The Unseen Aspects of Spike Lee
Welcome to The B-Side! Here, we discuss movie directors—not the films that made them famous or kept them in the spotlight, but the ones they created in between.
Today, we focus on Spike Lee, one of our favorite filmmakers! The B-Sides we are covering include: Girl 6, Get on the Bus, Summer of Sam, Passing Strange, and Chi-Raq.
We'll explore what makes Lee a unique artist, his early movies and initial success, his status as a commercial icon, and his infectious optimism as a stylist.
Spike Lee has noted that Crooklyn is the film most fans mention to him. I've written about Lee’s remarkable film openings, and Conor and I admire his maximalist style. We also discuss his ambitious blend of tone. Take, for example, the minefield scene from Da 5 Bloods; it begins with humor and shifts tragically.
We also touch on our dream Patreon mini-podcast series, Macht Speed (a deep examination of Gabriel Macht’s career), the Spike Lee–Quentin Tarantino rivalry, and the bold ambition needed to create a film like She Hate Me.
Listen below and subscribe here. Don't forget to follow us on Bluesky at @tfsbside.bsky.social. Enjoy!
Watch, listen, or read below and subscribe here. Don’t forget to follow us on Bluesky at @tfsbside.bsky.social. Enjoy!
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The Unseen Aspects of Spike Lee
Welcome to The B-Side! In this space, we explore movie directors—not their well-known films or those that solidified their fame, but the lesser-known works they created in between. Today, we're focusing on Spike Lee, one of our all-time favorite filmmakers! The B-Side films we're highlighting today are: Girl 6, Get on the Bus, Summer of Sam, and Passing Strange.