[STARMAN 352ND]

The Spike Lee and Clint Eastwood feud that began last month at the Cannes Film Festival is heating up. Spike criticized the veteran Oscar winning director and actor while doing press to promote his own WWII film about African-American Buffalo Soldiers.

"Clint Eastwood made two films about Iwo Jima that ran for more than four hours total, and there was not one Negro actor on the screen," alleged Lee. " ... There's no way I know why he did that. That was his vision, not mine. But I know it was pointed out to him and that he could have changed it. It's not like he didn't know."
Eastwood had some choice words for the influential African-American film director. He basically told Spike Lee off in his Dirty Harry voice saying, "A guy like him should shut his face." To which Spike replied, "The man is not my father and we're not on a plantation."

Whoah, hold up, rewind that back! How did all of this get started? Well, while Spike Lee was in Cannes recently promoting his WWII flick "Miracle at St Anna," due for release later this year in October, about 4 African-Americans US soldiers. He put Eastwood on blast and criticized him for the lack of African-American representation in both WWII movies "Flags of Our Father" and "Letters from Iwo Jima.
Spike Lee told reporters, "He did two films about Iwo Jima back to back and there was not one black soldier in both of those films. Many veterans, African-Americans, who survived that war are upset at Clint Eastwood. In his vision of Iwo Jima, Negro soldiers did not exist. Simple as that. I have a different version."

Eastwood responded to Lee's comments in a recent interview with Guardian.co.uk he said:

"Has he ever studied the history?" he asks, in that familiar near-whisper....

"He was complaining when I did Bird [the 1988 biopic of Charlie Parker]. Why would a white guy be doing that? I was the only guy who made it, that's why. He could have gone ahead and made it. Instead he was making something else." As for Flags of Our Fathers, he says, yes, there was a small detachment of black troops on Iwo Jima as a part of a munitions company, "but they didn't raise the flag. The story is Flags of Our Fathers, the famous flag-raising picture, and they didn't do that. If I go ahead and put an African-American actor in there, people'd go, 'This guy's lost his mind.' I mean, it's not accurate."

Lee shouldn't be demanding African-Americans in Eastwood's next picture, either. "Changeling" is set in Los Angeles during the Depression, before the city's make-up was changed by the large black influx. "What are you going to do, you gonna tell a fuckin' story about that?" he growls. "Make it look like a commercial for an equal opportunity player? I'm not in that game. I'm playing it the way I read it historically, and that's the way it is. When I do a picture and it's 90% black, like Bird, I use 90% black people."

Eastwood pauses, deliberately - once it would have provided him with the beat in which to spit out his cheroot before flinging back his poncho - and offers a last word of advice to the most influential black director in American movies. "A guy like him should shut his face."

Spike Lee then put Clint Eastwood on full blast! ABCNEWS.com reports Spike's comeback to Eastwood's trash talking:

"First of all, the man is not my father and we're not on a plantation either. He's a great director. He makes his films, I make my films. The thing about it though, I didn't personally attack him. And a comment like 'a guy like that should shut his face' -- come on Clint, come on. He sounds like an angry old man right there."

"If he wishes, I could assemble African-American men who fought at Iwo Jima and I'd like him to tell these guys that what they did was insignificant and they did not exist," he said. "I'm not making this up. I know history. I'm a student of history. And I know the history of Hollywood and its omission of the one million African-American men and women who contributed to World War II."

[trex0770]

If Spike doesn't like Clints movie then he should make his own version. That way people can laugh at the absurdity. I know there was a black detachment at Iwo Jima but that wasn't the story. IMHO, Spikes an ass for trying to turn this into a racial thing. Like I said, the guy can do his own movies if wants...it's not like he ISN'T a friggin' director or anything.

I just hate the damn double standards of some these so-called civil rights people....they're just the biggest racist out there! Now shut your face Spike and make me a good and historically accurate WWII movie with whomever you want as the subject!

