A true legend of contemporary filmmaking, Spike Lee has blazed a trail of uncompromising originality over the past 40 years. From the beloved comedy-drama Do the Right Thing to the essential historical epic Malcolm X and the gripping crime drama BlacKkKlansman, Lee’s catalogue spans a healthy swathe of genres.
Introduced to the art of filmmaking during his time at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Lee’s initial ventures paved the way for formal education in film and television at New York University’s esteemed Tisch School of the Arts. Now regarded as a luminary in his field, he imparts his wisdom to aspiring filmmakers as a teacher at the university, ensuring that excellence continues to thrive in future generations.
In 1983, Lee founded a production company of his own, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, and has since produced more than 35 movies under the banner. His impeccable oeuvre began in 1986 with the debut feature, She’s Gotta Have It. Even at this stage, Lee exhibited the breadth of his genius in directing, screenwriting, production and editing.
In a 2004 interview with the BBC, Lee discussed his passion for cinema as an essential part of his being, more than a mere vocation. “I didn’t choose film, film chose me,” he said. “I’m 47 years old, and as I look back on my career, too many things happened together, and that can’t be a coincidence. Too many things happened for me that led me to be a filmmaker. I was just meant to be a filmmaker.”
He then analogised his career against that of the esteemed basketball player Michael Jordan. “Let me ask you a question: Michael Jordan had other brothers, so why is one brother a regular basketball player and Michael the world’s greatest basketball player ever?” Lee asked. “They had the same parents, the same upbringing, so it’s Darwin. It’s a Darwinian thing!”
Rivalling Quentin Tarantino in his unbound passion for cinema, Lee is naturally bursting at the seams with movie recommendations. Later in his conversation with the BBC, the filmmaker was asked to pick out just three of his all-time favourite movies. Lee managed to rattle off his selections but appeared poised to name a hundred more.
“I’ve got more than three, but I’ll tell you… On The Waterfront, directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg,” Lee began, picking out the Marlon Brando-starring classic. “That one because of the acting, the story, the dialogue, the score by Leonard Bernstein. Pixote, directed by Hector Babenco. You know, it just shows you this whole other world of kids trying to survive in the ghettos of Brazil.”
Without a pause for thought, Lee named his second, ostensibly also revealing his favourite director. “Another one is A Face In The Crowd, again directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg. Great movie. Have you seen it? I won’t tell you why, you’ve got to see it.” Brimming with satire, it’s easy to see what this 1957 classic spoke to Lee.
“Another one would be Ace In The Hole, directed by Billy Wilder and starring Kirk Douglas. I’m a fan of Kirk Douglas,” Lee added, picking out the last of his three. Ace In The Hole is a 1951 noir thriller which follows the story of a corrupt journalist who faces karma and regret after using nefarious meas to boost his career prospects.
Spike Lee’s three favourite movies:
- On The Waterfront – Elia Kazan (1954)
- A Face In The Crowd – Elia Kazan (1957)
- Ace In The Hole – Billy Wilder (1951)
