[ad_1]
Spike Lee sharply criticized former President Donald Trump and his historic legacy in a grim speech Sunday at the 86th New York Film Critics Circle Awards.
Lee, 63, was in no mood to celebrate during his honorary award acceptance speech presented by Martin Scorsese at the virtual awards show.
“Da 5 Bloods” director Lee filmed his acceptance speech on January 6, “a very sad day in American history,” when pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol.
“You know what, we’re going through a very serious time in America. All of us, as real Americans, have to really think about what’s important,” Lee said. “You can’t walk past the iPhone and thank you guys without telling you what’s in my heart and soul as a descendant of the slaves who helped build this country.”
“The whole world is laughing at the United States, the so-called cradle of democracy,” he added.
“We’re at a crossroads now. And everyone, please be careful, this is not a game. These people have guns with ammo,” Lee said. “This president, President Agent Orange, will go down in history with Hitler. These guys, all his boys, they’re going on the wrong side of history.”
Spike Lee: Talks about Trump’s impeachment vote and his Viagra musical
Lee, a frequent critic of Trump, then thanked for the award for his pandemic-era short “New York, New York.”
The late actor Chadwick Boseman received the award for Best Supporting Actor for Lee’s drama “Da 5 Bloods”. Boseman’s widow, Simone Ledward Boseman, accepted the award on behalf of her late husband.
“He would have thanked God, first and foremost, his mother and father,” she said. “Chad was a New York actor. He knew the New York hustle and bustle. So he was unfazed when he came to Hollywood, because in New York he was at war.”
“Da 5 Bloods” star Norm Lewis presented the award to Boseman, who died in August 2020, saying, “He will always be remembered for his versatility and immense talent.”
More: The laureats
Delroy Lindo picked up best actor for his role as warring Vietnam veteran Paul in “Da 5 Bloods” which was presented by his “Crooklyn” co-star Alfre Woodard.
“It brings us right to Paul’s tortured heart,” Woodard said of Lindo’s performance. “Delroy, you gave young and experienced actors and actors a role model in Paul. That’s the way you do it.”
Lindo congratulated his manager Lee. “Anyone who has followed Spike’s work over the past 35 years knows that he has not only inspired generations of filmmakers, but film fans around the world as well.”
Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova, the 24-year-old star of “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” received the award for Best Supporting Actress, saying the award was an inspiration to Bulgarian actors that “things like that can happen”.
Frances McDormand presented the award for Best Director to her “Nomadland” director Chloe Zhao, saying that “it was an award she most deserved.” During her acceptance speech, Zhao said it was at New York University that she “learned to take my first steps as a filmmaker.”
Best film went to “First Cow,” presented by “Parasite” director Bong Joon-Ho, who said he was “often impressed” by director Kelly Reichardt, calling the film “a unique story” and “Of a story that only Kelly could do. “
This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: Spike Lee Speech: Donald Trump Belongs to ‘Hitler’s Likes’
[ad_2]
Source link