[STARMAN 352ND]

Does that mean we are going to get more of the double standard stuff once Obama is Prez ?
I hope not..Why can't we all just get along...
JP

[FlyingScot]

If Spike wants to acknowledge some true heros that happen to be black, he should research and film on the Black Angels of Peleliu. Almost no one has heard of them but their performance there is something to be remembered...

[trex0770]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

Does that mean we are going to get more of the double standard stuff once Obama is Prez ?
I hope not..Why can't we all just get along...
JP

No, probably just revisionist history.

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

If Spike wants to acknowledge some true heros that happen to be black, he should research and film on the Black Angels of Peleliu. Almost no one has heard of them but their performance there is something to be remembered...

He's too busy ripping on other people's work to keep himself valid. Besides, that would mean he'd actually have to do research.

[Sebring Rob]

Wow. Now this just makes me mad. The man claims to "know history" and even goes so far as to say that he is a "student" of it. Then he turns right around during an argument about the representation of blacks in a WWII era movie (with an apparent underlying statement that he thinks Clint is racist for not using them etc....) and instead of saying something intelligent to combat Eastwood's remarks he reverts to an extremely un called for (and Civil war era/slavery based) statement about "being on a plantation."

I don't know about you guys but I think this "student" needs to hit the books some more!

[FlyingScot]

Spike needs to learn his history...and I look forward to the day when we can stop talking about the color of marines. After all - everyone knows...Marines are GREEN .

Here's a great story from a marine forum for those that care to read:

"If you wish to read more, it can be found in "Chicken Soup For the Veteran Soul."

