Spike Lee

The end of the 1990's saw the re-emergence of Black Power, not only in the streets,music and fashion, but also on the silver screen.

Spike Lee first came to public attention when he released "She's Gotta Have It". A movie shot in black & white in 1986. But it wasn't until he made "Do The Right Thing" in 1989 that hollywood began to take this young black director,writer/actor seriously, and won himself an academy nomination for best "Original screen Play" and Rick Aiello for best Supporting Actor.

Lee exploded on the film scene with a string of follow up movies like, "Mo' Better Blues" "Jungle Fever" and "Malcom X" while firmly turning himself into a household name, marketing/advertising himself with Nike alongside Micheal Jordan.

Spike Lee tends to hire the same actors/actresses in his films, which seem to give his movies a sense of association to his audience, and it was always a guarantee with his earlier films that there was going to be some kind of controversy!

Spike Lee changed Black Film. Not only did he stir up the call of injustice, he would brings it across in beautiful bright colours and black urban soul as it's soundtrack. Over night Lee became a role model for black people around the world, especially in the Hip-Hop communities.

Although deemed controvertial, Lee has been able to use this to his own advantage. By getting white America to not only see things from a Black perspective, but for White America to actually look at itself!

Rumour has it, that Lee is being tipped to direct the life and times of the legendary James Brown. Controversy?
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