, PST
| MTV Movies Blog
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After the record-breaking success of "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" over the weekend, I'm more hopeful for films starting out in limited release. This week's recommendations may not have the distinction of being championed by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, so if you find any of them worth seeing based on my recommendation, it may be more necessary for you to make the effort to get them to play near you.
"The Messenger"
What it is: A skewed romantic drama about a young Iraq War vet (Ben Foster) who is assigned to the Army's Casualty Notification service, where he's partnered with a captain played by Woody Harrelson. While delivering the bad news, he falls for one of the notified widows (Samantha Morton).
Reasons to see it: The film has won awards at the Berlin and Deauville film festivals and as of this writing has a perfect critical score at Rotten Tomatoes.
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- Christopher Campbell
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Top Ten Working American Directors
7 October 2009 2:18 AM, PDT
| Rope of Silicon
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Top Ten Working American Directors
A list like this is tricky to the point of madness. However, I'm going to save you the trouble by saying it right here, right now: Most of the choices on this list are obvious. There's a reason why certain names continually pop up whenever conversation drifts toward great American films. So there. I said it.
Yet, how do you weigh the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, a genius who delivered some of the all-time greatest films, but fizzled out 25 or so years ago, against a filmmaker like Woody Allen who has worked consistently for decades churning out both brilliant gems and disposable time wasters? How do you compare either of these directors against an auteur such as Spike Jonze who has only opened two films so far, but both are masterpieces?
In the end I just went with my gut. I knew there were
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- David Frank
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Kathy Griffin Channels Kate Gosselin
10 September 2009 7:01 PM, PDT
| www.actressarchives.com
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Describing it as a "TV film" comparable to "Malcolm X," comedienne Kathy Griffin's send-up of Kate Gosselin on last night's episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" wasn't quite as respectful as Spike Lee's biopic. In fact, poking fun at Kate's break-up with husband Jon Gosselin (played by "Star Trek" actor George Takei), as well as her recent "tummy tuck" bikini photos taken on vacation in North Carolina, one could go so far as suggesting the clip was actually a little bit mean. In any case, judge for yourself:
<pa
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- By Actress Archives
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Lee Hosts Party For Jackson On His Birthday
30 August 2009 7:11 AM, PDT
| WENN
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Director Spike Lee braved the rain to celebrate what would have been Michael Jackson's 51st birthday on Saturday with a massive outdoor party in New York.
Thousands of people turned up at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, where the Malcolm X filmmaker hosted the free bash, celebrating the King of Pop's life and music.
Lee, who directed two of the singer's music videos in 1996, remembered Jackson's genius, telling the crowd, "I was just like everyone else. I loved his talent."
Brooklyn borough President Marty Markowitz designated the day Michael "King of Pop" Jackson Memorial Day, while DJs played the star's hits for the dancing audience.
Meanwhile, in Mexico thousands of fans marked the day by attempting to break the record for the most people dancing to Thriller simultaneously in one place.
Fans donned black fedoras and white gloves to recreate the star's 1983 video in front of Mexico City's Monument of the Revolution, led by a Jackson impersonator who wore a sequined jacket.
Organiser Javier Hildago claims 12,937 people danced, and bosses at the Guinness Book of World Records will make their official decision in a week.
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Jay-z And Spike Lee Rep For Brooklyn At Rocawear Commercial Shoot
4 August 2009 5:15 PM, PDT
| MTV Newsroom
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By Nick Neofitidis
I would be complaining about waking up early this morning, but then again, I was going out to Brooklyn to hang with the king of the borough: Mr. Carter himself, Jay-z. We were in the penthouse at the Clock Tower Condos with a view to die for. No surprise on the Brooklyn love in the scenery or personnel-wise, since there was another surprise Brooklynite in the building: director and lifetime Knicks fan Spike Lee.
As tempted as I was to talk about how poorly management has handled our boys Nate Robinson and David Lee, truth is, Spike was all business. He was directing Jay in the new Rocawear commercial and, more specifically, a spot celebrating the 10th anniversary of the clothing label. As a young guy in the game of entertainment, it was pretty amazing being allowed in the same room with Spike Lee, let alone to
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- MTV News
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Washington Stuffed Himself For Pelham
25 July 2009 6:57 AM, PDT
| WENN
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Denzel Washington was delighted when movie bosses ordered him to fatten up for his latest movie role - because he thoroughly enjoyed stuffing his face with junk food.
