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Clint Eastwood is snappy

Clint Eastwood fired back at Spike Lee who earlier criticized Clint for not including black soldiers in Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima, telling the Malcolm X director to “shut his face.” At a press conference at Cannes to promote his own war film, Maracle at St. Anna, Spike commented:

“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,” Lee said. “If you reporters had any balls you’d ask him why. There’s no way I know why he did that … But I know it was pointed out to him and that he could have changed it. It’s not like he didn’t know.”

Apparently, one of those reporters had the balls because they asked Clint to which he responded.

“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.” Referring to Lee, he added: “A guy like him should shut his face.”

If you think Clint will stop there, think again.

Defending the racial make-up in his films as historically accurate, Eastwood referred to another of his films, Changeling, which was set in Los Angeles before the city had a large group of African-Americans. “What are you going to do, you going to tell a fuckin’ story about that?” he said. “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 movie and it’s 90% black, like Bird, then I use 90% black people.

“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.”

Based on this evidence, Spike Lee has a good chance of being shot if he ever steps onto Clint Eastwood’s property and it won’t be because he’s black, as he’ll most likely claim, it’ll be because he’s annoying. Oh, hold on a second. I just received a special message from Clint which he wants me to relay to Spike. Clint has cordially invited you to lunch to discuss this issue in depth. Be there at 2 a.m. sharp and bring no witnesses. Er, I mean RSVP. Heh heh heh.

[Clint Eastwood arriving for The Spirit of Independence Awards which he won. Image via Splash News]

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will
will
15 years ago

Jeez, ok, maybe if we stoped pulling the race card on every little thing ever, then when a true racial injustice happens we could really focus. Until, then everyone runs around like little kids accusing everyone of racism. Knock it off!

Abena
Abena
15 years ago

Well, if the Western world and thinkers could accept history for what is, then African Americans would not have to call you on racist crap. History is just what it says, “His Story” and his is who ever writes it. Now if an African American wrote something you guys disagrees with then God forbid you will probably have a freaking baby, because it is not how you see it. How can you expect Westerns to racism when they are the creators, definers and implementers or the acts. You may say this is non-sense but racism exist and the stories we… Read more »

Red
Red
15 years ago

“He did two films about Iwo Jima back to back and there was not one black soldier in both of those films,” said Lee… Spike is either ignorant or a liar because Eastwood’s movie did show black soldiers, as this screenshot from Flags of Our Fathers demonstrates: http://img244.imageshack.us/my.php?image=flagsstillzo8.png The fact that Eastwood included that scene even though the movie is actually about the flag-raisers & not the battle, shows how careful Eastwood was to acknowledge that there was a black presence at Iwo Jima. I repeat, Spike Lee is either ignorant or lying, & the only reason he’s saying these… Read more »

Keith
15 years ago

As a sales rep for a small Vetran owned company for 17 years, I’ve learned from my boss (ie wwll vet with a Purple Heart combat wounded.)to never
comment negativly about your compitition. You must focus on the positives of your product to sell it.

Barbie
Barbie
15 years ago

I love Clint Eastwood….He is right, Spike Lee needs to shut his face! Stop playing the “black” card! African Americans have benefits than Caucasions do not have! How would Spike feel about us having a college fund only for white people? Get off your pity party Spike, everyone is so over it!

Rick
Rick
15 years ago

Another desperate attempt by that clown boy Lee to be relevant by using the same old repeated card he’s played so many times the BLACK ink has worn off. He’s a complete fool not realising that like it or not history cannot be rewritten and “whitey” even today holds the lion’s share of the money he obviously so desperately needs to patronize and fund his single-minded movies, which by the way when compared to Eastwood’s endeavors are CRAP. Cinematically Repulsive And Pathetic.

