Spike Lee Reacts to His First Best-Director Nomination

I don't think I've ever seen a disappointing Spike Lee movie. Every one has been worth watching and almost all are worth watching repeatedly. I was channel-surfing recently and flicked past "He Got Game." Stopped and watched it to the end then earmarked it to watch from the start later the same week. Like every Spike Lee movie, it has moments of cinematic rapture.

This nomination is embarrassingly overdue--but better late than never. While some of Lee's films are imperfect, all of them had something to say in a way that had not been said before. The great director William Wyler was often praised for the performances he pulled out of his actors, sometimes using a tortuous method; I don't think Lee has to resort to similar tactics, but his record as a fine and important American director can be found by just looking at the performances his actors have delivered through his direction--besides the obvious like Denzel Washington, think of Samuel Jackson, Halle Berry, Ruby Dee, Ozzie Davis, Annabelle Sciorra, John Turturro, Christopher Plummer. The list goes on. Best of luck to Mr. Lee at the Oscars.

KKK is far from his best film. It's far from a very good film for that matter. It's a great story badly told. Comedy and hate speeches don't work together. But as with HWood... they sometimes reward a longtime member for past work.

Congratulations to Spike Lee and all the casts, crews and creatives of his entire Jointography...and also to Ruth Carter one of his longtime collaborators for her amazing degign career

I have not seen a movie that affected me as much in a long time. I saw it with a group of girlfriends and some were sobbing at the end. Spike Lee is long overdue for recognition by the Academy.

Took my 15 year old to see both. Green Book and Blackklansman. We were both deeply moved and entertained by Spike Lees film. And very entertained and a bit mystified by Green Book. Also moving but she said, “are we applauding a man who is now just a little less racist “. I’m surprised that people aren’t talking more about Green Book and worn out paradigm of the hero white man. What am I missing?

Thank you Spike Lee! Congratulations!

Bravo Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman was so well done!

This movie has to be considered the heavy favourite (no pun intended) for Best Picture. The film is a roller coaster ride of fun and thought. I thought Roma was an incredible cinematographic movie but it lacked a narrative. I loved The Favourite but I do not think the Academy will reward a ribald English movie. The rest lack the depth of these three. As I said - heavy favourite.

Thanks so much for this movie, Mr. Lee. I've seen it twice and it impacted me even more the second time.

Spike, She’s Gotta Have It was a pivotal film for me in my young adulthood. I’ll never forget it. With a different voting pool, it could have been the Crash of that era. I look forward to seeing your new film. You’re a visionary artist with a clear eye and compassionate heart!

Just to clarify, Lee's not attending the Oscars in 2016 was significant in that the people who received Honorary Oscars a few months earlier, as Lee did, are brought onstage during the Oscars ceremony for their "moment." He is a great director who's made some important films (don't forget Jungle Fever, either.) As far as the Academy goes, they've got enough members to constitute a nominating committee of a few hundred people that guarantees diversity (or at least eliminates the accusations of its absence); I'm surprised they haven't gone that route, even if it were just for the more prominent (ones not given out during commercial break) categories.

Great director, long overdue. Nothing against Bradley Cooper, but nothing would've torpedoed the Academy's credibility like a first time win for him after three decades of craft from Spike Lee.

Hollywood is about money. If the ticket buying "audience" had three eyes then we would have three eyed actors and directors.