Earlier this year, the legendary Spike Lee made some comments about Tyler Perry, referencing some of the playwright’s work as a minstrel show.  Sunday night on 60 Minutes, Tyler Perry took on Lee’s criticism.  Perry said:

“I would love to read that [criticism] to my fan base. All these characters of mine are bait, bait to get people talking about God, love, family, and faith.  You know, that pisses me off.  It really does. Because it’s so insulting. It’s attitudes like that that make Hollywood think that these people do not exist and that’s why there’s no material speaking to them, speaking to us.”

Just to be fair, Spike Lee’s quote also read:

“We’ve had this discussion back and forth. When John Singleton [made Boyz in the Hood], people came out to see it. But when he did Rosewood, nobody showed up. So a lot of this is on us! You vote with your pocketbook, your wallet. You vote with your time sitting in front of the idiot box, and [Tyler Perry] has a huge audience. We shouldn’t think that Tyler Perry is going to make the same film that I am going to make, or that John Singleton or my cousin Malcolm Lee [would make]. As African Americans, we’re not one monolithic group so there is room for all of that. But at the same time, for me, the imaging is troubling and it harkens back to Amos n’ Andy.”

I think when reading in context Lee is giving social commentary on what African Americans support and why, hence, the Rosewood versus Boyz ‘N The Hood analogy.  His comments weren’t directly about Tyler Perry, and Lee has certainly paid his dues in the fickle world of Hollywood.  I do think Spike has a well-earned voice at the table of African Americans and film.

I don’t think it’s unfair and, I actually think it’s healthy, to critique art.  We as African Americans should be allowed to be critical of our work and shouldn’t be forced to love it just because someone is Black and is making money.   Hip-hop is constantly analyzed and while Perry says, “I would love to read that [criticism] to my fan base,” Lil’ Wayne, Jay-Z, or Lil’ Kim could make the same comment — it doesn’t mean they are immune to social critique.

In addition, is a character being a stereotype always socially irresponsible? Sheneneh was a stereotype, but she was brilliant.  Back in April, Alfre Woodard told me, “ When people say stereotype, a stereotype to me takes on a negative connotation, but it’s built from a particular characteristic.  It doesn’t have to be negative.  I think of Tyler in that tradition of comedy and farce when it comes to the Madea stories.  I don’t think he is bringing down the culture by any means.  But, I do understand it’s the job of social observers to comment.”

Do you think Spike Lee’s comments were unfair?

Check out the video below.

Summary: Produced and directed by Spike Lee, Passing Strange is a film version of the rock and roll Broadway show that was a massive success in 2008. It’s the story of a young Black man from Los Angeles, California, grappling with issues of race, sexuality, identity and family.

Review: Passing Strange was all the rage in New York City: critically-acclaimed, selling out shows and proving once again there is an audience for African Americans on Broadway. From February 28, 2008 to July 20, 2008, the show wowed audiences with 165 performances. Leave it to Spike Lee to spot brilliance and film the show’s final three nights at Belasco Theatre.

Clocking in at 135 minutes on film, Passing Strange would seem difficult to capture for the big screen.  The musical  includes a lot: an onstage band, narrator, an additional cast of six and audience interaction. This is no easy journey to bring to the movies.  One would think you would need to experience Passing in person; nonetheless, Spike Lee manages to flawlessly grab the show’s essence, right to its core. With intricate camera angles, you see the actors up close — their sweat beads, facial expressions and one-on-one dialogue, which makes it seem as if you are in the front row.  Passing Strange is a “Spike Lee Joint,” but the Brooklyn native took a step back and let the story unfold. Spike Lee was clearly secondary, which shuts down many of his critics who complain he is self-indulgent.

If I could write a whole review about the cast I would. This group of actors seemed to truly enjoy themselves and each other on stage. They had chemistry that is rarely seen even from big-budget Hollywood films with an A-list cast. The majority of the cast played a variety of characters, bouncing from various accents (Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Berlin), ethnicities and personalities. A clear stand-out, Colman Domingo effortlessly portrayed a gay closeted young preacher, naked Amsterdam hippie and an artsy revolutionary.

The lead, Daniel Breaker, carried the production with his innocence, high-energy and undeniable pizzazz. His voice was outstanding, transitioning from a plethora of vocal styles like gospel, punk rock, blues, and jazz.

