Spike Lee has done it all, and has never let the method of delivery stop him from telling a story. From low-budget independent features to star-studded studio pictures to crowdfunded flicks to television documentaries to web shorts to music videos, you name a format, and the director has probably done a project in that arena. And now, the filmmaker is stepping in to the world of streaming with Amazon lining up his next feature film. And it sounds promising.
The Wrap reports that Samuel L. Jackson, Kanye West, Jeremy Piven and Common are being courted to star in Lee’s "Chiraq." The title is a nickname for the crime-and-murder riddled Chicago (emphasis on that last syllable if you’re still not getting it), where West, Common and Piven are all from. Meanwhile, Jackson is a regular collaborator with Lee, and has made five films with the director.
Nothing is official just yet, but it seems the pieces are in play, although scheduling and deals will all need to work out for this lineup to happen. It’s promising stuff, and we hope this project finds the filmmaker bringing his A-game to the material after missing with his last couple of feature efforts.
The emphasis on any film project title is at the discretion of the director/producer/writer. Spike Lee is all three, so he has "poetic/creative license" to "title" HIS productions however he chooses. Chicago, as well as Detroit, are cities where violence have grown over the years, and can literally/or figuratively be compared to a WAR ZONE. In any case, Spike is a writer/director/cinematographer, and producer with CREATIVE license to make HISTORY (aka HIS STORY) about Chi-TOWN in a manner which he chooses in order to make a point. You, Brian, don\’t have to embrace, nor support it. That\’s YOUR choice. Spike is a cinematic genius, whether YOU support/like/ or dislike his work is of no consequence. YOU don\’t have to go see it….NO, Ari…NOT the same PRONUNCIATION, and people like you won\’t get it, and probably will NOT support the film. However, a lot of other people who understand WILL!
Brian, I doubt Spike Lee\’s point is to glamorize the violence here in Chicago. I\’m sure it will be the opposite. And Chicago had well over 500 murders in 2012 alone– 400 of those were from gun violence. It\’s bullshit, but no wonder people dub our city \’Chiraq.\’
But the "emphasis" does make the "pun" a little clearer, Joe
Ari
Please, Please, Please STOP with this Chiraq mess. We DONT embrace that. Stop trying to make it stick! It such an ugly word. Chicago is NOTHING like the Middle East. I\’m a bit disturbed that Common and Kanye are even participating in this. Wow.
The "iraq" in "Chiraq" is not one syllable.
Ari
Ari