Can you believe one of the greatest directors in Hollywood, Spike Lee, is now 65 years old? It is crazy how time flies. In 1983, he submitted his thesis film, Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads, for culminating his Master of Fine Arts degree at Tisch School of the Arts, a part of New York University. And three years later, he dispatched She’s Gotta Have It (his debut feature-length film) in theatres. After this, he became prominent for frequently exploring racism in the American community, urban crime, poverty, and various other political issues in his projects. Let’s check out his top 5 films!
5. BlacKkKlansman (2018)
Based on Ron Stallworth’s memoir of the same name, this Spike Lee’s directional has John David Washington in the leading role with Adam Driver, Topher Grace, and Laura Harrier in the main cast. Washington’s on-screen portrayal of Stallworth stands out the most in this one. The movie’s plot revolves around the first African-American detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department and his role in uncovering a local Ku Klux Klan.
4. 25th Hour (2002)
This Spike Lee project treasures one of the finest performances of Edward Norton. It beautifully showcases the last 24 hours of Monty Brogan (Norton) as a free man before stepping into prison for seven long years as a result of his drug-dealing business. Viewers also praised it for its hard-hitting and realistic portrayal of New York City, especially after the 9/11 attacks.
3. Inside Man (2006)
Inside Man is one of the best heist films of all time. And the duo of Denzel Washington and Clive Owen successfully captivates the audience with their outstanding performances. Denzel plays the role of an NYPD detective, Keith Frazier, who later turns into a hostage negotiator when Dalton Russell (Clive Owen) attempts a heist on a Manhattan bank. The situation gets complicated when Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer), the bank’s founder, hires Madeleine White (Jodie Foster) to protect his safe deposit box in that bank.
2. Malcolm X (1992)
We know that Al Pacino is an acting god. He did a fine job in Martin Brest’s Scent of a Woman. But Denzel Washington deserved the Oscar for Best Actor at the 65th Academy Awards. His spot-on and electrifying portrayal of Malcolm X solidified his acting career in Hollywood. This one is the second collaboration between Denzel and Spike Lee. Despite turning into an average grosser, the movie has become a cult film.
1. Do the Right Thing (1989)
A lot of people predicted that this Spike Lee project would incite U.S. racial tensions and might even turn them into riots. Well, the riots didn’t take place after the movie’s release. But it went down as one of the greatest films of all time. The thing that will affect the viewers is how its high-spirited tone turns into something dark and violent. The movie explores the racial tensions between a pizzeria’s Italian-American workers and a group of African-American locals in a Brooklyn neighbourhood.
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
