Director Spike Lee knew the final scene of his latest film, Blackkklansman was so powerful and pivotal to the telling of his story, he wanted to see the reaction first hand.
While the movie at large tackled the story of the Ku Klux Klan and black rights in the 70s, the final scene merged real-life footage of the Charlottesville attack of August last year which ended in the tragic death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer.
And if you were one to watch the film in the cinema, youd know how silent those seconds left the audience.You could hear a pin drop.
As Spike witness it first hand, he told Metro.co.uk: Every time when Charlottesville happens you could hear a church mouse pissing on cotton on a Christmas Sunday. Thats a good quote there – on a Christmas Sunday!
The famed director is very happy with the response from both the box office and critical acclaim (the film grossed £88million (£69million) in global ticket sales).
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The film was based in the 70s but brought forward forty odd years to the now with the final scene of the movie.
It wasnt on the script, but it happened August 10, Spike said of including that pivotal final scene. We didnt start shooting til the middle of September.
I knew that when I saw that this was the ending. It was not a decision made by committee.
He added: Even last night I was here for a screening and what I tried to do was sneak into the theatre at the end, so I could see…
Thats the impact of the film. What it does, it reiterates to the audience that what youve just seen is not a thing of the past, when you leave the theatre you walk out into the world we live in; what you saw in Charlottesville.
The film is already being touted as a best picture nominee and winner for the 2019 Awards Season, with three SAG nominations under its belt, and four for the January Golden Globes already, however to Spike thats not what gets him doing what he does.
Its nice to be thought that way but that dont make it happen, he laughed of winning the awards. Well see. Honestly, though, whatever awards we get or dont get, does not have an impact on what this film is.
Working with stars such as Adam Driver, who plays the role of Flip Zimmerman, and John David Washington, in the lead role of Ron Stallworth, Spike said it was a win to get them both in the movie.
Especially seeing as he wasnt too sure Adam would be up for it.
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Adam, I didnt think I could get him. I mean, I knew how busy he was, everybody in the world wants him, he said. Great actor. I really felt that it would be a long shot, but he wanted to be a part of this and the rest is history.
And hes a good dude, hes my man…
Im not knocking anybody but there are some actors who are great but they dont have the range, they do one thing and they do it well. Adam, hes not repeating anything. Leave out Girls because he plays one character, his film roles, hes a different person every single time. Even Star Wars!
Spike called out Kanye West earlier this year for his headline-grabbing statements about slavery being a choice.
After saying he was praying for the rapper, Spike reiterated it as such when asked whether he was contacted by Ye following the post (to answer that side of the question, no, he was not).
More: Adam Driver
What do you say? All I can say is I pray for him, he continued. Ill leave it at that. He did apologise for the statement that slavery was a choice.
The thing about it, being honest, Ive really, really been working hard, with the insistence of my wife, he laughed as he impersonated his wife, producer Tonya Lewis Lee: ”Spike, do you have to talk about everything that happens?”
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So my wife is working with me.
Im not trying to bring up shit that happened in the past, but, I thought about what Kanye said – it was personal.
Blackkklansman is available on digital now, and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray and DVD today (Universal Home Entertainment).
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