The actor appears in The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, alongside John Travolta, playing an overweight character - and the slim star had to gain a staggering 40 pounds (18 kilograms).
He says, "Getting there was such fun. Milkshakes, hamburgers... middle of the night a little Haagen Daz (ice cream). Anything I wanted just eat, eat, eat."
The Malcolm X star returned to his toned physique after shooting the film, but admits his wife quite enjoyed his fuller figure.
He says, "She was Ok with it, I think every wife wants their husband to be plump and fatten them up. She doesn't eat, she cooks all this food for me, but she doesn't it eat."
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Do the Right Thing: 20th Anniversary Edition
1 July 2009 9:30 AM, PDT
| Pastemagazine.com
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DVD Release Date: June 30
Director/Writer: Spike Lee
Cinematographer: Ernest Dickerson
Starring: Lee, Danny Aiello, John Turturro, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis
Studio/Run Time: Universal, 120 mins.
Spike Lee's searing masterpiece turns 20
In
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, a camera glides over a street with a
sprawling population of blacks, Italians and Koreans, who together
endure a mercilessly hot summer afternoon. Fragile harmony is in the
air, but racial unease is never too far off—within the first several
minutes, one character has evoked Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X,
figures whose influence looms over the entire movie.
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Do The Right Thing, 20th Anniversary
30 June 2009 9:15 AM, PDT
| FilmExperience
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Today is the 20th Anniversary of Spike Lee's classic joint Do The Right Thing. There are a few retrospective interviews about the landmark film over at The Root. I'd include them here for you but their embed code leaves much to be desired.
I had no idea that Barack & Michelle Obama saw this on their first date together. But they apparently don't talk about that much. The movie was a hot potato back then and apparently still gives some people hot flashes today. But it's quite good. Have you seen it? I wonder if it would have made Oscar's shortlist if they had had 10 Best Picture nominees that year.
Maybe not. They didn't even nominate Malcolm X in 1992 and that's right in the Academy zone (epic biopic spanning the life of very famous individual who dies tragically). The nominees deemed better than Do The Right Thing for 1989 were:
Born
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- NATHANIEL R
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Eight-Time Movie Awards Nominee Denzel Washington Offers Up Advice
30 May 2009 6:42 PM, PDT
| MTV Movies Blog
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You don’t get very far into Movie Awards history without running into Denzel Washington. The veteran actor has been nominated a whopping eight times, and managed to snag two golden popcorns (for “Training Day” and “Malcolm X”).
So naturally, when we chatted up the “Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ star, we asked him what wisdom could he impart to the younger folks like Robert Pattinson. You’ll have to watch the video below to get the answer, which is classic Denzel all the way.
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- Brian Jacks
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Steven Spielberg Producing Martin Luther King Jr. Biopic
19 May 2009 5:57 PM, PDT
| ScreenRant.com
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Martin Luther King Jr. should, and does get talked about in the same way as people like Gandhi, Malcolm X and Nelson Mandela. He’s a legendary figure, still remembered with fondness and admiration 41 years after his shocking assassination back in 1968. Following in the footsteps of the upcoming Frank Sinatra biopic, Hollywood is making a biopic about Martin Luther King Jr., with none other than Steven Spielberg attached to produce.
This is the first time permission has been given by King’s estate to make a movie about him. Universal and producers Spielberg, Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones, obtained the rights to use the material, from King’s books to his famous “I Have A Dream“ speech. Apparently, this King biopic has been a long-time dream for Spielberg, along with Dreamworks CEO and co-chairman Stacey Snider, who both aim to make “the definitive portrait” of King’s life.
Spielberg
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- Ross Miller
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Tony-winning Dancer Manning Dies
28 April 2009 9:00 AM, PDT
| WENN
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Tony Award-winning dancer Frankie Manning has died, aged 94.
A swing-era dance pioneer, Manning became a master of the Lindy Hop. He began his career in the 1930s in Harlem, New York's premier ballroom, the Savoy and was soon hired as a contract dancer at the famed Cotton Club. And his swift success took him on tours of Europe, New Zealand and Australia.
He also danced in Hollywood films including 1938's Radio City Revels and the film version of Broadway's Hellzapoppin' in 1941 and appeared in 1939 musical The Hot Mikado.
Manning took a hiatus from dance to serve with the U.S. Army in World War II, and was celebrated upon his return.
