MovieChat Forums > Clockers (1995) Discussion > Why does this not feel like a S.Lee movi...

Why does this not feel like a S.Lee movie?

posted 7 years ago by Badlands1
15 replies | jump to latest

This is his best movie IMHO, and I'm realizing all his other films are essentially mature comedies if you will.
I really only liked Jungle Fever, and Do the Right Thing, but all the corny dialogue, comedy, and contrived scenes just ruined it overall. Don't even get me started on his other watered down films.
But I am missing something abut Clockers, did someone else co-direct this with him, I've things about Scorsese but any info to add on that.

Perhaps because this is based off Richard Prices great writing so it forced Lee to not be so cheesy, and take a film to a more serious plateau?

[–] robert-macc 7 years ago

Martin produced this movie
but to be honest, even for a black movie, "Jungle Fever" and "Do the Right Thing" - to a lesser extent than the former - are not typical black movies.

[–] Badlands1 7 years ago

Oh yes that's right, I guess IMDB doesn't put producers on the main page, because they mostly are unimportant; some old fat rich guy that throws money around, no art or importance to the movie.
But when you get another artist that produces that is interesting is there any info that Scorsese really had a heavy directorial hand over Spike for Clockers, or maybe Spike was just intimidated and finally got his act together and made a mature film?

Well I don't know what a "black movie" is Robert, but as for a "hood movie" Jungle Fever and DTRT weren't in that category IMO, they were comedy dramas. Other great hood movies that are mature like Clockers would be:
Fresh, Straight Out Of Brooklyn, South Central, and New Jersey Drive.

Great movies like Menace II Society, and Boyz In The Hood, are a bit too stylized with the "gangsta" theme so they become less mature.

[–] robert-macc 7 years ago

Scorese produced but didn't direct
He was going to direct it bro

[–] robert-macc 7 years ago

"New Jersey Drive"? I don't know. LOL
That movie was pretty knucklheaded.
"Boyz n the Hood" was mature.

[–] Badlands1 7 years ago

What was knucklehead about NJD? I felt it was quite mature, sure it had a hip-hop soundtrack, but still poignant classical scores playing, and lot's of mature scenes.
Yes Boyz could almost be in the same category as Clockers, or Fresh, I guess I'm partial to the east coast forgive me.
But basically Lee sucks, I guess Scorsese really gave a heavy hand in the making of Clockers.

[–] robert-macc 7 years ago

"Boyz n the hood" glorified forgiveness, which to many East Coast blacks, would have been ass-kissing. When the cop abused Tre, he just to forgive.

But in "NJD" if the cops do that to any of them they get shot at, things throwns at them and worse at the end, a nasty charge that gets them in jail. And the nonstop temper tantrums thrown by midget.

[–] Badlands1 7 years ago

Oh well I figured it was similar, Doughboy is the vengeful Midget character, and Jason is the forgiving Tre character, even after Richie shoots at him Jason wants to forgive only his buddies egg him on.
In the end Jason ends up back in school with a somewhat positive msg.

[–] robert-macc 7 years ago

Doughboy was nothing like Midget. Even Doughboy had some honor to him. Midget would kill you if you didn't "respect" him. Jason was nothing like Tre. When the cop gets thrown in jail, he calls him a *beep* *beep* laughs at him. Just cause one's not violent doesn't make them nice people. Tre was forgiving. He didn't press charges against the cop. Also remember, in the world of "NJD" Tre would be seen as a Rodney King. Rodney King was a symbol of ass-kissing to many black people, especially native Africans and Northeast blacks, who happen to be the ones in the movie. Plus Jason mouths off to the cop

[–] Badlands1 7 years ago

Doughboy had some honor to him

Like what? At least Midget didn't SELL CRACK

When the cop gets thrown in jail, he calls him a *beep* *beep*

You mean the crooked cop, who assaults kids?

[–] robert-macc 7 years ago

Like what? At least Midget didn't SELL CRACK

Not selling crack doesn't make you a good person. Midget was disrespectful and outright horrible even to his friends. He loves get into fights with people. Doughboy was peaceful. He respected even his abusive mother.

You mean the crooked cop, who assaults kids?

You mean in "NJD"? Yes. When it's reported Roscoe will go to jail, Jason sneers at him and calls him a "f@ggot motherf$kcer"

[–] Badlands1 7 years ago

Doughboy was peaceful. He respected even his abusive mother

How was he peaceful because he loved his mom, I recall him constantly arguing with his mom. Did you forget when Midget hand feed his Grandma "eat your carrots Grandma" I'd say Midget wins that one.

When it's reported Roscoe will go to jail, Jason sneers at him and calls him a "f@ggot motherf$kcer"

ya cause he's a crooked cop, why not? How old are you, Answer me.

[–] robert-macc 7 years ago

How was he peaceful because he loved his mom, I recall him constantly arguing with his mom. Did you forget when Midget hand feed his Grandma "eat your carrots Grandma" I'd say Midget wins that one.

His mother was abusive to him. That gives you sympathy to him. He had a hard life. OK yes true Midget does take care of grandma, but aside from that, every other action he does is nasty. Cursing someone who is a higher up in the crime world, like Bo-Kane, teasing Jason to get on his nerves, robbing cars and throwing a can at the cop's car to hurt him. Plus Doughboy only gets into violence when someone threatens his loved ones. Also he went to jail as a kid, and his mother was unloving. Big difference.

ya cause he's a crooked cop, why not? How old are you, Answer me.

But you said Jason was more forgiving. So I was giving an example of how he's not forgiving. Mind you they're deliquents, but still what Jason and Midget do in the movie is extremely nasty compared to Doughboy and Tre, who are saints in comparison.
I'm 24 years old

Tre and Doughboy were people who had a raw deal in life. Jason and Midget only had racism to contend with, and they are truly nasty people at times. I know Roscoe is an *beep* but they're no better.

[–] robert-macc 7 years ago

Answer my questions about the movie I posted.

[–] Badlands1 7 years ago

I hope I answered it sir, but in Clockers can we really say we feel any of them are likable?
I'm not sure a movie has to have positive characters, life isn't positive as Scientific points out. But the realism is there, compared to a "knucklehead" reality movie which glorifies things.

[–] robert-macc 7 years ago

I mean the new questions in the board