Monica Bellucci et Anthony Mackie
*
*
*
consistently underrated
Author: davey jones (phnxdown) from United States
17 February 2006
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Most Spike Lee joints are rated in the 6-7 range, with the three top-rated films being Malcolm X at 7.5 and Do the Right Thing tied with 25th Hour at a 7.8 rating. So while i feel it is an accurate depiction of what his better films are, it seems strange that a man "voted the 48th Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly" has no movie rated at least a 9 (and I'd hope at least a 10). I think it says more about IMDb users than it does about the actual films. For instance, I think history will show that Return of the King does not belong in any all-time top-ten list (and that it's not even the best Lord of the Rings movie), but it's currently listed at number 4 on IMDb, above Casablanca. Casablanca is often cited as the greatest film of all time, but i think it's losing its grip in the IMDb polls because (1) its not recent and (2) its not violent.
My general commentary aside, it disappoints me that She Hate Me has not attained even the 6-7 vote range on IMDb. Again, I think it says less about the film and more about the people watching it and voting on it. The premise of the film is indeed a bit fantastical and its portrayal is biased towards the male-gaze as most films are, but its nuanced performances give it a sensitivity and an intensity I think few films possess in this or any age. My hat is off to Anthony Mackie and Kerry Washington for their impeccable leads, but i feel that every supporting performance was on the mark down to the mere door man (played by Jamel Debbouze, whom you may recognize from the role of Lucien in Amelie).
The subject matter and its handling are probably the real reasons this film is only rated at a disappointing 5.0. Spike's intelligent and and yet down-to-earth approach probably alienated both sides of the movie-going spectrum: *possible spoiler* (1) The only unabashed violence in this film is the suicide of Dr. Schiller and the incurred deaths of the people below him. Not exactly popcorn fare. (2) Think about the context of the title of the film... Spike Lee does not cater to the stock intelligentsia. He picks a controversial subject and approaches it from a challenging angle, but he uses the language of everyday life to present it.In short, I think a person's reasons for not liking the film do more to betray their ignorance or their prejudice than to actually say anything about the quality of it. Then again, what do i know? I only gave Return of the King a 7.0 rating. I must be an idiot.
Author: ecto-3 from San Diego, CA
18 August 2004
It has been said that dying is easy, but comedy is difficult. This latest, masterful release by Director Spike Lee should not merely be viewed as a comedy, although it does has some outrageous laughs based upon a social commentary about morality, corruption, and ultimately personal salvation. What makes this film challenging, and perhaps disappointing to some, is that it is so original that it does not easily fit into categories or expectations. However, Mr. Lee has indeed succeeded on many levels. In the finest traditions of breaking new ground in art, social commentary, satire, and caricature, with the likes of James Joyce, Marxist philosophers, Marshall McLuhan, Herbert Marcuse and others from the Frankfurt school, and pop culture icons, from Tom Lehrer, Bob Dylan, and Madonna, this film is right (or left) on target.
It is not about donating sperm to lesbians, as some might think, or corruption in business and government. It uses lesbians and blacks as representations of anyone who is subject to being marginalized. The real message of this movie, in my view, is that our salvation and rescue lies within, and that personal morality, i.e., truth, is the tool we can use to uncover and destroy government and business deceits, from Watergate to Enron, and beyond. If you are looking just for laughs, and not to be challenged to think beyond the superficial, then this movie isn't for you. But for anyone who isn't brain dead, brain washed, or brainless, this just might be the best movie you've ever seen.
This movie was excellent! Why? It is not the common movie. It is a masterpiece. Some of the world's most misunderstood artists are treasured beyond initial gratification after life. Well I treasure Spike Lee on this particular movie NOW! Spike, and to all those who enjoyed this movie, you are are genius! This movie captured so many points that interlinked behind the threads that only a mind of wit, intellectual thinking, challenged racism would understand.
This movie touched so many points, even with the so called aspects of a man fathering many children through is own pretense. I watched a reality show of a white man that donated sperm and was laughed upon by his best friend that he fathered perhaps over 50 kids just RECENTLY! He understood later his reasoning, although not what I'd vote upon, every being has his/her own reasoning.
