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Spike Lee’s 4-hour HBO documentary If God Is Willing And Da Creek Don’t Rise, premiering August 23-24 about the lingering impact of Hurricane Katrina, was already done shooting when BP’s oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico. Even so, the director decided to devote the final hour of the documentary to that disaster — and show what he alleges is the corruption and corner-cutting that surrounded the deadly explosion and subsequent clean-up effort. “We went back seven times after the BP spill to get more footage,” he told the TV critics at his HBO session. “It’s really eye-opening the power that BP has. There’s no way it should be dictating what’s going on. But it shows the power of the company.” Spike said “the connective tissue is greed. I don’t care hoew many scientists BP buys, that oil is still there. [BP] has been lying from the get-go. You’re telling me we’ve had the biggest oil disaster in the world and it’s all gone now? Where did it go? 
No damage done to the wetlands? I don’t believe it. As journalists, you need to ask questions and not accept the lies being told.”
Lee switched gears and praised Sean Penn, the Hollywood activist who spent time first in post-Katrina New Orleans and then in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. “[He] doesn’t live in the United States anymore. He lives in Port-au-Prince. That’s his life now, trying to get [Haiti] on its feet. I have to commend him for that. He’s not living in a palace. He’s living in a tent. He put in his dues and time to speak about Haiti.”
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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Maybe that’s why Sean Penn always looks so miserable.
If he wants misery maybe he should spend some time with you.
What’s not creative about a documentary? How is trying to do something about two of the most major crises in recent history considered “lightweight?” How can you say that making a documentary about Katrina/BP oil spill and Sean Penn going to Haiti and doing the hands-on work to repair the damages, is not an effort to do one’s small part toward a “solution?” If “little to anything is left to chance in this world” then I’d say Lee & Penn are taking personal action to do just that – create solutions. I scarcely think their “pockets are being lined” by what they are doing nor is their mindset strictly liberal. Nor is the BP oil spill any President’s fault. They are simply doing what they can to help. What’s the problem with that?
I like Lee but sometimes I wish artistic people would just be creative. Tackling the oil spill and politics serves to expose the Hollywood set as political and intellectual lightweights. Spike and others need to memorize these three words; Problem, Reaction, Solution. Very little if anything is left to chance in this world.
Would love to see all these liberals who have millions and millions of dollars give their money away. AND THEN tell the rest of us what we should be doing with our money. But that will never happen. Just keep running your mouths and lining your own pockets.
*POOF* Your wish has been granted! Since you clearly don’t read the news, 40 of the country’s wealthiest individuals (Democrats and Republicans alike) pledged to donate HALF of their wealth to charity just last week. That means they will donate BILLIONS to charity.
So, I guess now you’re okay with them telling you what to do with your money, right?
I Cannot wait for this. Spike is one of the best filmmakers of all time. When the levees broke is one of the best documentaries have ever seen.
Normally I’m against celebrities that are so outspoken, but I’ve gotta say I’m down with team Sean on this one; screw team Wyclef. First the guy essentially misappropriates millions of dollars in funds that were meant for charity for his own personal gain…now he’s running for President. Wtf?! This has corruption, disaster and self-dealing written all over it.
“Five years later. Facing another man-made disaster” – so the hurricane itself would be a coincidence? 6.3 soma is pretty clear.
Maybe you did not hear that the failed/mismanaged levy system was created by humans? Then there were the humans who mishandled the aftermath. geez….
The first disaster wasn’t the hurricane, it was the response.
lol did Spike show footage of Penn, camera crew and entourage in tow, sinking in the S.S. Photo Op?
tools…
And what have you done lately to make the world a better place?
Lee, Penn, Clooney, Pitt and so many others use their fame and fortune to better the lives of the little guy the world over, put their bodies on the ground and do hard work AND put their money where their mouths are.
I can’t stand this S.O.B. I won’t spend a dime to see anything this anti-American, racist, anti-semite is even remotely involved in producing. He is another in a long line of marginally talented loud-mouth left-wing whack jobs in Hollywood. He was quick to criticize George Bush for Katrina but lays all the blame for the not-so-much-a-disaster oil leak on BP. What about those idiots, Juan and Eva Peron, errr I mean Barrack and Michelle Obama who currently occupy the White House? Did Mr. Obama have any responsibility to ensure that this mess didn’t reach the shore? Oh sure, he sent a barrage of lawyers down to the gulf to see how much money he could extort from BP, but he took his sweet time responding to the actual clean-up efforts. Spike Lee saw all the faults in a white Republican President and gives a pass to the black guy who currently holds the office. How typical of the double standard that has infected the left wing media. Do they actually think we are that gullible? Look at the ratings—more and more of us are tuning out of the main stream media and tuning in to alternative media. I can’t wait till November to see the beginning of a new American revolution. Then on to 2012 when we put a conservative in the White House who will dismantle all the damage Hollywood, the press and their “Manchurian Candidate” have inflicted on our nation in little less than two years. This guy is a disaster that rivals Jimmah, the peanut farmer. As Rush so aptly states, “a President who is always the most unqualified person in the room.”
