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

[AtomiClash]

Spike, Spike, Spike... Miracle at St. Anna looks amazing. Let your work speak for itself (for a change) and we'll see what comes of it.

[citizenoftheevilempire]

Spike, you won't win an Oscar for one very simple reason: You make pathetically mediocre films. Remember what you did with Malcolm X? If it wasn't for Denzel's usual brilliant performance that would have been a complete and utter embarassment (as opposed to a partial). So feel free, Spike - say whatever you wish, however stupid and irresponsible. You're not going to win any awards anway, man. No worries there.

[buddydave]

Malcolm X was a great film (although too long). That movie and Do the Right Thing are the shining stars in his erratic career. I'm hoping he's regaining his form since stumbling so bad in the 1990s--he's that talented a filmmaker.

[RepugsOut08]

While you're intitled to your opinion, X was a great film, and I do believe Spike was robbed that year at the Academy Awards along with Denzel.
Pacino won for "Scent of a Woman," but does anyone really think, great as he is, that that was his Oscar performance?
Spike didn't even get nominated as director, and Eastwood won for "The Unforgiven." I enjoyed "The Unforgiven," but it wasn't much different from Clint's other westerns.
That year seemed to be the year of giving Oscars for longevity in the business, rather than quality of current work. Maybe Spike still has hard feelings, and I can understand.

[citizenoftheevilempire]

While you're absolutely correct about the general mediocrity of the Academy picks it does not detract from the fact that SPIKE LEE IS A LOUSY FILMMAKER!!!!!!!!!!
He writes, produces and directs absolute tripe that does not belong in the same league as Clint Eastwood. Sure, most of Eastwood's films are arguably mainstream but they are very, very well done on all levels. Spike's, on the other hand, look like student films written by school children at recess. He's bitter because he has no talent, which is the real root of his problem.

[InstantDogma]

WATB.
Steve

[GayIthacan]

Funny - I have used 'Driving Miss Daisy' in TWO of my social studies classes on topics covering bigotry and aging issues.

I have yet to watch a Spike Lee film that i would use in any context as a teaching point. Except, perhaps, in a film course on pretentious and overhyped cinema.

And I have no doubt that one or more of his films are 'taught in university classes'. At universities no one attends unless unqualified for the more prestigious ones, or else in programs that have little or no use in actually getting a real job.

Eastwood was probably right. Keep it zipped, dear. If this is all you have to complain about in life, your shallowness surpasses even that of Spears or Hilton.

[buddydave]

"Funny - I have used 'Driving Miss Daisy' in TWO of my social studies classes on topics covering bigotry and aging issues."

I'm guessing more than half your students rolled their eyes when you trotted out that pablum to make your pseudo-intellectual comments about bigotry.

[awww]

You used Driving MIss Daisy, but would not use Do the Right Thing?

You would have hated having me as a student, I would have made your classroom hell as I see you are all about sugar coating and lying. Or maybe you teach 8th graders and are afraid to get in trouble for using a movie that has harsh language.

[OttoMann]

Go cry on Scorsese's shoulder regarding Oscar snubs. Besides, look at Stanley Kubrick's lack of Oscars -- even nominations -- and feel in good company.

[buddydave]

Agreed. Don't worry about the Academy. Just start making good films again.

[JubilationLeigh]

Agree 100% with you OttoMann.

[maggienow]

Hey Spike sometimes doing the right thing may not get you an award but it got you the respect and honor you have earned over the years for the great films you have made! Keep those great films coming and screw the idiots in La La Land!

[JackND]

Are Academy Awards the reason you make your films, Spike?

If not, who cares then?

[houseofglass]

Don't worry about it Spike. Make good movies. If one director looks around at his large ensemble cast and realizes, "hey, they''re all white" and from then on, tries to honestly diversify his productions, then it will have been worth it. But, yeah - don't be too surprised if you're snubbed. It's just the way the world is .......... today.

[HoneyBQuick]

Oh no! Spike is claiming a bias against him... Something new for him.

[mredder4]

There's a fine line between artistic and self-obsessed, and Spike Lee obviously lives on the self-obsessed side. He sees hidden motives and insinuations in casual and common words and phrases, he sees racism in every decision that's made that doesn't benefit him, and he see a world more racist than it actually is because he's more racist than he would like to admit. He obviously thinks that an Oscar is his DUE, owed to him by the guilty-liberal enclave of Hollywood. "I'm a black director, this is my movie, when and where do I pick up my awards?"

It obviously couldn't be because he made an inferior movie, right? It certainly couldn't be because there exists someone with more talent than him, because we all know that's just not possible, right?

Spike Lee needs to grow up.

[Pippilangstrumpf]

And I didn't get that A in college trig because my teacher didn't like me......

Spike, why do you care what they think? I've always thought that award shows are stupid. I hate them. I have not watched an Oscar or Grammy show since high school. The fact that you deride these people for being so petty as to not give you an award for a little spat you had with Clint Eastwood shows that you have no regard for them. And if you have no regard for them, they why do you care about some stupid looking gold statuette?
Would you rather have the statue and NOT have your movie being taught in colleges? If having the statue is that important to you, then maybe you SHOULD shut your face and play their games. Award shows are all about politics and money. They are meaningless, but obviously you don't think so.
If you don't think so, then seriously...shut up and play the game.
As Napolean Dynamite would say "God!"

[yossarrian]

Would a golden statue make you a better director? A better person? Do you really need validation from a bunch of old white has-beens who probably never produced 5 minutes of lasting art? All great movies endure, as will yours.

[awww]

I'm not running for president, but I approve this message!

[43P04T34]

Spike; what you said cost you a lot of respect. If you say dumb, stupid, useless things that's what happens.

[andvoodoo2]

Thank you for saying it best.

[barackobama4prez]

you may be right spike. gotta play the game. no public muscle should mess with your money!

[auramac]

If Spike wants to fight with someone, Clint Eastwood is not his enemy. He's acted like an idiot- maybe he doesn't deserve an Oscar, or a forum. His credibility sucks now. Fight McCain/Palin. Get the vote out! Do and say something constructive!