Spike, this movie is incredible but only if you look deep into it to be touched. It is indeed Humorous, but at the same-time, dramatic, realistic,e educational, tear jerking, and witty.Thank you for the music by Terence Blanchard, yet another black icon of our time in modern jazz.I can't say enough about this movie, it is eclectic!!!!!!!!!!
Author: nikki-248 from United States
14 August 2006
Spike Lee is brilliant!!! I love the thought of doing this myself. Good idea. I love the scene where his ex is getting her cut, with her confident self, she played in Ray with Jamie Foxx as his wife. She is an excellent actress.
Spike knows how to pick a good cast. I wish I would've done the same as those women, what a deal!!! Men are nothing but sex objects too and should be treated as such, well for procreation and women wouldn't be so crazy over them, crying if he cheats. Before I saw this movie last night I watched Spikes Shes Gotta Have It! Excellent cinematography! I wish I saw She Hates Me when it came out!!! Of course the lesbians were self assured, loving the fact that they know what they want, and not betraying themselves with being with a man, which happens so often today.
I also liked how the main character Jack was getting all emotional about it, just like a woman, lol he felt used but paid like a Whore at the same time. The sex scenes looked great, Spike got some freakiness in him, lol, but the plot about his job could've been cut out to me, and should have had more scenes with his ex and her girlfriend getting it on, it looked sooo real. I was wondering why Queen Latifah, Missy and Eve weren't in this movie, but that's just me.
Author: Kasele1 from United States
7 January 2005
This movie was awesome. I will not give away any information in these comments. Don't expect the same old thing. This movie is original and unlike any other Spike Lee Joint or any other movie I've seen for that matter. The story alone makes it worth seeing. It is a little controversial, but not that far-fetched really. It touches on many controversial topics (particularly those huge in the history of our nation now). I was very happy to see that Spike was uncompromising yet again with the presentation and the story. The film still have some of the visual elements for which Spike is known. See this movie when you get the opportunity. Spike must have upset somebody because advertising was nearly nonexistent. Word of mouth will make this one explosive in video sales.
The old Spike Lee is alive and well, and "She Hate Me" proves it. It is very political, from the opening and closing use of the George Bush "phony as a" three dollar bill background. While Spike Lee taps into his usual supporting cast, the lead role of Jack Armstrong, a drug company whistleblower who represents anyone who has fought the system and struggled to regain their name, will be a star-making performance for Anthony Mackie.The evil white corporate executive (Woody Harrelson) and the do anything to get ahead, but still caring boss (Ellen Barkin) still show that Spike Lee can play the race game and do it brilliantly.
When you throw in an ex-fiancé, turned lesbian, turned businesswoman, who wants her ex to impregnate other lesbians for $10K a pop, a caring mother (Lonette McKee), the wise father (Jim Brown), the elderly judge (Ossie Davis), and in a film lovers role, John Turturro as an NYC mobster who re-enacts scenes from "The Godfather", while being under investigation himself.
All of this could be confusing and waste of time, if it wasn't in the hands of a great screenwriter, and Spike Lee shows that he still has the ability to create social commentary and get great acting from his entire cast. From looking at the role of a whistleblower from Watergate, to the cover of Time Magazine, the truth is something that will always win in the end.One criticism might be that this movie is long (140 minutes), but with great writing, great roles, and a great anti-Republican movie, it's worth every minute and then some.Although it will open after Roger Moore's more publicized documentary, attacking the President, make time to enjoy this treasure!
Author: DaMoTaS from Santa Monica
11 August 2004
'She Hate Me' offers an intimate journey into the psyche of the United States. Spike allows us to look at ourselves and what we are at this point in time. He brings up subjects like our country's short attention span with serious social political issues and our obsession with money, perp walks, scandals, etc. I felt that he left room for the viewer to ponder why Enron and WorldCom and others so quickly fade into the distance only so we can find out more about Lacie Pederson and the like.People have commented that Spike touches on too many things in the film. I would offer that maybe his intention is not to give you all the information but to demonstrate how everything is related and how it's rather chaotic when you really look at what's going on in politics and business these days.