The difference between Katrina and the BP oil spill is that one president wanted a disaster that didn’t really materialize yet wishes to exploit it fully. “Never let a serious crisis go to waste” -Rahm Emanuel, White House Chief of Staff for Barack Obama
Spike Lee and the people in New Orleans could learn a thing or two from one of their idols:
“Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.” -President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Democrat (If you can Believe it…)
Hey Mr UnAmerican Aaron- your team lost & our team won the election in 2008. This section is reserved for comments about the state of Louisiana- Katrina and now years later British Petroleum= both legally acts of God. So get off the conservative loser moan and groan and stick to the subject of Katrina;a natural disaster, and BP;an unregulated oligrachy.
Making sure BP pays for the damage it caused is “extortion”?
If you listen to and quote Rush Limbaugh, I say yes, you are gullible.
It’s funny how Republicans do not support federal interference with states’ issues, but when a Democratic president handles an issue in the same manner as a Republican president, by not taking complete control, Republicans complain that the problem is being mishandled. Make up your mind Republicans.
If you so hate what Hollywood is doing, GET THE FUCK OFF THE HOLLYWOOD WEBSITE!
I mean, how hard is that? I don’t hang around Faux News bitching and moaning. Pay us the same courtesy, please.
Wow… Who knew GLENN BECK was a Deadline reader? Just relax… It’s really not that serious.
Impressive, I counted no fewer than 20 Republican Talking Points in only three paragraphs. Kudos, and kudos again to you sir!
Thought I saw Penn in Malibu at a surf thing a few weeks ago. Guess he came back to clean up….at his MANSION.
Mon dieu..
Penn would admit himself he has come home to promote various projects, and if he wants to squeeze some surfing time in, so be it. The facts speak for themselves–he has been in Haiti the majority of the past 6 months working his ass off to give relief there to people who are really hurting. What have you done for the effort?
I saw Sean last week in West Hollywood outside a sound facility and was compelled to commend him for his work in Haiti, but realized that’s not why he does it so I let him smoke his butt in peace and left him alone.
Spike sometimes pisses me off – I admit, but he is so right here. He is saying things that need to be heard.
Surely, Spike doesn’t mean to castigate BP at this stage of da game; after all, his boy Obama has been officially in charge of da oil spill, plugging, recovery and clean-up for weeks and weeks now. He specifically went on TV and declared he was in charge of all of da operations. That’s not my partisan bias; that’s da facts.
But that doesn’t fit in with Spike’s usual Muzak, does it? God, his act is getting so old. Does anyone give a shit what Spike has to say on anything?
Nobody cares what Spike Lee says. That’s why he makes movies, documentaries, does interviews, receives awards and acclaim, and you’re mouthing off on a website.
BTW, the BP oil spill has been taken care of in LESS time than it took W –which clearly stands for “WORTHLESS”– to even get his retarded behind into New Orleans.
Face it, Obama’s batting 1000, he’s squashed every crisis that’s come his way from Somali pirates, to a right-wing engineered economic disaster to the biggest environmental catastrophe in US history.
Those who can DO, while those who can’t just run their mouths.
“Does anyone give a shit what Spike has to say on anything?”
More then they care what race-baiters like you have to say. Nice misappropriation of the “urban lingo” — way to show your true colors, and your ignorance, you racist whack-job. That’s what’s wrong with teabaggers like yourself. You guys may have a point, but no one will ever know, because you’ll never be able to make it — you’re hate always ends up showing through. You’re your own worst enemies. Why not use your real name, Breitbart?
Penn is living in a tent in Haiti while the Obama’s go on many expensive vacations and golf outings hoping the oil spill goes away in time for the November elections. Does Lee bitch about how little Barry is doing in the gulf, how he said he wouldn’t rest untill in was fixed. Maybe ole’ Spike wants to get invited to a White House party and sample some of that $100 per pound beef? I’m not giving BP any slack, they made a mess and must pay, but most of Hollywood and Obama’s whores in the press should be riding Barry like they rode Bush.
I’m looking and Sean Penn in a different light, keep up the good work Sean and God Bless. Don’t expect any help from the Obama’s.