The true star of Passing Strange is the narrator and the man who wrote the lyrics and book, simply named, Stew. The story is obviously his vision and one can only assume, at least partly, autobiographical.

Passing Strange only adds to Spike Lee’s visionary resume and his eye for fresh talent. On another note, while the premise is of a young African-American man, the film rises above race and focuses on the innocence of youth and the various passages we go through to learn.

Passing Strange opens in New York City today.

The controversial  Spike Lee is at it again — the legendary filmmaker is known for feuds with 50 Cent, Clint Eastwood and Tyler Perry might be next.

What’s strange is that during the press for Inside Man in 2006, Mr. Lee spoke highly of Tyler Perry.  Maybe after Meet The Browns and House of Payne, Spike has a different perspective.   Now, Lee says Perry’s films and television shows are a minstrel show.  Perry has experienced this criticism before, but never from a fellow celebrity in the film world.  Here is what the Do The Right Thing director told Ed Gordon on Our World with Black Enterprise, which aired this weekend:

“Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is “coonery” and buffoonery. I know it’s making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better. … I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne”) and I am scratching my head. … We got a Black president and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep ‘n’ Eat?”

Spike continues…

“We’ve had this discussion back and forth. When John Singleton [made "Boyz in the Hood"], people came out to see it. But when he did “Rosewood,” nobody showed up. So a lot of this is on us! You vote with your pocketbook, your wallet. You vote with your time sitting in front of the idiot box, and [Tyler Perry] has a huge audience. We shouldn’t think that Tyler Perry is going to make the same film that I am going to make, or that John Singleton or my cousin Malcolm Lee [would make]. As African Americans, we’re not one monolithic group so there is room for all of that. But at the same time, for me, the imaging is troubling and it harkens back to “Amos n’ Andy.”"

Well, I know some folks might be angered by Spike’s comments, but he is a cinematic legend and has paved the way for someone like Tyler Perry.  Therefore, if he has fair social critiques about his cohorts I think we should all take the time to listen, especially Black consumers.

Are you offended by Spike Lee’s comments?

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The controversial Spike Lee war film Miracle at St. Anna is available on DVD today.  The films stars Laz Alonso, Derek Luke, Hill Harper and Kerry Washington.  The movie, which was overshadowed by Spike’s strife with Clint Eastwood, is the story of an all-black 92nd Infantry Division who are trapped near a small village in Italy.   The plot thickens as one of the soldiers risks his life to save an Italian boy.

Also, on DVD today:

Soul Men starring Samuel L. Jackson and the late-great Bernie Mac

***

Way of War starring Cuba Gooding, Jr.

In addition, Blindness starring Julianne Moore and Danny Glover and W. starring Josh Brolin and Thandie Newton are on DVD today. 

Tuesday was the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States. You don’t need me to tell you what went down in Washington, D.C. It was a moment of triumphant American history. I watched this amazing event from a bar in Park City, Utah, where I was a small part of American cinematic history. I was in Park City to screen a film I executive produced titled Good Hair at the 25th Sundance Film Festival, an annual event that is America’s leading showcase for independent filmmaking. This was my fourth time out there.

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Spike Lee started it. Sounds juvenile, but then so does the word battle between Lee and fellow director/actor Clint Eastwood.

First, Lee, who is promoting his upcoming war flick, “Miracle at St. Anna,”chastized Eastwood for the lack of melanin in his war films “Flags of Our Fathers” and “Letters from Iwo Jima.”

So then Eastwood said:  “A guy like him should shut his face.” Hahahaha.

And then Lee said: “First of all, the man is not my father and we’re not on a plantation either. He’s a great director … 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.”

There’s no telling what tough-guy Eastwood will come back with now. He’ll probably stick out his tongue and give Lee the finger.

According Variety, Spike Lee is set to shoot a feature-length documentary about Michael Jordan. Lee told a Cannes Film Festival crowd that he hopes to bring the basketball legend to the fest with the film next year. The NBA is financing the documentary (hooray for Spike), with Lee’s 40 Acres & a Mule Filmworks shingle producing. Expect extensive unseen footage shot by NBA cameras during the final two years in Jordan’s career, the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.

“Mike wants to come to Cannes, so hopefully we will be here next year,” Lee said.

Guess if the NBA is footin’ the bill, then it’s all about basketball, huh? No divorce drama? No scandalous affairs? Shoot.