Spike Lee caused some controversy at Sundance with his latest tirade against Hollywood and race relations, but now his co-writer on 'Red Hook Summer', James McBride, takes up the fight with an open letter claiming that it's not because their film didn't do so well. I wonder if it had been embraced by everyone, if that letter would have been written.
I rarely feel the need to write anything for Best Movies Ever, but after reading James McBride's letter (below), I told our Editor that this is one time I just had to respond to Spike Lee's latest controversy. I actually love his films and I grew up watching them, and when he first started being outspoken about being an African American, I was right there with him. But then it kept going on and on, and it started feeling more like bitterness over trying to create change. It reminded me of my childhood as my parents literally blamed everything on white America. While I know there is plenty to bitch about, but when the sky is grey and rainy, that's not white America's fault (although environmentalists may have something to say on that). I'm sure I'll get plenty of hatemail for writing this, but it just needs to be said. If Spike Lee & James McBride's 'Red Hook Summer' had been reviewed to the heavens and touted highly, would that letter have been written? McBride claims his letter has nothing to do with that, but I saw 'Red Hook Summer' and it's definitely not Lee at his best in my opinion as an African American. Chris Rock sounded innocent enough for asking the question that set Lee off at the Sundance Q&A, and it took every bit of willpower to not call him on this since I know for a fact, getting money for most film projects, whether they're stocked with lily white people or not, is hard as hell. Our editor had a film project he developed for years to help get three boys out of prison who didn't deserve to be there (the West Memphis Three), but the studios were just as reluctant even though he had people like Gina Gershon, Drea deMattea, Bill Macy and several other bankable stars for a small indie budget film. It's just the game we all know in Hollywood of dealing with the studios. They're a pain in the ass and more worried about getting fired than producing good films. There are so many filmmakers who, rather than blame the studios, just get creative and find their own financing and make the film they want to. I get tired of filmmakers blaming studios for not giving them money. If you hate the system so much and rail against it, why do you keep rushing back to it with your hand out? Read More: http://bestmoviesevernews.com/spike-lee-red-hook-summer-writer-james-mcbride-...
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