A word doesn’t require an apostrophe to be pluralized. Thus, when you are talking about more than one Obama, they are the Obamas, not the Obama’s. Just thought you’d like a little help in sounding marginally less ignorant.
Yawn. So, since nobody watches Spike Lee movies anymore he has decided to channel Michael Moore? Memo to Spike: nobody watches Michael Moore ‘documentaries’ anymore, either.
So nobody saw Inside Man, which made almost 300 MILLION worldwide?
Deny reality much?
Actually, his “When the Levees Broke” did really well, he’s got several theatrical projects in the pipeline, and, although “Miracle at St. Anna” bombed, his “Inside Man” was a hit.
File this movie under… comedy.
I don’t always agree with Sean Penn’s politics, but I do admire his willingness to use his celebrity to affect social change. He seems to genuinely care, as opposed to someone like Harrison Ford whose primary human concern appears to be smoking really good grass.
After the 9/11 tragedy, I volunteered at Ground Zero, delivering food – at the commissary, Harrison Ford was serving food and it was obvious that he’d been there for quite a while. There were no pr flacks or bodyguards and he couldn’t have been more low-key and gracious to the firemen and other workers.
Judging from the posts on this site, everyone has an opinion about Spike and his influence of american opinion and psyche (not much from what I gather) but I think the posters are glossing over a critical fact. There is a massive amount of oil that was released into the gulf that will change the fortunes of millions if not all americans and our government appears to be acting in the interests of BP shareholders at the expense the american people. Even to the extent of going on the record to say the coast is clear. The government, in effect, acting with impunity as if they will not need the votes of americans to put them back in office in 2012.
Life is short and your time is infinitely more valuable than money. Don’t know how this turned into a hot bed for conservative bloggers – but I appreciate the fact that Penn is spending time down in Haiti trying to help and drawing attention to the fact that the fight is not over down there.
Spike Lee is probably one of the top 5 American filmmakers. At least top 10. He can’t really write for jack (most of his scripts seem about 2 drafts away from being solid) but visually he’s a beast.
Good going, Spike! Someone needs to investigate BP since the mainstream media isn’t good for anything. As for all the Drudge Sludge that has oozed over from The Crud Report, why don’t you go ask your morally bankrupt Repugnicans to issue another apology to BP for Obama making them actually take financial responsibility for what they’ve done. Oooooh, bad Obama. Sorry BP, you destructive corporate hyenas; sorry Rethuglicans you money-over-human-suffering douchebags.
Guys,
I’m liberal and I like Sean Penn’s movies but from what I understand, there’s lots of evidence online that he’s lied about what he did during Katrina and the Haiti earthquake. What dates he was there, how long he stayed, what he actually accomplished. I’m too lazy to look it up now but have seen traces of it on blogs. Don’t be too quick to canonize him; both these guys have huge egos and it serves them both to support each other as saintly humanitarians in the press.
Wow, a lot of angry, resentful people here today. Ha ha on the “turning to alternative media.” You mean Fox News?
And, oh noes! Sean Penn and Spike Lee are using their wealth and resources to push an agenda! That’s never been done before, right?
“Creative people ain’t supposter have opinions of they own!”
Furthermore, some y’all are in denial about the former Decider. No, no, really, G-Dub is going to go down as one of the worst Presidents in history, just wait, you’ll realize it eventually.
Wow. Some people on this site have major issues. Excited for the documentary. Thanks Spike. He is just being himself and I love him for that. Stop being so “i know why the world is a mess” from your chair people. If you don’t have a solution – no talking. Step aside.
People who hate never fail to amuse. Spike Lee or Sean Penn not being one of those people.
Has anyone taken into account the fact that BP has paid for 75% of the cleanup and lawsuits even though it only had a 50% stake in the well? Anadarko and a Japanese conglomerate own 35% of the well and have refused to pay any of their portion. Leaks happen consistently it is a price we pay for our dependency on one type of fuel source. There are leaks that have been going for years with very little to no reporting. At the very least BP (sans their ex- chief Tony Hayward) have done everything in their power to stop the leak and deal with the collateral damage because of it.
Where do these facist, ignorant trolls come from when Nikki posts anything near-political? This is an INDUSTRY WEBSITE. Spare us your moronic assertions (e.g. rich liberals pay less in taxes, they pay more @Johns), your 8th-grade knowledge of history (thanks for the JFK quote, @AaronSch, never heard that one before), and your thinly veiled racism. Why can’t you people go back to flaming the Rush message boards from your office park in Kansas City?
Much appreciated.