There is no question that he addresses a pleathera of topics here, and it seems at first like it's several movies in one. But if you listen to his responses in the media, that chaos is what he's going for in the movie, you can appreciate a lot more in the film. There are many levels to the story and it's extremely witty. The scene with Mackie and Q-Tip at the sperm bank is priceless. Not only for it's comic genius, but for what it makes you think about. I saw it with a group of people who all enjoyed it very much and it spawned a ton of discussion afterwards.I think people criticize Spike a little too much. It's refreshing to have him out there being artistic. It's a great movie in my opinion not only because it's clever and funny but for it's political and social relevance.
Author: ecto-3 from San Diego, CA
23 August 2004
It has been said that dying is easy, but comedy is difficult. This latest, masterful release by Director Spike Lee should not merely be viewed as a comedy, although it does has some outrageous laughs based upon a social commentary about morality, corruption, and ultimately personal salvation. What makes this film challenging, and perhaps disappointing to some, is that it is so original that it does not easily fit into categories or expectations.
However, Mr. Lee has indeed succeeded on many levels. In the finest traditions of breaking new ground in art, social commentary, satire, and caricature, with the likes of James Joyce, Marxist philosophers, Marshall McLuhan, Herbert Marcuse and others from the Frankfurt school, and pop culture icons, from Tom Lehrer, Bob Dylan, and Madonna, this film is right (or left) on target. It is not about donating sperm to lesbians, as some might think, or corruption in business and government. It uses lesbians and blacks as representations of anyone who is subject to being marginalized.
The real message of this movie, in my view, is that our salvation and rescue lies within, and that personal morality, i.e., truth, is the tool we can use to uncover and destroy government and business deceits, from Watergate to Enron, and beyond. If you are looking just for laughs, and not to be challenged to think beyond the superficial, then this movie isn't for you. But for anyone who isn't brain dead, brain washed, or brainless, this just might be the best movie you've ever seen. I give it a 10, must see rating.
I can't remember seeing a film for which most reviewers' responses were the opposite of mine,but She Hate Me appears to be that film.My husband and I just returned from seeing it and we had a blast!!I thought it was complex, multi-layered, funny, absorbing, touching and fascinating. It was never boring or banal.Yes, it touched on many many diverse issues, with very different tonalities of drama and farce, but I felt that it easily held together and developed in a very believable way.
Aside from the many many hearty laughs it gave me, I particularly valued : its realistic and multi-layered portrayal of middle and upper- middle class black family life; the main character's looking like a stud but really being a man truly and self-admittedly wounded by a woman and seeking a loving committed relationship; its multi-faceted portrait-glimpses of urban lesbians;its detailed depiction of a very smart, hard working, ambitious, accomplished, articulate,successful, and considerate, young black man;and the fact that this 'hero' is a self-aware 'whistle-blower' who firmly calls to task the moral and ethical bankruption of our time , just as does Spike Lee.
I am convinced, though there is obviously no way to prove this, that there is a shared specific subconscious reason for various people having so many negative responses to She Hate Me. I believe that it has nothing to do with the realityofthe films narrative structure,script or cinematography, but that the 'reason' is that those people are very uncomfortable seeing the explicit,and often provocative exchanges of kissing between 2 women. Maybe, for many people, that kissing is an assault, much as was the loud aggressive violence of the ever-blaring boombox in Do The Right Thing. I can hear the loud protests already but maybe it's something to think about... For me, this film is a solid 10 .
Author: iisjunkie from United States
11 April 2006
Beautiful,,, I had NO IDEA what it was about and I caught this film at 2am on HBO. I was able to view this without my personal judgments or assumptions but what I felt after the movie was a peace within that I have not felt in ages. Very touching, very honest, very accurate with today's expectations and opinions. Besides the typical response of "what a lucky guy" that was actually one of the last things that crossed my mind. There are too many compliments for me to list in such a small space without pointing out the obvious... I enjoyed this movie so much I looked it up on the internet and signed up just so I could tell someone.
Regards,