In 1989, he co-choreographed a Lindy routine for Alvin Ailey’s Opus McShann - the same year he shared the Tony for best choreography with Cholly Atkins, Henry LeTang and Fayard Nicholas for their contributions to the Broadway revue Black and Blue.
And in 1992, he returned to Hollywood, appearing in Spike Lee's Malcolm X - and was commissioned by the director to train Denzel Washington for a Lindy scene in the movie.
In addition to the Tony, Manning was also awarded the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2000.
Manning's death was announced by his companion, Judy Pritchett. No cause of death had been disclosed as WENN went to press.
He is survived by two sons, Charles Young, Frank Manning Jr., a daughter, Marion Price, a half-brother, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
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Lee Shoots Down Reports Of Bryant Row
27 April 2009 5:05 AM, PDT
| WENN
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Filmmaker Spike Lee has blasted reports basketball star Kobe Bryant refused to cooperate for his new documentary until he was handed creative control of the project.
The Malcolm X moviemaker, an avid basketball fan who regularly sits courtside at professional games, struggled for months to gain permission from Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson and the NBA to film Kobe Doin' Work.
Lee recruited 30 cameramen to follow Bryant as his team went up against the San Antonio Spurs on 13 April for the day-in-the-life project.
But rumours suggested the entire shoot was nearly thrown into jeopardy when Bryant refused to participate in filming unless he was given creative control - reportedly forcing Lee to consider changing the film's focus to another player.
Lee was said to have even driven to Bryant's house to beg him to cooperate, but Bryant allegedly refused to see him.
A source tells the New York Post's gossip column PageSix, "It went so far that Lee had a last-minute plan to substitute Spurs star Tim Duncan for Kobe and make the whole documentary about Duncan."
However, a spokesperson for Lee has branded reports of a dispute "completely baseless".
Lee's tribute to Bryant is set to air on U.S. sports network Espn on 16 May.
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Blu-Ray Review: Spike Lee’s ‘Miracle at St. Anna’ Disappoints in Every Way
11 February 2009 12:23 PM, PST
| HollywoodChicago.com
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Blu-Ray Rating: 1.0/5.0
Chicago – There is a great film to be made about the African-American experience during World War II. Spike Lee’s “Miracle at St. Anna” is not that film and the below average Blu-Ray of it should make this once highly-anticipated epic one of the more easily forgettable releases of the month.
Spike Lee is one of the more intriguing filmmakers alive. He’s missed the mark a few times but the man who made “Do the Right Thing,” “Malcolm X,” “Clockers,” “Get on the Bus,” “4 Little Girls,” “The Original Kings of Comedy,” “25th Hour,” “Inside Man,” and “When the Levees Broke” should be paid attention to every single time he gets in the director’s chair. Some of those are among the best films of the last twenty years, and even his previous failures felt like a director shooting for something unique and misfiring.
(L To R) Matteo Sciabordi,
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- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
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Lee Still Keen To Make James Brown Biopic With Snipes
27 January 2009 2:05 PM, PST
| WENN
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Spike Lee insists his James Brown biopic will get made - even though his star, Wesley Snipes, is facing a three-year prison spell.
Snipes, who was convicted of federal income tax evasion last year, is free pending an appeal - and he remains director Lee's first choice to play the late soul man.
Lee tells MTV News, "We’re doing it together. It’s going to happen.”
And the moviemaker insists he'll be using Brown's vocals in the film, rather than ask the Blade star to mimic the singer.
Lee adds, "I want to hear James Brown’s voice. That’s just my personal taste.”
The Malcolm X director announced his intention to make a James Brown biopic the day after the Godfather of Soul died on Christmas Day 2006.
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I feel good! I knew that I would!
15 January 2009 2:01 PM, PST
| blogs.suntimes.com/ebert
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I've been saying for years that I never cry during sad moments in the movies, only during moments about goodness. At the end of "Terms of Endearment," I didn't cry because of Debra Winger's death, but because of how she said goodbye to her sons. Now I've have discovered a scientific explanation for why I feel the way that I do, and there is even a name for my specific emotion.
I wasn't seeking an explanation, and I'm not sure I really wanted one. And, for that matter, I don't really cry, at least not in the wiping-my-eyes and blowing-my-nose fashion. What I experience is the welling up of a few tears in my eyes, a certain tightness in my throat, and a feeling of uplift: Yes, there is a good person, doing a good thing. And when the movie is over, I don't want to talk with anyone.
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- Roger Ebert
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19 articles from 2009
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