Advertised under the banner “We Got Jokes.”, the film is not a mere comedy. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and Bernie Mac. A stand-up comedy flick filmed in front of a live audience, this 2000 feature starts leading comedians Steve Harvey, D.L. It seems as though Spike Lee’s only desire is to cross the limits of absurdity with every feature, and ‘The Original Kings of Comedy’ is no exception. While actors Denzel Washington and Ray Allen received applause, Lee’s direction was certainly the deciding factor which provided a strong foundation for their performances. The balanced direction complemented by an intriguing screenplay written by Lee himself, an engaging camera work by cinematographer Malik Hassan Sayeed and a dominating soundtrack by Howard Shore, the film went on to become a highly successful film. Unlike most sports films, ‘He Got Game’ opted for a dark and unsettling tone which makes it such a unique watch. Narrated through the jarring tale of Jake Shuttlesworth, a prisoner granted temporary parole by an unscrupulous warden as part of a backroom deal that leaves Jake scrambling to convince his estranged son to sign with the governor’s alma mater, the film possesses every element required to be a successful endeavour. The movie, like any other Lee project, uses the genre to retell the clichéd ventures of a father-son redemption tale, social commentary and political injustice. The film, as coined by Newsweek’s David Ansen, the flick is an “unapologetic genre movie.” With a starry cast including the likes of Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe and Chiwetel Ejiofor, the director squeezed out every bit of dramatic talent the actors had, making it his most commercial venture till date.Īn infusion of a comedy, drama and a sports film, Lee’s 1998 project saw him collaborating with Denzel Washington for the third time. Making his fourth screen collaboration with Washington, the film is teeming with adrenaline rushing moments. The director impeccably used Washington’s crisp and articulate speech. Lee’s intricate understanding of the issues like “colourism” and “hair texture” bias within the African-American community earned him immense praise and helped establish the careers of its lead actors in remarkable fashion.Ī crime thriller film, ‘Inside Man’ is set around a bank heist on Wall Street over a 24-hour period. The second feature film of Spike Lee saw him dealing with issues such as caste, colour and creed while he challenged the artistic perception with a dominating directorial discourse. A musical comedy-drama, ‘School Daze’ is about the fraternity and sorority members clashing with other students at a historically black college during homecoming weekend. Upon its release, ‘School Daze’ could not connect with the audience due to its untouched subject matter. However, with Lee’s quirky style of direction and the performances of the lead, the film is a certain watch.
While it got shoved under the carpet with commercial and critical blockbusters like ‘Fargo’, ‘Independence Day’ and ‘Mission: Impossible’, Spike Lee’s feature did not get the credit it deserved. With inspiration soothing out of Reggie Rock Bythewood’s screenplay and memorable performances from the lead cast, ‘Get on the Bus’ prove to be one of the best films of 1996. Teeming with interesting and unique characters, ‘Get on the Bus’ is about a group of African-American men who are on a cross-country bus trip in order to participate in the “Million Man March”.
Notable critics applauded Lee’s direction and called it his “smartest and sharpest” production, and his directorial efforts earned it the distinction of being one of the best-rated movies of 2015. While the film witnessed limited theatre release, the dexterous mapping of Lysistrata’s literary sensibilities and its adaptation in the modern-day susceptibilities helped it earn commendable critical praise. You can watch some of these best Spike Lee movies on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.Īn adaption of Aristophanes’ ‘Lysistrata’, this 2015 flick focuses on the gang violence pervading in the city’s south side, the Englewood neighbourhood. With that said, here’s the list of top Spike Lee movies, selected from his impressive filmography. The director’s accolades cabinet says it all – With two Academy Award nominations, a Student Academy Award and an Academy Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, two Emmy Awards, two Peabody Awards and an honorary BAFTA Award, Lee is veteran of the business. From taking on a community which lynches the other caste, to challenging the viewers with a perceptive bank heist, Lee has done it all.
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