Began: What had been predicted as an easy triumph for the U.S. Marines-the swift conquest of a small remote island-quickly became a nightmare and one of the most costlitest battles of World War II. But the battle at Peleliu Island was not without it's victories, for during this bloody campaign, some of our social and military barriers were changed forever. In the 1940's, racial segregation in the military was a fact of life. Although hard to understand today, it was part of our routine, and no one questioned it. Some, like me, a young kid from New Jersey, were hardly aware of it-until my experience at Peleliu. After many weeks of intense fighting, we battle-weary Marines suffered heavy casualties with severe shortages of replacements and supplies. The fourth day of battle, I left the hospital ship after being treated for wounds and was returning to my company ashore. The ship I took to shore, as well as the beach where we landed, were full of men and equipment to support the fighting. I asked around for the location of my unit, "Item" Comapny, Seventh Marines. A black truck driver pointed to the hills. I remembered vaguely that non- combatant African-American Marines volunteered wherever needed in combat or support, but this was the first time I had seen African-American servicemen. I wondered who they were and what branch they served in. These men were working on the beach, stripped to their waist in the blistering, tropical sun, transferring heavy ammunition from landing craft onto trucks for delivery to the front lines. This task was extremely danderous at any time, but during battle with enemy shells landing nearby, it was a heroic, thankless job that few of us wanted! One of the men, the driver of a loaded ammunition truck, offered me a ride inland to the front lines. I accepted and climbed aboard. As the truck of explosive cargo bounced along the battle-scarred road, enemy shells crunched into the landscape nearby. I felt this selection of transportation was a dangerous choice on my part; fortunately, it was a short ride to the fighting area, and I reached my unit safely. I thanked the truck driver and wished him well and quickly disembarked. When I reached our company comman post, I located my top sergeant and reported for duty. He explained our battle assignment: "We are an understrength company, and our mission is to seize the ridge and mountains to our front. Gentleman, get ready to earn you pay. That rocky, treeless mountain range is held by an elite, well entrenched and hidden enemy who will defend this god forsaken place to their death." The sweltering hot days and chilly nights added to the misery of this bloody assignment, which continued for weeks. Item Company's ranks grew thinner daily due to heavy casualties, rugged terrain and 115 degree heat. Near a grim place we called "Death Valley," our company's advance was halted. We were pinned down into a deadly cross fire by a concealed enemy supported by motars and artillery. We suffered heavy casualties and urgently needed reinforcements. I was a company runner of messages and reported the losses and dangerous situation to the top sergeant at the command post. The top sergeant radioed for additional troops, medical corpsmen, water, ammunition, and as many stretcher beares as he could get. The word came back from battalion headquaters: "Negative! No reinforcements, no stretcher bearers, no help or supplies for the present! All support and reserve units are committed in all out battle throughout the island." With grim determination born of desperation, the top sergeant turned over his command to the next in line and, summoning another Marine and me, set out to find help. Our trio jogged in the blazing sun to several rear headquaters command post seeking assistance, but none was available. When we reached the beach area. a young African_American overheard our situation, walked up and immediately volunteered his platoon's services. "We are from a Marine ammunition depot company and have had some infantry training," he told us. The top sergeant looked at the dark skinned sergeant in surprise. The races were so completely segregated during this era that we had no idea who these African-American servicemen were. Suddenly, I recalled seeing and talking to the African-American troops on the beach when I first returned to battle a week earlier. Now, for the first time, I realized they were Marines! Our perplexed top sergeant tried to discourage the non combatant volunteers from coming, stating they were not trained or qualified for the intensity of this battle. By now, the volunteers had heavily armed themselves and lined up behing their leader. I heard our seasoned professional Marine top sergeant say sharply, "Well, don't say I didn't warn you." But I know he welcomed their aid. We all returned to the battle area. There was carnage everywhere. The top sergeant reported to the acting commander and said, "Sir, I have a platoon of black-I mean a platoon of Marine volunteers who came to help!" The commanding officer said, "Thank God! Thank you all for coming. Sergeant, get our wounded to safety and the dead out." We watched in awe as the gallant volunteers did their job. While breaking through the surrounding enemy snipers, we saw more than one hold a casualty stretcher gently in one hand and, when necessary, fire an automatic weapon with the other hand. One wounded Marine, probably the most bigoted man in our predominantly Southern unit, turned to me and said, "I'll never put Negroes down again. These men are angels-black angels." The platoon of African-American Marines volunteers made many dangerous trips to our company area for the wounded. With each return trip from the rear, they brought badly needed ammunition, food and precious water. It was nightfall when the evacuation of all the wounded was complete. Then the volunteers moved into empty foxholes and helped fight off a night skirmish. Finally, Item Company Marines were relieved from the gruesome mountain by a fresh U.S. Army infantry company. As the incoming soliders passed what was left of our company on the road, the soliders pointed at the African-American servicemen and hooted, taunting us, "Who are those guys in your outfit?" Our senior sergeant bellowed, "Why, some of our best damn Marines-that's who!"
End of Story

Written by: Edward Andrusko

You see in today's Marine Corp, it is not about the color of your skin or where you come from! When I see a Marine, I see just that. What are we about? One thing is working toward the common goal. What is that common goal? Well for me it's freedom. What is it for you? I've always like this latin quote that goes: "Saepe Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas." It means "Often tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever." I think it goes nicely with this story. Semper Fidelis to all. :marine:
"

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Sebring Rob

Wow. Now this just makes me mad. The man claims to "know history" and even goes so far as to say that he is a "student" of it. Then he turns right around during an argument about the representation of blacks in a WWII era movie (with an apparent underlying statement that he thinks Clint is racist for not using them etc....) and instead of saying something intelligent to combat Eastwood's remarks he reverts to an extremely un called for (and Civil war era/slavery based) statement about "being on a plantation."

I don't know about you guys but I think this "student" needs to hit the books some more!

Agreed! And what the heck has Spike done lately anyways... didn't he fall off the map years ago?

[trex0770]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Agreed! And what the heck has Spike done lately anyways... didn't he fall off the map years ago?

Pappy, last time I remembered seeing his mug was when he was getting embarrassed by Reggie Miller during an NBA playoff game between the Knicks and the Pacers.

[PappyB]

I remember that game -- that was awesome, but didn't the Pacers lose the series?