The Curious Case Of 1989

"Driving Miss Daisy" won Best Picture Oscar in that year. I was 13 years old at the time and thought very little of politics or the world around me, other than I wanted to finger Lauren, this older girl, and play guitar. That movie cleaned up a lot because the message was kind. Be good to one another regardless of race. Little is still brought up about the detail that Miss Daisy (played perfectly by Jessica Tandy) was a Jewish school teacher. One would believe, she among any one else would understand the plight of the African American in America.

The film that media is speaking about that really got hosed in that year was "Do The Right Thing" Spike Lee's angry Black man causing a riot film that is really well made. A literal slice of life of a Italian pizza parlor in New York City on the hottest day.

Not that Spike has mellowed out since, but it was a fun film to watch when I was 13-22. I'm not as disenfranchised anymore because it's all for naught. Spike's film accused America of, pretty much everything, almost like a temper tantrum on screen. Well made, but yet...still immature. It got no love from the Academy. My guess at the time, they probably shook their heads and said "that Spike, always angry." Also, he's an East Coaster, and there's always been that rift as well. I think Spike is LONG overdue for an Oscar. If we are to see it as a lifetime achievement award, he has EARNED it. Regardless of how you see his films. He is a FILMMAKER.

Flash forward 30 years. Spike is back with "Blackkklansman" and Peter Farrelly's "Green Book" are nominated. "Green Book" is essentially "Driving Miss Daisy" in reverse. And Spike's flick...yep...still angry. But here now...the Left are angry now. Back in 1989, they were chill. Having fun and cracking jokes. Now, they're militant and they aren't interested in "increasing the peace" anymore. Spike's flick ended with Heather Heyer's murder at the hands of White supremacist activist. Eesh. Whilst "Green Book" ends with a holiday dinner and warm hugs.

I prefer the warm hugs.