There hasn't exactly been a whole lot of Oscar buzz surrounding Spike Lee's new World War II film, The Miracle at St. Anna, but if there is and he doesn't get one, he'll know why. Lesson for those who want an Academy Award: don't mess with Clint Eastwood… or, better yet, move to Los Angeles.
"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 motherf**king 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?"
Do The Right Thing should have gotten Academy recognition, but this spiel probably isn't endearing him to Hollywood… or Morgan Freeman. [PRI]
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I enjoy most of Spikes films. I saw him speak once, great experience. But he does suffer from foot in moth disease; which does not make him a likable character
If he doesn't care about the Oscars, then why is he talking about it and why is he whining about not getting an Oscar for a movie released in the late eighties? Tons of great directors haven't won Oscars-he's not special in that regard.
Hmmm… bad-mouthing Clint can do some damage, but if it's oscar worthy… it's oscar worthy. Nobody's going to deny a good film just becuz of the beef involved. It would at least receive a nomination
But then again… I wonder why "The Passion of Christ" didn't get nominated for movie of the year… hmmm.
Quit yer bitchin. Actually, if he doesn't get a nomination, it will be because it isn't Oscar worthy and/or because he is such a frickin whiner that he's isolated the Academy. Russel Crowe's f-ery cost him an Oscar and he could possibly be completely blacklisted from winning
Spike Lee is one of my all-time favorite directors, but I do agree that he has a propensity for shit talking, which at times doesn't do him any favors. Still, I agree with his stance concerning the Oscars, which is highly political to begin with.
I like to see great work get rewarded, but Oscars don't always mean quality. Some of the legends like Kurosawa and Hitchcock never received Academy recognition.
Some that have, though, well…Cuba Gooding Jr., anyone?
Fuck the Academy!
Mybe he hasn't received any Oscar nominations because he his last couple of fims were not that good. Do the Right Thing was good but that was many, many moons ago. He can't tell me that 25th hour or Inside Man deserved any Oscar nomination.
Yeah, the Academy only gives Oscars to movies based in LA. It's a known fact.
Joel Rifkin, that is false.
Few movies based in LA are nominated and far fewer win. Crash. That's pretty much it.
Tell you what, give an Oscar to George Lucas first and then Spike Lee can bitch about being overlooked and having a film of his shown in a school.
For crying out loud, the Oscars are always bogus when it comes to judging long term art versus something the Academy liked at the moment — not to mention if you had a box office hit then it goes against you too.
Spike Lee is freakin' complaining that DO THE RIGHT THING wasn't properly recognized by the Academy? For crying out loud the original STAR WARS wad cited as FILM OF THE MILLENNIUM by film critics due to its influence on film, culture, business, anything you can name…
…And it lost to ANNIE HALL.
Who the hell remembers that movie now?
Yeah. Because living in New York and supporting the Knicks really hurts your Oscar chances.
Just ask Woody Allen …