CHI-RAQ the movie, a Spike Lee Joint

I can hardly contain my enthusiasm over Spike Lee’s newest film: CHI-RAQ (2015 US)! Loosely based on the Classic Greek comedy Lysistrata by Aristophanes, about women in ancient Greece who withhold sex against their men to negotiate an end to the Peloponnesian War. In CHI-RAQ the women go on a sex strike: “No Peace! No Pussy!” to end a senseless gang war on a Chicago Southside neighborhood between the Trojans (led by Nick Cannon) and the Spartans (led by Wesley Snipes) and it’s collateral damage: the death of innocent victims caught in the cross-fire. It’s terrific, old-skool Spike Lee but of course it’s like nothing else. Crisp, popping, exciting, sexy (some nudity and full of adult themes), funny as HELL, lotsa cussin, full of fantastic performances, great scenes -it’s quite operatic -and despite all the hype over the name … It’s actually a valentine to our great city. I saw the world premier in Chicago (PACKED with folks, stars, free popcorn, soda & bottled water); then attended the exciting after-party (open bar, heavy hors d’oeurves, great D-J) where I met Spike, reconnected with my old college friend Harry Lennix, drank, danced and tried not to stalk all the other very accessible celebrities (Wesley Snipes, Nick Cannon) in attendance.

GO SEE IT! Samuel L Jackson plays the Greek chorus/narrator who keeps this story in line and will be much needed to keep some folks clear as Spike plays with language as he straddles the line back and forth between this very modern theme and the ancient Greek classic form upon which it salutes. I LOVED this movie. It’s whimsical, big and it’s about my home. Also starring Jennifer Hudson whose child’s death sparks the strike, Angela Bassett looking gorgeous and acting beautifully, Nick Cannon is impressive as a gangsta and Teyona Parris is stunning as Lysistrata. John Cusack plays real-life Chicago Catholic priest Father Michael Pfleger (whose outspoken social activism has made him an often times controversial public figure and is the Senior Pastor of his mostly African-American congregation at Chicago’s South Side St Sabina parish which is dab smack in the middle of the very real gang violence). Cusack’s Fr. Pfleger gives an impassioned speech in the middle of the film that serves as the centerpiece of the theme of the whole movie. The film features many Chicago actors, most notedly my friends: actor, writer, producer (always wonderful) Harry Lennix and artist, writer, actor Tony Fitzpatrick who is just perfect as a Chicago Police Chief. I imagine that the film will not be everyone’s taste but in my opinion this is a wonderful work. I can’t wait to see it AGAIN and AGAIN!
Watch the trailer: