CHIRAQ trailer (spike lee joint)

[AnonymityX1000]

When I saw the trailer I knew the movie wasnt gonna be well received.

From what it sounds like, the title of the movie is kinda misleading. Everything ive read so far implies that outside of Nick Cannons Character (whose name is "Chi-Raq"), the Chicago setting is mere window dressing and that the movie offers no specific meaning commentary on the Violent Crime Epidemic in Chicago. Which is a huge misstep on Spikes part.

For about 3 years now, Chicagos violence has occupied a cultural fascination. Ever since Chief Keef blew up, the ever shifting street politics has been a huge topic of discussion on the internet. Not even a year ago I remember on Boxden, a "Chi-Wire" thread dedicated to the most recent bit of Street Beef news occurting in the Chi had a constant presence on the first page of the Hip Hop subforum. Im sure every forum had something of that nature.

People are interested in Chicago because no one really knows why its so bad or why these kids are just so hopelessly murderous. Is it because these people are what remains of Cabrini Green? Crack babies? Government black ops? No one really has a real, substantial, SATISFYING answer.

(Honestly I also think its due to the fact that no one wants to believe that WE AS A SOCIETY failed a generation that bad. That the crack era taught us nothing)

Regardless, I think people were genuinely excited about Spikes Movie. Excited in the sense that one of our greatest artist who in the past has made work that has defined zeitgeists in Black America, would now tackle Chi-Raq and hopefully make sense out of it all.

Too bad Spike is still Spike. He prefers allegory and musical numbers. Spike is also in his 50s. At some point you lose touch.

And lets keep it real, a film with the title "Chi-Raq" implies a look at the nihilistic violence, poverty, and decadence of Young Black Males. But the movie was made 22 years ago. Its called "Menace II Society". True "Menace" was a snapshot of South Central LA rather than Chicago, but really, is O-Dog drastically different than the cold blooded killer persona that a rapper like RondoNumba9 portrayed and lived?

Isnt it sad that the "accurate" depiction of Chicago that people wanted would be identical in theme and message to hood dramas made 25 years ago?

It's weird that you say no one can give a satisfactory reason why Chicago is so violent but then say you had an expectation that Spike would be able to.

 

[Apollo Creed]

It's weird that you say no one can give a satisfactory reason why Chicago is so violent but then say you had an expectation that Spike would be able to.

Thing is the movie talked about the social engineering that created the enviornment, so Im like ok cats just wanted to see a chicago version of menace 2 society that they can brag about how "tough" their city is.

This movie didnt need to be made for people to start fighting for change in the Chi.

 

[606onit]

I'm from Chicago so a lot of my timeline is black people from Chicago (couple kappas and alphas) who are criticizing the film so literally. It's so dense and thickheaded but hey, that's black people today. They're calling it a "money-grab" by Lee but when Ariana Grande says "on fleek" on her Instagram and profits from it no one says a word about her taking that term from an obese black girl's Vine video. black people need to support just to cycle our dollars anyways.

Yes, it's not a Noisey or Vice documentary about Chicago but just like that white director did Romeo & Juliet, u can see that white people "get" artisitic interpretation and that we are very surface-level when it comes to critiquing art. It's somewhat embarrassing..... Even white college students who left the theater I was at were able to process that it was an exaggeration but they get the fukking point.

nikkas man.
Loved #ChiRaqTheMovie. Spike Lee's imaginative update to Lysistrata would be more celebrated if it were a Baz Luhrmann project.

 

[Apollo Creed]

I'm from Chicago so a lot of my timeline is black people from Chicago (couple kappas and alphas) who are criticizing the film so literally. It's so dense and thickheaded but hey, that's black people today. They're calling it a "money-grab" by Lee but when Ariana Grande says "on fleek" on her Instagram and profits from it no one says a word about her taking that term from an obese black girl's Vine video. black people need to support just to cycle our dollars anyways.

Yes, it's not a Noisey or Vice documentary about Chicago but just like that white director did Romeo & Juliet, u can see that white people "get" artisitic interpretation and that we are very surface-level when it comes to critiquing art. It's somewhat embarrassing..... Even white college students who left the theater I was at were able to process that it was an exaggeration but they get the fukking point.

nikkas man.
Loved #ChiRaqTheMovie. Spike Lee's imaginative update to Lysistrata would be more celebrated if it were a Baz Luhrmann project.

Then black ppl online get offended because they dont "get it". Literally ppl saying the rhyming js corny then you say "its a play" and they are like "well it shoulda just been a play"


Half the folks complaining dont give a damn about chicago and arent doing anything to spark change. You got King Louie making videos for spike lee diss songs when he is a drill rapper that helped promote the distructive lifestyle.

These mofos lost in the sauce.

 

[Notorious 1 E.Y.E.]

I'm from Chicago so a lot of my timeline is black people from Chicago (couple kappas and alphas) who are criticizing the film so literally. It's so dense and thickheaded but hey, that's black people today. They're calling it a "money-grab" by Lee but when Ariana Grande says "on fleek" on her Instagram and profits from it no one says a word about her taking that term from an obese black girl's Vine video. black people need to support just to cycle our dollars anyways.

Yes, it's not a Noisey or Vice documentary about Chicago but just like that white director did Romeo & Juliet, u can see that white people "get" artisitic interpretation and that we are very surface-level when it comes to critiquing art. It's somewhat embarrassing..... Even white college students who left the theater I was at were able to process that it was an exaggeration but they get the fukking point.

nikkas man.
Loved #ChiRaqTheMovie. Spike Lee's imaginative update to Lysistrata would be more celebrated if it were a Baz Luhrmann project.

