Clint Eastwood: Spike Lee Should "Shut His Face", Lee Responds, "We're Not On A Plantation"

UPDATE:
"First of all, the man is not my father and we're not on a plantation either," Spike Lee told ABCNEWS.com about Clint Eastwood. "He's a great director. He makes his films, I make my films. The thing about it though, I didn't personally attack him. And a comment like 'a guy like that should shut his face' -- come on Clint, come on. He sounds like an angry old man right there."

"If he wishes, I could assemble African-American men who fought at Iwo Jima and I'd like him to tell these guys that what they did was insignificant and they did not exist," he said. "I'm not making this up. I know history. I'm a student of history. And I know the history of Hollywood and its omission of the one million African-American men and women who contributed to World War II."

"Not everything was John Wayne, baby..."

"I never said he should show one of the other guys holding up the flag as black. I said that African-Americans played a significant part in Iwo Jima," he said. "For him to insinuate that I'm rewriting history and have one of the four guys with the flag be black ... no one said that. It's just that there's not one black in either film. And because I know my history, that's why I made that observation."

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PREVIOUSLY:

Clint Eastwood has advised rival film director Spike Lee to "shut his face" after the African-American complained about the racial make-up of Eastwood's films.

In an interview with the Guardian published today, Eastwood rejected Lee's complaint that he had failed to include a single African-American soldier in his films Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima, both about the 1945 battle for the Japanese island.

In typically outspoken language, Eastwood justified his choice of actors, saying that those black troops who did take part in the battle as part of a munitions company didn't raise the flag. The battle is known by the image of US marines raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi.

"The story is Flags of Our Fathers, the famous flag-raising picture, and they didn't do that. If I go ahead and put an African-American actor in there, people'd go: 'This guy's lost his mind.' I mean, it's not accurate." Referring to Lee, he added: "A guy like him should shut his face."

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Read Spike Lee's Clint Eastwood criticism from Cannes just last month:

"He did two films about Iwo Jima back to back and there was not one black soldier in both of those films," Lee said Tuesday at the Cannes Film Festival, where he was a judge in an online short-film competition.

"Many veterans, African-Americans, who survived that war are upset at Clint Eastwood. In his vision of Iwo Jima, Negro soldiers did not exist. Simple as that. I have a different version," Lee said.

Comments

[liberalgirl31]

Anyone know the last time Spike Lee made a good movie? He is obviously stirring up controversy to promote his own WWII film. Flags of Our Fathers actually featured a Native American soldier because he was one of the service men to raise the flag. That was historically accurate. Also, maybe Eastwood's second Iwo Jima film didn't feature any black soldiers because it was about the JAPANESE. Duh!

Eastwood made a good film about Charlie Parker with a mostly black cast and is planning on doing a film on Nelson Mandela. So I don't think he has anything against people of color.

Lee is purposely trying to play the race card, bringing up a "plantatio­n." Get a life, Spike and start making good movies again!

[1sanevoice]

thank you

[JimR]

I liked "Inside Man."

But you're right, he is purposely trying to play the race card to drum up publicity for his new movie.

[LawrenceL]

I agree.

To contrast, every character in Spike's "Do The Right Thing" (except his own, "Mookie,") was a racial stereotype. Apparently, it's OK when Spike makes racial stereotype­s...

I heard Spike speak on a conference on creativity. He's very impressed.­..with himself...

To contrast, Brian Eno, who also spoke, was completely charming, witty, and erudite. He didn't have to *try* to impress anyone, and he didn't have to make self-aggrandizing remarks about how great he is.

Regarding Eastwood, the Dirty Harry movies were crap, but he redeemed himself by making better movies later.

And that is my humble opinion.

[cosmic]

sure, I agree, but does Clint need to say shut your face. or is that because Clint knows the game and is helping him drum up audience?

[JimR]

There could be something to that. I noticed in news accounts of this "feud," it brings up the fact that they both have movies coming out.

[escobar]

It is foolish to look to hollywood movies for history lessons.
These two could very well have staged this feud to draw attention to themselves.
Eastwood would destroy his image with a mea culpa.
This is great for Lee. He can challenge the better known guy and go off politically correct, hopefully with people interested in his next film.
Eastwood's WW2 film is about as irrelevant as can possibly be. Some controversial publicity will help market it, and all involved.
People should pay more attention to what is going on in the real world today, not propaganda films.
A Black man is running for President, the country is going broke, and destroying it's military with misguided adventures.
These two egotistical men arguing like kids is just a publicity game and means nothing.

