The Quentin Tarantino movie Spike Lee refuses to watch
The movies of Quentin Tarantino have their fair share of supporters, with classic movies such as Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill and Inglourious Basterds thrilling audiences worldwide, largely thanks to their high-octane violence and electrifying cinematography. But, naturally, the provocative filmmaker, who is prickly in the face of controversy, has made some enemies over the years, including the iconic filmmaker Spike Lee.
Helming a number of influential films throughout the late 20th century and the new millennium, Lee is one of the best directors to grace the silver screen and is known as a definitive voice in the world of black cinema. Indeed, films such as 1988’s School Daze, 1989’s Do the Right Thing and 1992’s Malcolm X were, and remain, seminal, presenting tales rarely seen before in contemporary Hollywood.
Tarantino had never truly delved into stories that concerned themselves with black lives before 2012 and the release of Django Unchained came around, with the film causing much controversy at the time for its graphic violence and flagrant use of the ‘N-word’. Telling the story of a freed slave who sets out on a journey of revenge, Tarantino’s foray into the racism of 19th-century America had a sour amount of levity in the opinion of many, with the release being hampered by being released in the same year as the emotionally-wrought ‘Best Picture’ winner 12 Years a Slave from British director Steve McQueen.
Spike Lee was once such a critic, boycotting the movie entirely as a result of how it treated its themes. “I can’t speak on it because I’m not going to see it,” he told Vibe in 2012, “I’m not seeing it. All I’m going to say is it would be disrespectful to my ancestors to see that film. I can’t disrespect my ancestors, I can’t do it. I’m not speaking on behalf of anyone but myself”.
He elaborated his position on Twitter, writing on the platform: “American Slavery Was Not A Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western. It Was A Holocaust. My Ancestors Are Slaves. Stolen From Africa. I Will Honor Them”. Later, he also took to Variety to voice his concerns, specifically regarding the use of the n-word in the film, “I’m not against the word…and I use it, but not excessively. And some people speak that way. But, Quentin is infatuated with that word. What does he want to be made – an honorary black man?”.
Infamously defensive, Tarantino responded to Lee’s comments, declaring that he would never work with Lee again in the future, before even suggesting violence towards the director. “Spike and I bumped into each other once after all that crap was over, and I was all set to kick his ass,” the Django Unchained director revealed, “He attacked me to keep his ‘Jesse Jackson of cinema’ status”.
Elaborating on his opinion, Tarantino added: “I wasn’t looking for his approval, and so he was taking me on to keep his status”.
It’s unclear whether Lee is yet to watch Django Unchained, but considering his comments, you wouldn’t want to put money on it.
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