Spike Lee - Highest 2 Lowest - Denzel, Wright (Movie Discussion w/ spoilers)

[mcguyver]

yeh that intro was too much, with that fucking awful song/singing, but i got past it and enjoyed the movie

Aight TEN you inspired me, I went back in. This shit ain't bad if you tune the background music out. I'm almost at the finish line.

 

[Rythm]

Did anyone notice that his business parter who he tried to convince him to sell the record company was Brother Mouton from The Wire?

Yes, took me a minute but it kicked in right around the second meeting they had. Still a good actor and a good choice for that role

 

[Complex]

I don't care what anyone says, that chick from Godfather of Harlem can't act. I used to feel that way when I watched that. It was confirmed for me during this movie.

She's hired strictly for how she looks.

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Highest 2 Lowest: We Speak to Ilfenesh Hadera

We sat down with Ilfenesh Hadera for a chat about her character Pam King, working with Spike Lee, and the role New York plays in his movies.

goggler.my

Goggler

The More You Know...

goggler.my

 

[playahaitian]

I am very surprised so many people did not like this movie.

 

[geechiedan]

I saw this movie last night, she couldn't act for shit. I mean for shit. She couldn't act her way out of a wet paper bag if you gave her a fucking knife.

There was a black woman who was in the movie with me but wasn't with me. When we walked out we started talking for like an hour just about stuff including the movie and we both said at the same time, "She can't... EMOTE."

There was nothing on this woman's face that even signify that she was having emotions during this movie. If my kid is in the situation the kid is in this movie, I'm fucking frantic. Unreasonably and sometimes unnecessarily so, but I'm not fucking reasonable in this situation. She was way too calm and it seemed as if Spike Lee owed her family a favor or some money.

I was able to appreciate the movie for what it was. Jeffrey wright was cool as fuck. Some of the cameos just seemed forced and unnecessary. I love Bunk, Wendell Pierce, but he was underutilized and that role could have gone to me for all that was put into the role.

Why the fuck was ice spice even in it? And Nicholas turturro, same shit.

The visuals, the art was just fucking amazing. I know Spike is black and loves to show off black art, but the art that was in Denzel's house was just fucking mind-blowing

Cool shit when somebody pulled out guns, not going to say who, but he Said he had the guns as insurance, one was Jake from State farm, and the other was Mayhem, which is funny because Dean Winters, who plays mayhem on the Allstate commercials, was in this movie

It wasn't great, it wasn't terrible, and very much like training day, Denzel was the absolute best part of this movie. A solid 6.5 or 7.

He could have used Regina King for a supporting role for something like that. That was horrible. I mean a complete waste.

I understand giving people a shot but you don't put people in a movie who can't act and give them anything more than, let's say ASAP Rocky's girlfriend. Give her that role. It's so tiny nobody would have fucking noticed.

He could have used the black chick that he put as the detective in that role. Just damn

Bruh, she is very nice to look at.

You can't have Denzel be a Music Exec and his wife is Viola Davis, no shots, but there's only so many black presenting women in their 30's/40's that are that beautiful.

But if Spike was....... I'd understand, Hahaha

this^^^^^ the actress who played the wife was the right choice because of who David King was...show me a black man in the music industry that doesnt have a light bright and damn near white female companion??

Nick was silly AF. On point. Perfect, as you said.

You are on point for it being a "nothing burger,... just like her career,"

Like you said, I enjoyed the movie for what it was.

That art work...OMFG!

But I don't like any Spike Lee movies except Malcolm X. Meh, whatever.

I think the biggest reason people have issues with the movie is because there were no sympathetic relatable characters in the thing.

Damn near EVERYONE in the flick was shallow. The mother couldn't emote because her life was just a trophy wife...they described how they met..AFTER he'd won a boat load of awards and was the toast of the town. He chose her because she had the complexion for the connection (in his world) and she speaks well..she carries herself well when they have to do interviews and public appearances. Plus outside of Betty Shabazz when has Spike written strong emotive women?? Honestly?

The cops were ineffective and dickish which I think was Spike's commentary on LE in general and the NYPD specifically.

the ONE person who was sympathetic was the Driver and his son and they were the most abused disrespected and ignored. Him turning down the job offer at the end made sense because he knew where he truly stood with David when the shit really hits the fan.

David King was like Diddy... not guilty for the crime accused but still not a good person either... David was the same way. The second he balked at helping the kid who really was kidnapped which I'm assuming he was godfather to...he burned up all the sympathy points anyone could have for him. So the happy resolution in the end falls flat because no lessons were learned...no enlightened realizations about how fake and fucked up their lives really are. David got his money back and young felon got a record deal and will be out in probably less than a decade.

Asap Rocky has been showing his actor chops since Dope so seeing him go toe to toe with Denzel was good...the only downside was that Spike kept it in the realm of what he's good at... being a rapper. His acting is better than that.

If anything I would say that Denzel was a bit out of his element as a rap music mogul. In his 70s, Denzel predates rap/hip hop and so he doesnt move well in that sphere. He's better in the jazz world (Mo Better Blues) than he is in the rap world. Honestly... as an actor, if all that shit hadn't happened to him...Sean Combs would have probably been a better choice since the character seemed to be built around him and Dame Dash and those guys who had a finger on the pulse of rap music and took the music global in the 90s.

I've always had an issue with the ham handed too obvious way Spike has done his messaging and subluminals in his movie. In 1989 that was fine with Do The Right Thing and it being his 3rd movie but some 30+ years later? You don't have to keep holding our hand Spike and spoon feeding us the things you want us to know..Its like he's never trusted his audience to pick up in nuance so he just puts it front and center.