[Redrover666]

Good for Eastwood.
As to Spike's race-card response. It makes him look pathetic.

[aubrey8]

and Spike doesn't need any help looking pathetic with his gas face.

[carlgt1]

look, they're both egotistical asses, but Spike has no say in Eastwood's movies & vice-versa. Spike was tactless inventing "problems" in Clint's movie. Why don't directors complain about the stereotypical racism in Spike's movies; the portrayal of Puerto Rican & Italian & black women in his film as bitches & ho's etc?

[HerbTee]

Well guys and gals, I can say one thing about this Spike Lee/Clint Eastwood thread. It has been VERY educational but also VERY entertaining too. :-) I've been reading this thread for the past day or so. There is an overwhelming amount of excellent content, opinions, banter insults, touches and commentary, both pro and con. RobXdion reminds me of Hillary Clinton's attitude..­.never give up and never back down! :-)

But listen good folks, please ramp down the directly personal insults. I do enjoy the banter and the historical context of what everyone is trying to say but I truly dislike the direct personal insults. Do we have to directly and personally insult each other to make our points? This is a good thread because it requires multiple camps of thought and experiences from Whites and Blacks to actually dialogue with each another. And that can't be a bad thing at all.

Whites and Blacks simply see our country and the world differently because we have been conditioned to see them differently through our own personal, historical and racial experiences. Those concepts are much of what Rev. Wright's sermons were centered around, but what most of White America totally missed. On the other had, African Americans must dialogue carefully but earnestly with Whites...n­ot to offend or posture but to educate those who honestly wish to be educated. Now, I'll get off my soapbox and continue to enjoy and try to contribute to this thread.

[marko77]

Spike Lee is a talented film maker, and he does play the race card.

For example, his "We're not on the plantation" remark. He could've said Clint Eastwood was wrong and left it at that.

Another example: In his "Malcolm X" movie, when Malcolm was shot, Lee had the camera pause for just a second on white policemen in the ballroom - just enough to imply police involvement. The fact is, Malcolm X was murdered by Black Muslims who targeted him for speaking out against thier leader. There was no other reason, but it seems Spike just couldn't resist implicating whites. (In this case, falsely)

Spike Lee is not "uppity" as that senator said. That's a ridiculous, false, and stupid statement. "Uppity" is what racists used to call African Americans who were demanding their legitimate rights. No... Spike Lee is simply arrogant - as are many artists and prominant people.

[Glacial]

It's not race-baiting when a black man does it.

[robXdion]

You're being sarcastic. But how can a minority often subjected to racism, race-bait the majority race????? By existing?

[Redrover666]

The same way SOME people in the majority do it, by being racist.

[aubrey8]

by playing the victim like you're always doing.....­poor you.

[Jonski1917]

Others here have given a list of some of the critical movies wherein important roles for people of color occur within the Eastwood canon. Here are just some of them from me:

"Bird", obviously focuses on the life of Charlie Parker (with Forest Whittaker), and features (obviously) many other African American roles and actors (Keith David paramount of them)

"White Hunter, Black Heart" is a bit of an oddball in Eastwood's canon in that it essentially features him as a 1950's film director (most likely John Huston) who while filming a movie on location in Africa goes on a safari/hunt in the jungle, and has to contend with the legends of the native tribes/peoples in the region.

"Unforgiven", which obviously features Morgan Freeman as Clint's character's best friend. It is when Freeman's character is killed by the sheriff in Big Whiskey (Gene Hackman) that Eastwood proceeds to the town to wreak his vengeance

"True Crime", Eastwood's character sees to it that a man (Ishah Washington) who is incorrectly convicted to a death sentence is freed

"Mystic River" obviously has Laurence Fishburne as the partner of Kevin Bacon (one of the trio of boys whose lives are irreversibly changed by the events early on in the film). Indeed, Fishburne's character may be the most moral in the film

"Million Dollar Baby" again features Morgan Freeman (as well as other African American actors in smaller, but no less important roles as two different boxers)

[bluesnot]

Dictionary definition of martyr:

3: victim; especially : a great or constant sufferer

[marinade]

3: victim; especially : a great or constant sufferer

[Butler71]

While we're all "at it" in explaining why the AA deserve their place in all movies let's explore the Spike Lee mentality regarding other entertainment.
Given his distaste for Clint's movie, what is his opinion on MTV or VH1 videos; why isn't the white or hispanic equally represented. Sports entertainment: what is his opinion on why there are not equal amounts of white and hispanic football and basketball players?
I think the threads demonstrated that there were AA actors representing AA soldiers and Marines. So why does Spike think he has a valid point unless of course HE'S the racist and is upset that his lackluster movies do so poorly.

