Spike Lee: My Spat With Eastwood May Have Cost Me Oscar

Spike Lee told King magazine that he fears his public war of words with Clint Eastwood may have cost him an Oscar nomination.

Earlier this year, at Cannes, Lee criticized Eastwood for not having African-Americans in Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima, Eastwood then said Lee should "shut his face" and Lee responded "we're not on a plantation."
Now Lee thinks the controversy that followed his remarks may have ruined his Academy Award chances for new movie "Miracle at St. Anna."

Lee tells King magazine:

"My wife Tonya told me I may have hurt my chances with the Clint Eastwood stuff... They (Oscar voters and Academy bosses) take everything into account with me. They take into account that I like the Knicks or that I'm in New York."

Lee is adamant the fact he's a Big Apple guy has cost him an Oscar Best Director nomination in the past: "If you did a survey, the bulk of the people who vote in the Academy are in Los Angeles. There's definite bias, considering that my films are typically New York-based." He's still upset that his Do The Right Thing movie wasn't even considered for an Oscar the year Driving Miss Daisy claimed Best Film.

He adds, "Nobody is watching motherfucking Driving Miss Daisy today. Do The Right Thing is being taught in classes at major universities and high schools all over the world. That's how you're supposed to test art. Does the work stand up?"

Comments

[observing]

Scorsese (sp?) just got his first Oscar and he also makes predominantly NY films. Ya gots to be a playa in L.A it would seem. But I don't know anyone who just loooves a Lee film.

[papapj]

"But I don't know anyone who just loooves a Lee film."

Hmmm..Perhaps the sheer artistry of Malcolm X escaped you? or the socially groundbreaking "Do The Right Thing"? Or even the documentary on Katrina that filled in the gaps that the mainstream media left when exploring the crisis.

The ever present New York theme is a non-issue.

Any oi these works are worthy of major acclaim, and only escaped Oscars nod due to their controversial subject matter, methinks..

Most artists can take constructive criticism, but when it comes in the form of schoolboyish nose-thunbing, that smacks of personal enmity, which only you can explain.....

[AmbroseChapel]

Why would he even care about this? He's an artist. He has several successful works that speak for themselves. The Oscar is a political game. If you want one you better be prepared to play in the game...

[CalliDem]

Oh Pleassee ...sick to death and no respect left for Spike. The second he tried to paint the Clintons as racist he lost me forever. I will never pay money to see another one of his films

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

Maybe Spike should take cinema seriously and refer to his work as "A Spike Lee film", not a "A Spike Lee joint."

Honestly, the word "joint" sounds really lame, like a high schooler who just discovered pot.

And no, Spike, you're not the greatest filmmaker to walk the earth, and no, I'm not a racist goblin for saying so.

[awparadoxx]

"Maybe Spike should take cinema SERIOUSLY and refer to his work as "A Spike Lee film" not "A Spike Lee Joint"
The reason why Spike chose to call his films "Joint "as opposed to "Film" obviously escapes you so perhaps you should leave it alone. It takes a very secure person to avoid attacking something that they do not understand. If this terminology does not appeal to you, perhaps it was not meant for you to appreciate. Did you ever consider that before you made your comment?
Maybe everything in this world is not made for your sensibilities.

Spike Lee fans appreciate the "Spike Lee Joint" label. WE LOVE IT!
Bet you have a problem with "40 Acres and a Mule" too!

[awparadoxx]

Maybe Spike should take cinema SERIOUSLY and refer to his work as "A Spike Lee film" not "A Spike Lee Joint"
The reason why Spike chose to call his films Joint as opposed to Film obviously escapes you so perhaps you should leave it alone. It takes a very secure person to avoid attacking something that they do not understand. If this terminology does not appeal to you, perhaps it was not meant for you to appreciate. Did you ever consider that before you made your comment?
Maybe everything in this world is not made for your sensibilities. Spike Lee fans appreciate the "Spike Lee Joint" label. WE LOVE IT!
Bet you have a problem with "40 Acres and a Mule" too!

[AurigaRa]

Too bad Clint is a frakkin' republican. Otherwise I might actually admire him.

[GeorgeKaplan]

I understand what Spike is saying - the Oscars are very political. However, if Alfred Hitchcock and Cary Grant could live without an Oscar I guess life will go on for Spike without one as well.

Spike and Clint are great filmmakers and I think this argument is sad and totally unproductive.

[NoSillyName]

And wow, did that spat ever create a lot of controversy here at HuffPost!

[raker]

If Lee's movies were so good he wouldn't have to pull stunts like this one to try to shake down Hollywood for an Oscar nomination.

[provgrays]

Spike is talented, rich and influential.

So why the victim card when he is not shy about using race to attack others?

[harrymellon]

What's wrong with you people...his movies are great. Didn't expect to see people defensive about alleged racism here.

[provgrays]

There is nothing "alleged" about it. Spike used race to attack Eastwood because he did not make artistic choices that met with Spike's approval.

Blacks can as racist as anyone else.

[provgrays]

harrymellon,

No one said Spike's films weren't good. The topic is his behavior, not his films. If someone behaves in a racist way, it is not racist for others to call him on it.

[firelord5000]

Spike Lee is a disgrace to humanity, this guy doesn't even belong in a same sentence as Clint.

[AurigaRa]

your entitled not to like his movies, but your criticism shows you know nothing about film

[timinhi]

See?--This is exactly why I always appreciate it when actors, etc., like George C. Scott, refuse to participate in the Oscars, and even refuse the awards when they win. Art, and artists, should not be a "competition." I happen to like "Driving Miss Daisy." I watched it recently, as a matter of fact, on AMC or TCM, I believe (contrary to what Spike says). I thought Morgan Freeman was brilliant in it. But I also liked "Do the Right Thing," which ironically, I haven't seen in years. I also have liked the other Spike Lee films I've seen, and don't agree with what some posters here have said--that Spike makes "crappy films." It's obvious to me that Spike contrived the whole controversy with Clint as a publicity stunt for "St. Anna." If he didn't recognize the potential for a backlash, too bad. If he really wants to be appreciated as a filmaker, he should concentrate on his craft, which he IS very good at, and stop fishing for awards and accolades, and stop making a jerk of himself in public. Most people, no matter what their race, don't care for jerks.

[MarceloAbans]

I really don't get where all this hostility comes from. He makes good poigent films. Now I do agree he is a bit overly paranoid, not because of it's a white thing but because Hollywood is real cliquey like that. I don't think it has anything to do with race.

[PhantomAviator]

..

He's got a point.

Who?

Everyone.

--Tom Brokaw on why he's part of the problem.

..

.

[HarveyD]

Hey spike, isn't it nice to have someone to blame all your shortcomings on. Next I fully expect to hear how you figured out Eastwood is responsible for slavery. Why don't you give it a rest? You want an Oscar? Earn one!

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

Spike's new film will center on the causes of slavery, which can all be attributed to Clint Eastwood.

[Alvin4NY]

Spike has had plenty of acclaim and recognition, and even freedom on his films-to do what he wants. I don't know why he's still complaining so much. Progress has been made in Hollywood, especially in the last ten or fifteen years that Spike has been around to witness it, and prosper from it.
(as a side note, I watched last night-and you made me very proud, JTAG)