57. "A Chicagoans Review of Chi-Raq (Spoiler Free) (long)" In response to In response to 0 Sun Dec-06-15 11:25 AM by DVS
As the movie ended...I was struck with how conflicted I was.
This is not a GOOD movie. Then again...it's not a BAD movie.
It's a very AMBITIOUS movie. As others have said...it's a movie that doesn't give a fuck about how you feel about its plot devices. You will deal with it or you will tune it out. Period.
That said...once you get into it...the prose isn't as cringeworthy in context as it appears in the trailers.
Sam Jackson's character is a direct nod to the 70s era "Signifying Monkey" urban griot tradition. It helps that Sam's character knows that his portrayal is over the top to the viewer...and his narration is one of the strengths of the movie. I can see people thinking he's "cooning it up" because we are often ashamed of that part of our history...but it is authentic and as such...I gave it a pass.
Nick Cannon should not have had this role. It's not that he doesn't play it well....I believe he did a decent job...but I just don't have that much suspension of belief in me. I really wish Spike had had the balls to cast an unknown because the authenticity of Chiraq (his character) is key to us buying into the authenticity of Chi-Raq (the movie)
By now...you are fully aware of Spike Lee's penchant for misogynistic images. He hasn't changed. Every major female character in here with the possible exception of Angela Bassett and Jennifer Hudson is hypersexualized...and quite a bit of it is unnecessary. You can only hide behind the "NO PEACE...NO PIECE!!" credo of the movie so much. For this to be Spike's 1st major female lead since "She's Gotta Have It"...you can see that his depictions haven't changed much....EVEN considering that he didn't pen this movie. Now that I think of it...the only female depiction Spike has ever put forward that I can clap to was in "Crooklyn"...Nola Darling at least was in control and in tune with her sexuality....Lyristrata seems forced.
I saw this with a theater full of Hoetpians...and the strength of this movie is that it pulled whatever predispositions and beliefs we had out of us. The elders were outraged at its vulgarity....The WHITE MAN IS THE DEVIL contingent were angry at the strength of John Cusack's take on Father Pflegger....The Moors found ammunition to feed their pitch for sovereignty...as were the old school Diop/Chancellor William contingent emboldened to tell us to leave the country.
I feel like this movie is important. I feel like you should watch this movie at least once. I feel like you shouldn't make a snap judgment on how you feel about it. I feel like it challenges you to look at yourself and your community as a whole.
So yes....this is Spike's most important movie in a very long time.
But it is not a good movie.
It is a GOOD BAD MOVIE....and I have to honor his decision to make it.