[robXdion]

Yeah ignore THIS topic and race to safer ground where you can cry about all the black artists and athletes that earn their positions thru talent. If it's merit based, wouldn't that be an issue of white ability in that area, not black racism? Because we all know blacks own all the sports teams and record companies, right?. You're a good laugh!

[nobullshit]

My god man, come down from the cross because somebody else needs the wood. You love being the martyred victim!

[MaracaKabob]

Flags of Our Fathers was a terrible film. It was two hours of that American Indian actor crying, whining and getting drunk, and doing it poorly. I had to look away it was so bad.

[1sanevoice]

you didn't just say that did you? robx and i both might have to gang up on you!

[robXdion]

Actually I kinda agree. But the biggest story amongst those 4 guys was the alcoholism and struggles of Ira B. Hayes.

[JimR]

Thanks for your review, which is completely unrelated to the topic.

[Freddiejr]

LOOK World War II was a massive event in American History. No one movie can ever cover it. However LOOK At KEN BURNS Documentary World War II. He covered so many angles, I think it's the best TV/Movie documentary out there. He followed African, Japanese and American Women, as well as American's imprisoned in the Philippine's along with the rest of American's fighting the war on so many front's. No one movie can ever cover it all. This one gives a new meaning to the War and how it was fought. Not everything is a deliberate attempt to exclude others. Heck women are so overlooked even though they built all of the equipment to fight the War. After the War they were Literally sent back to the Kitchen's, with such propaganda as their children were running a muck because they weren't home and they should give their jobs back to the men coming home. Do you see them properly represented in every Hollywood movie? No. If you don't like it make a movie about it but don't use someone else's coat tail to get a ride. Stand on your own Spike Man! You use to do that.. Lately you've been a whiney old man complaining that your world is a result of someone else. That's not the artist I grew to Love.

[BayAreaResident]

You just forgot to compliment Clint's remarkable self-restrain in the face of dealing with this pesky and unimportant issue. Everything must be someone else's fault in the "white" man's world.

[robXdion]

Yeah, how dare Spike question the Clint and point out his oversight of a fairy tale of like black soldiers fighting in WW2. They act like Spike needs to bow and say "Permission to speak, Sir?"

[blahber]

I thought we were past the "black thing"

[Jasel]

Uhh...what country have YOU been living in?

[InLosAngeles]

The United States. The one that just elected a black man to head our party in the race for the US Presidency. Name another multiracial country that has freely elected, or given a black man an opportunity to truly compete for such a position for one of its major political parties. Though the previous administration was a failure on many levels, elevating minorities to the most prominent positions in our government was a trail they blazed.

[vandegrasse]

Spike Lee is so tiny and the chip on his shoulder is so huge. I'm surprised he can walk straight.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BmBMqJ9-q9A

[robXdion]

Attack the messenger, huh?

[carlgt1]

You seem to think Spike Lee, an entertainment movie director, has the academic & intellectual authority of a Cornel West. He doesn't.

[delysia]

For so many years African American contributions to this country's history has been hidden from the public conscience. History has, in essence, been incompletely, maybe even falsely recorded, reported and learned for that reason. It's time that those errors and omissions in looking back at, teaching and retelling the history of these United States are corrected and inclusive. Spike Lee's comment has legitimacy, in that, Clint Eastwood's two great and wonderful movies on the subject of Iwo Jima did not honestly represent the facts of the war, at that time. History should not be retold in an unbelievable, dishonest and non-inclusive manner. Then, it just becomes a story, not true history, which should, as correctly as possible, relates the facts, conditions and circumstances of a past event..

[JimR]

See my post below... there is some dispute about whether or not black soldiers are shown in the movie. Apart from that, many have hailed the film for being historically accurate.

[robXdion]

Wikipedia is not some great source. Anyone can add information to it. It's unverifiable. Citing it proves nothing. The above poster is correct. Spike's comment has legitimacy. Depictions of history are not an art form to do as you please. That's what works of fiction are for. To argue otherwise in this case raises issues of motive, which then leads to charges of latent racism as the only plausible explanation. I don't think Clint is really racist. But the depiction and his response to criticism of it are suspect. That's what I've been trying to explain to you.

[GeorgeKaplan]

The war was not the subject. Ken Burns did 14 hours ( i think) and could not even hope to have covered "the war."

Spike should make his own movie on WW2.

[marinade]

You just realized that the telling of history is inaccurate? Well, blacks can join the crowd of people who have been misrepresented by the history books, and movies.