Spike Lee names the biggest snubs in Oscars history: “That’s some bullshit right there”
There are few directors as vocal about their dislike of the film industry as Spike Lee, who has never been one to hide his disapproval of questionable new releases and overrated projects that are lauded with critical acclaim. After the staggering success of Do The Right Thing, Lee became synonymous with his explosive filmmaking style and critical creative gaze, often commenting on race and identity in America and subjects deemed as taboo, gaining attention for his confrontational storytelling.
However, despite having a body of work that is widely taught in schools and praised for its enduring relevance, the filmmaker has been famously snubbed by the Academy, and isn’t shy about his feelings on the matter.
Driving Miss Daisy is about as palatable as Green Book. It is the kind of film that is made to appease white audiences into thinking that racism is not that much of a problem. With a predictable and sugar-coated narrative, the film follows an older white woman named Daisy Werthan and her relationship with her Black chauffeur, Hoke, which evolves over the course of their 25-year-long friendship.
While it was celebrated in Morgan Freeman’s career and seen as one of the ‘feel good’ films of the year, it was an extremely rose-tinted exploration of racial politics and segregation, with the win becoming increasingly controversial given the fact that it was nominated over Do The Right Thing for Best Picture, going on to win the coveted prize. Lee’s film was genuinely nuanced and challenging, with a disorienting visual style that highlighted the social tensions of the time and remains one of the most culturally relevant films of all time.
The lack of critical acclaim for Do The Right Thing perfectly encapsulated America’s preference to wash themselves with safe and predictable stories that didn’t challenge the status quo, preferring to hide in the false progression of Driving Miss Daisy and avoid meaningful discussions. When discussing this, Lee said, “Hey, the Academy had their chance. [laughs] Let’s not even talk about Driving Miss Daisy: ‘Best film of 1989.’ That’s some bullshit right there. But history reveals things. I mean, Do the Right Thing is being taught at universities, colleges, and high schools all around the world. Nobody’s checking on Driving Miss Daisy. And you can go down the line like that with the Academy”.
But along with the infamous snubbing of Do The Right Thing, the director also highlighted his outrage at another Oscar win from 1980, discussing the lasting impact of Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull. Lee expanded on this, saying, “Raging Bull losing to…what was the name of that Robert Redford film? Ordinary People? Come on, now. No disrespect to Robert Redford, but the Academy gets it wrong sometimes. Raging Bull is one of the greatest films ever made, and its loss did not diminish its greatness”.
While these films were not met with the accolades they deserved, their lack of critical attention has never hindered their impact. Lee is correct in saying that despite this, they have forged a strong legacy and become loved by audiences in ways that aren’t influenced by the number of awards won. If anything, not being immediately loved or praised by mass audiences is a sign that you are doing something right, and being snubbed can sometimes demonstrate a creative intellect that is beyond the understanding of the often inept Academy members.
