Always controversial and always anticipated, Spike Lee will be returning to theaters with his second release of 2015 with the upcoming, ‘Chi-Raq’ and his peer/rival Quentin Tarantino will be returning with his second Western-themed film, ‘The Hateful Eight.’ The latest joint from Brooklyn’s favorite son has been marred with negative criticism just off the announcement of the title. Chicago has become a war zone in the news and in the latest 40 Acres and A Mule production. Teyonah Parris, of ‘Dear White People‘ and ‘Survivor’s Remorse,’ plays modern day Lysistrata, a Windy City native that begins a celibacy movement for all women of Chi-Town in an effort to curb men from violence.
The trailer was released this past Tuesday and has already been prejudged by many of Chicago natives as a parody of a serious topic. The lack of culture and authenticity from the Mid-West city in the preview has even spawned a #BoycottChiraq hashtag on Twitter. People are truly upset over the sight of Nick Cannon being a drill rapper without dreads. I wonder how much more are they going to be upset when they learn that he is the titular character.
Damn Spikey….. Chiraq isn't defined enough on that movie! It should be showing what's really going on.
— AlmightySo (@ChiefKeef) November 4, 2015
Spikey? After watching the trailer myself, I assume that this will be another strange entry into the Spike Lee library, but I will be waiting until I see it before I judge. Like everyone else, I’m hoping for a less musical/comedic feel and more social commentary feel from the film. To assure that it will be a spotlight on the senseless tragedies in a great American city, Mr. Lee has released a second trailer that follows a short intro from himself on the 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks’ vimeo page entitled, ‘Children Are Off Limits.’
‘Chi-Raq’ also stars Angela Bassestt, Wesley Snipes, Dave Chapelle, John Cusack, La La Anthony, Felicia “Snoop” Pearson, and Jennifer Hudson and will be in theaters on December 4th.
The number one Black culture vulture, (Still one of my favorite directors; happy to see him speak out against police killing countless Black people unjustly.) Quentin Tarantino is returning to theaters three years after ‘Django Unchained.’ While his film this time seems safe content-wise from the trailer, the director himself has caught backlash for his actions this time. After speaking at a rally in New York against police brutality back in October, police unions have labeled Tarantino as a “cop-hater” and plan to boycott his films. I’m less concerned about this “controversy,” because nothing he said was wrong or negative to the serious situations we see constantly. Instead of focusing on the problem, the police are using him as a distraction. (Damn, maybe Tarantino really is Black. His first name is Quentin.) Anyway. Deviating from his routine revenge theme, ‘The Hateful Eight,’ tells the story of a bounty hunter, played by Kurt Russell, and his bounty, Jennifer Jason Leigh, trying to survive a blizzard with six untrustworthy, malicious individuals. The 8th film by the NYPD & LAPD’s least favorite will also star Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Walton Goggins, Zoe Bell, and Channing Tatum; Arriving in theaters on Christmas Day.
I don’t know how, but these two independent spirits will always be connected. I don’t how I keep getting offended and bamboozled, but I keep going to see and watching their work.
Short-T
Good Kid, Ratchet City