I keep trying to tell people that chicago is just a setting is not literally about chicago it's a modern retelling of the Greek play, like the double toasted crew mentioned this happens all the time with Shakespeare. And from the sound of it they just tweaked the words a bit.

People just being stubborn

 

[606onit]

arent doing anything to spark change.

The change in Chicago is more about real life choices that people make everyday. There's no movie, song, or TV special that changes anything overnight.

 

[606onit]

I keep trying to tell people that chicago is just a setting is not literally about chicago it's a.......

ya, ya. I get that Chicago is the STAGE of this play. Like Verona, CA was the STAGE for R&J. Did he do his HOMEWORK ENOUGH to give the film some sort of stable credence to the SETTING? Yes!

- Local reporter w/ ABC7 microphone
- apartment style
- Social dynamics between the races
- Endless references (Cabrini green, Harold Washington, etc)
- Chi flags galore

Yes, he kept the STAGE as Chicago but it was illustrated throughout the film (EVEN VERBALLY saying Philly sand Brooklyn have the same problems) that Chicago was not the OVERARCHING and ABSOLUTE THEME of the play.

 

[Marc Spector]

It's weird that you say no one can give a satisfactory reason why Chicago is so violent but then say you had an expectation that Spike would be able to.

You misunderstand. Prior to "Chi-Raq" no one AT THAT POINT had given a satisfactory reason. A huge reason "Chi-Raq" IMO got a lot of pre release attention is that people expected him to capture the authentic culture of Chicago AND make meaningful commentary on Chicagos plight specifically and Spike didnt really do either (and by the looks of the movie, it was never his intent in the first place). People put alot of faith in artists to express what we cant, especially an artist like Spike who has tackled some complicated issues in the past.

 

[AnonymityX1000]

You misunderstand. Prior to "Chi-Raq" no one AT THAT POINT had given a satisfactory reason. A huge reason "Chi-Raq" IMO got a lot of pre release attention is that people expected him to capture the authentic culture of Chicago AND make meaningful commentary on Chicagos plight specifically and Spike didnt really do either (and by the looks of the movie, it was never his intent in the first place). People put alot of faith in artists to express what we cant, especially an artist like Spike who has tackled some complicated issues in the past.

Some are saying he made meaningful commentary. I mean you can't please everybody. He put his nuts on the table and made the movie, everyone from Chicago had the chance to do it 'right' and still do. I don't think it Spike's responsibility solely, especially him not even being from there. He took his shot other people can do the same, hopefully better.

 

[Marc Spector]

Some are saying he made meaningful commentary. I mean you can't please everybody. He put his nuts on the table and made the movie, everyone from Chicago had the chance to do it 'right' and still do. I don't think it Spike's responsibility solely, especially him not even being from there. He took his shot other people can do the same, hopefully better.

Oh yeah I agree. I mean shyt, how many movies/projects were there about South Central in the 90s?

 

[AnonymityX1000]

Oh yeah I agree. I mean shyt, how many movies/projects were there about South Central in the 90s?

Exactly, this doesn't have to be 'it'.

 

[GoddamnyamanProf]

Breh, i was at a barbershop today and the movie was unanimously regarded as shyt by everyone that saw, maybe it's cus we're all chicago or midwest nikkas. It's not a movie for Chicago people, it's for people not even from the midwest or the hood for that matter. Spike Lee made this shyt cacs and soft nikkas basically

What type of film were you hoping for?

 

[606onit]

Basically there are two types of Blacks in Amerikkka.

One that dislikes "Chiraq" feels (in general):

• We need more programs for "da keeds". Throw a ball, dribble a ball and that will ease violence
• It's up to white airwaves to broadcast our plight. We need more representation on their networks
• Put down the guns! We need the least amount of guns in our hoods. Dey keelin ah babies. All guns is bad
• Keef, 300, and herbo, Bibby talking about where dey from! Lee ain't from here so he needa give money (never specified) to us

One that likes "Chiraq" feels (in general)

• Blacks need to do for self
• We know we have no friends. That includes a government. That includes a government with a black figurehead.
• Families is where we need to improve
• More guns, more training with guns, more fathers welcome into the home

 

[Dank Hill]

Ok i just got back from seeing it. Ill make this short and to the point.

My problems with it:
-Movie goes from funny to sad back to funny then sad again throughout the whole movie. Come on man, you cant be having a nikka stripping on a pole to the next scene showing pictures of people who really died.

-The plot got a little ridiculous at times with the world peace angle n all. I dont think women in new zealand are going to be protesting no peace no p*ssy because of a few sisters in chicago.

-Some people may not like the dialog.

Other than that i dont regret paying for the movie. It was actually good and i enjoyed myself throughout the whole film. Even though i dont think p*ssy is the solution to all the problems in the worl i felt that the movie did touch on some real issues.

Overall i give the movie 7/10

Go see it if you can and support black cinema.

 

[AyBrehHam Linkin]

What type of film were you hoping for?

An actual accurate portrayal of the violence and the actual reasons behind it. How the demolition of the projects lead to violence in areas not accustomed to it, going into the Folk and People gang nations, how the multi million dollar heroin trade in chicago is a huge reason for the violence, etc.

nikkas are bashing people Chi town people for hating on it by saying we just want Menace 2 Society. As if LA and Chicagos gangs and hood politics are REMOTELY similar


But naw, Ske Lee did what he wanted to do. He wanted a satire, that's what he made. The movie just aint for Chicago and im glad it wont be claimed by us