 

[D24OHA]

this^^^^^ the actress who played the wife was the right choice because of who David King was...show me a black man in the music industry that doesnt have a light bright and damn near white female companion??






I think the biggest reason people have issues with the movie is because there were no sympathetic relatable characters in the thing.

Damn near EVERYONE in the flick was shallow. The mother couldn't emote because her life was just a trophy wife...they described how they met..AFTER he'd one a boat load of awards and was the toast of the town. He chose her because she had the complexion for the connection (in his world) and she speaks well..she carries herself well when they have to do interviews and public appearances. Plus outside of Betty Shabazz when has Spike written strong emotive women?? Honestly?

The cops were ineffective and dickish which I think was Spike's commentary on LE in general and the NYPD specifically.

the ONE person who was sympathetic was the Driver and his son and they were the most abused disrespected and ignored. Him turning down the job offer at the end made sense because he knew where he truly stood with David when the shit really hits the fan.

David King was like Diddy... not guilty for the crime accused but still not a good person either... David was the same way. The second he balked at helping the kid who really was kidnapped which I'm assuming he was godfather to...he burned up all the sympathy points anyone could have for him. So the happy resolution in the end falls flat because no lessons were learned...no enlightened realizations about how fake and fucked up their lives really are. David got his money back and young felon got a record deal and will be out in probably less than a decade.

Asap Rocky has been showing his actor chops since Dope so seeing him go toe to toe with Denzel was good...the only downside was that Spike kept it in the realm of what he's good at... being a rapper. His acting is better than that.

If anything I would say that Denzel was a bit out of his element as a rap music mogul. In his 70s, Denzel predates rap/hip hop and so he doesnt move well in that sphere. He's better in the jazz world (Mo Better Blues) than he is in the rap world. Honestly... as an actor, if all that shit hadn't happened to him...Sean Combs would have probably been a better choice since the character seemed to be built around him and Dame Dash and those guys who had a finger on the pulse of rap music and took the music global in the 90s.

I've always had an issue with the ham handed too obvious way Spike has done his messaging and subluminals in his movie. In 1989 that was fine with Do The Right Thing and it being his 3rd movie but some 30+ years later? You don't have to keep holding our hand Spike and spoon feeding us the things you want us to know..Its like he's never trusted his audience to pick up in nuance so he just puts it front and center.

All valid points, however I will offer a bit of push back. Spike didn't "write" this movie or script. Yes, obviously he put his touches on it in very noticeable places.

But this is a remake of a cult classic movie. And if I read correctly it follows it pretty much beat for beat, (mogul in a financial crunch with a big decision on the table, there's a kidnapping, rob Peter to pay Paul and hopefully get the money back before anyone notices, uh oh its not HIS son, moral dilemma, resolved pretty neatly....)
I say that to say, there's only so much room he has with the wife and David. Its hard to spontaneously create a back story for them or give her agency.

Yes, Denzel seemed out of place running a record label that specialized in Hip-Hop/R&B.... at times he really did seem "old." Like his streetwear was from the mid 00's to 10's. It didn't fit now, but it also didn't seem authentic to him. Maybe it was his age showing or that of the director.

its hard to say if a different time period would've been better, because of Denzel's age. There are barely any black music executives now, especially over the age of 55.... so in the 90's / 00's.... nah, forget about it.

But also his artist at the end, she is so niche and non-mainstream, it wouldn't make sense for someone who wants to be more involved with family to pick that type of artist. She would need a whole hell of a lot of $$$$upport and time. And as a start up independent label, that would spell ruin.

It was a decent flick, I'd watch it if it came on tv, but as far as re-watchability, not the highest or quite the lowest in the Spike Filmography.
2.5-3 out of 5 stars

 

[geechiedan]

All valid points, however I will offer a bit of push back. Spike didn't "write" this movie or script. Yes, obviously he put his touches on it in very noticeable places.

But this is a remake of a cult classic movie. And if I read correctly it follows it pretty much beat for beat, (mogol in a financial crunch with a big decision on the table, there's a kidnapping, rob Peter to pay Paul and hopefully get the money back before anyone notices, uh oh its not HIS son, moral dilemma, resolved pretty neatly....)
I say that to say, there's only so much room he has with the wife and David. Its hard to spontaneously create a back story for them or give her agency.

no argument

Yes, Denzel seemed out of place running a record label that specialized in Hip-Hop/R&B.... at times he really did seem "old." Like his streetwear was from the mid 00's to 10's. It didn't fit now, but it also didn't seem authentic to him. Maybe it was his age showing or that of the director.

its hard to say if a different time period would've been better, because of Denzel's age. There are barely any black music executives now, especially over the age of 55.... so in the 90's / 00's.... nah, forget about it.

if it were done earlier in the 90s it could have been any business...if you keep it music then its R&B more than rap.

But also his artist at the end, she is so niche and non-mainstream, it wouldn't make sense for someone who wants to be more involved with family to pick that type of artist. She would need a whole hell of a lot of $$$$upport and time. And as a start up independent label, that would spell ruin.

remember he got a payout for selling stackin hits records..the 17.5 million was for him to buy the stock leverage ( I think). Which really seems like a low number for someone whos supposed to be mogul. Hell diddy paid cassie 30 million settlement for some shit that happened a decade ago. talk about highest and lowest.

Itbwas a decent flick, I'd watch it if it came on tv, but as far as re-watchability, not the highest or quite the lowest in the Spike Filmography.
2.5-3 out of 5 stars