Among the many directors who have become household names, Spike Lee holds his own as a ground-breaking creative, yet only three of his movies have ever been nominated for Oscars. Lee’s career began in 1986 when he directed his first ever film, She’s Gotta Have It. From there, Lee’s film career exploded, with the director releasing a new film nearly every year for decades. Some of his most lauded work includes Do The Right Thing, Malcolm X, and Da 5 Bloods. Generally, Lee is known for exploring political and social issues in his movies, particularly race relations.
When one thinks of a successful director like Lee, it is easy to ᴀssume that they have won countless awards in their field. To be fair, Lee has collected a number of accolades in his time, from Emmy’s and BAFTAs to Peabody awards. However, some may be surprised to learn that, despite Lee’s long list of projects, only three of those movies have ever been nominated for an Academy Award. Of course, those who love Lee’s work may wish the director had more Oscar nominations under his belt, but regardless, the movies he’s been nominated for have been incredibly deserving.
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Do The Right Thing (1989)
A Pizzeria In A Black Neighborhood Comes Under Fire
The very first Academy Award nomination Lee received was for his 1989 movie, Do the Right Thing. This movie is set in a Black neighborhood in Brooklyn, where an Italian man owns a pizzeria. A young Black man named Buggin’ Out grows frustrated with the restaurant because there are only pictures of white, Italian actors on the wall, and he believes the wall should represent the actual people that live in the neighborhood. As word spreads about the wall, more and more locals become upset, creating a steadily rising tension.
Ultimately, Do the Right Thing earned two nominations. One for Danny Aiello as Best Supporting Actor and another for Lee for Best Original Screenplay. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t win either of the awards, but the nominations helped put Lee on the map as a director to look out for. Additionally, Lee’s reputation grew because of the subject matter of the film, which started debates about Do the Right Thing’s riots and violence. Today, Do the Right Thing is considered to be one the greatest movies of all time.
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BlacKkKlansman (2018)
A Black Detective Takes Down The Ku Klux Klan
It took nearly 30 years before Lee earned his second-ever Oscar nomination. This time it was for BlacKkKlansman. This 2018 movie tells the true story of Ron Stallworth, the first Black detective at the Colorado Springs police department. Hoping to make a name for himself, Stallworth sets out to try and expose his local Ku Klux Klan. With the help of veteran officer, Flip Zimmerman, the pair trick and trap the white supremacists. The movie stars John David Washington, Adam Driver, and Topher Grace.
BlacKkKlansman ended up being nominated for six Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The final category is what the movie eventually won. Despite only winning one of six awards, BlacKkKlansman still boasted an incredible 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. Plus, it continues to stand out for its unique true story that is infused with both humor and deep importance. Of course, it is also the first Oscar that Lee ever won, which makes this movie all the more special.
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Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Four Black Veterans Return To Vietnam To Find Buried Treasure
Last but not least, there is Da 5 Bloods. This is Lee’s most recent release, and it tells the story of four African American veterans who travel back to Vietnam in search of their fallen squad leader, with whom they helped bury a gold fortune. The film stars Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, and Isiah Whitlock Jr. The supporting cast also includes Jonathan Majors and Chadwick Boseman. Notably, Da 5 Bloods is one of Lee’s most expensive movies ever, and sees him reunite with his BlacKkKlansman screenwriter, Kevin Willmott.
Ultimately, Da 5 Bloods may not have come out a winner, but it proves that Lee is eager to keep making award-worthy movies.
At the Academy Awards, Da 5 Bloods was nominated for just one award, Best Original Score, which it lost to Soul. Fortunately, the movie earned other accolades, including an American Film Insтιтute award. Furthermore, it has a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. Ultimately, Da 5 Bloods may not have come out a winner, but it proves that Lee is eager to keep making award-worthy movies. This makes it all the more exciting that he is developing a new film called Highest 2 Lowest. Hopefully, Spike Lee will add another nomination to his resume soon enough.
