Product Details

• Actors: Harrison Ford, Dave Mann, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Jon Voight
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Winstar
• VHS Release Date: May 23, 2000
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B00004STBT
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #553,976 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

While this Spike Lee installment of The Directors includes observations from actors Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Alfre Woodard, Wesley Snipes, and others, the real value of the hour-long program comes from the interview with Lee himself. While clips from all of Lee's films up to 1996's Get on the Bus illustrate most of Lee's cinematic achievements and thematic concerns, his own words are the most revealing and instructive. Often (mis-)perceived as a provocateur whose films are more confrontational than entertaining, Lee is aware of his tenuous place in the Hollywood scheme; what matters to him, ultimately, is the body of work by which any artist must finally be judged. He's notably stung by the fact that his great film Do the Right Thing lost the 1989 Oscar race to Driving Miss Daisy, observing, with ample justification, that the latter film offered a comforting image of a black man that white audiences could more readily accept. Through ups and downs, Lee remains pragmatic about the film business, allowing the consistent quality of his films to speak for itself. Of the other interviewees, Ossie Davis is the most perceptive, but when he makes the fascinating suggestion that Lee should remake Malcolm X when he's older and more experienced, you're instantly reminded of Denzel Washington's conspicuous absence. It's unfortunate that we don't hear from the star of Lee's Mo' Better Blues, Malcolm X, and He Got Game. It's a serious flaw in this otherwise engaging program. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BADDEST FILM MAKER IN TOWN, June 21, 2001

By 

Bonita L. Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Directors - Spike Lee [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Shelton Jackson Lee, better known to us as Spike Lee is the most provocative and controversial African-American film maker of our time. In this one hour video we get an opportunity to hear Spike's philosophy of his craft as he looks through his entire body of work. Actors such as Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Wesley Snipes and others also give comments and share their insights about this remarkable young man.

Who is this Spike Lee? Although this video is a profile it doesn't go into the details of Spike's life. Its focus is on his works and how he views it through the course of time. He was born in Atlanta, GA but grew up in Brooklyn, NY. He of course went to college and then went onto acquire a MFA in film in New York.

Spike won a prize for a film he produced in graduate school and thought Hollywood would come knocking at his door because of his brilliance. It never happened and Spike learned how to become an independant film maker. "She's Gotta Have It" was Spike's first commercial success which garnered him notice and from there he turned film making upside down.

You will see scenes from his works where he shattered the myths regarding race, sexuality and class in all of his films. No topic was too sacred for Spike to explore and expose it for what it was worth even when the mainstream film industry said he was making a mistake.

Spike exudes an aura of confidence (some would say arrogance), takes risks, and is at the top of his game in his craft. Listening to this man critique his films and sharing what he perceives to be their impact on culture is great. Spike is determined for African-American film makers to have a voice in how they are portrayed in the media. Enjoy this profile of one of the greatest African-American film makers of our time.