CrackerHead
CrackerHead
15 years ago

When was the last time a WHITE guy complained that a movie did’nt include white people. BET is an acronym for Black Entertainment Tele, so what would Spike say if we had a WET for whites? There’s more racism coming from the BLACKS these days than the whites and most everyone is tired of the ‘racism’ card being tossed around just because someone is bitter. Life ain’t fair, never will be. Education is what changes minds and hearts, not movies about history. Take a look at your inner city schools that are majority Black and then ask yourself why we… Read more »

Lori
Lori
15 years ago

First let me say the writer of this article is an ass!! “Based on this evidence, Spike Lee has a good chance of being shot if he ever steps onto Clint Eastwood’s property and it won’t be because he’s black, as he’ll most likely claim” What a stupid comment, can’t you make a more educated statement…I guess your not educated enough to do so! The fact the it was brought to Clint’s attention that there were no black actors being involved, even for a minor bit part, and he choose to do nothing about it bothers me. Clint said “I’m… Read more »

gunit
gunit
15 years ago

Well heres the proof Spike did not do his homework.
I love both these guy’s but this time Clint has been
accused falsely. Spike I love your work man but I
don’t think Clint was out of place when he suggested
you shut your pie hole.
I would love to see the day when no one cares how black or white the other guy is and the wrongs of the past.
The American family has it’s problems like any other family so please let’s get on with the buisness of
living the one life you have and make your contribution.

N JAY GOLD
N JAY GOLD
15 years ago

I RECENTLY TALKED WITH A YOUNG MAN WITH A FAMILY WORKING IN THE U.S. A RECENT ARRIVAL FROM AFRICA. HE WORKS HARD, LOVES IT HERE IS APPRECIATIVE AND APPRECIATED. HE HAS NO PROBLEM LETTING PEOPLE KNOW. THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE IF AN EARLIER GENERATION HADN’T SUFFERED FOR THEM. WE ALL HAVE TO BE THANKFUL FOR OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND THE GENERATION OR GENERATIONS BEFORE US THAT DIDN’T HAVE IT SO GOOD. MAYBE ONE DAY WE MAY ALSO GET A GOV’T FOR THE PEOPLE AGAIN.

Brenda
Brenda
15 years ago

Spike Lee could learn alot from Clint Eastwood if he would have asked his opinion istead of make a racail remark. Clint Eastwood has starred in and directed alot of movies in which he has received credited aclaim. I reference to Spike Lee’s movie has he adequately protrayed white people? If not is he going to remake his movie? There are alot of great men and women in history that may have made great sacrifices for our country that may not have been acknowledged. But instead of always complaining about the black people not being recognized take a look around… Read more »

stan
stan
15 years ago

Spike, you just lost the respect of a lot of people. You don’t attack an American icon, unless you are really stupid. Clint Eastwood is an amazing director, he puts together amazing movies. Depicting movies of historical and cultural significance. He has received 2 Academy Awards as Best Director. Spike Lee……..0. Spike when you spew stuff like that, it will only hurt the bottom line, meaning your bank account. Many people will view you as a trouble maker and will stop seeing your movies.

stan
stan
15 years ago

We do have WET tv, its called SPIKE TV. And it has a lot of Clint Eastwood movies on it.

Joe Hogan
Joe Hogan
15 years ago

I agree with previous writers here. . . Spike is trying to generate interest for his film presumably about black WW2 veterans. Fact is, I probabaly wouln’t have known about his film this soon because news of the flap between he and Clint Eastwood surfaced first. Spike is getting publicity for his new film, plain and simple. Lee refers to Clint’s comment about him (Lee) “shutting his face” as somehow making it personal. That is the biggest lie of all! Most of what comes out of Spike’s mouth is always about how he has been wronged. He needs to remove… Read more »

Mike
Mike
15 years ago

Reverse descrimination again! Spike Lee should go make a movie like “White Men Can’t Jump” and call it “Black Men Can’t Swim”. Then throw Spike in the Atlantic to justify the theme and title. Thanks!

Louella
Louella
15 years ago

Spike, take a hint from a real film maker…Mevin Van Peebles and put a sock in it! Hey, it means the same as “Shut your face”. Get over it and move on, or people will and they will get over you. I know I have. Bravo Clint, this is not a race thing, it is about a true thing!

stan
stan
15 years ago

This was merely a well calculated ploy engineered to bring attention to his movie. Like another poster here, I wouldn’t have heard about his movie this early either. It’s all about 3 words, publicity, publicity, publicity. I don’t think I’ll be seeing your movies Spike, I’ll wait to buy the Dirty Harry collection at Costco. I also heard that Clint Eastwood will be doing a movie about Nelson Mandela (another fine human being) And Morgan Freeman playing Mr. Mandela. Oh and by the way Spike, there are White people in Africa and they are called “Africans” Does Clint need to… Read more »