Spike Lee is NOT subtle. Ever since that one hot Brooklyn summer day, the man pulls no punches with his messages, and Chi-Raq is no exception. Though based off a Greek play from millennia ago, Chi-Raq is very much urgently present, using Chicago’s bad neighborhoods to demand necessary attention at societal injustice.
The play Lee chose is Lysistrata (Teyonah Parris). In the play, the finest woman in the land stops having sex with her gangster boyfriend Chi-Raq (Nick Cannon). She also goes further, convincing all of her friends to withhold adult contact until Chi-Raq and Cyclops (Wesley Snipes) stop their war. Woven into this story is the story of Irene (Jennifer Hudson), who loses her daughter to a drive-by, and is consoled by Father Mike Corridan (John Cusack).
This film’s opening sets the tone: haunting and poignant. After an Emergency!! warning in blood red letters, we see a map of the United States made entirely out of guns with a black background. Then the rap begins, angry and desperate, escalating to a climax: the view of the despondent Chicago West/South Side. Immediately, Lee immerses you into the scary and hopeless and violent world. There are bullets at random moments, bloody clean ups, and guns galore. Lee passes the blame around too; he does acknowledge that systemic injustice is the primary problem – and he exposes it with a rousing church sermon and over-the-top political chicanery – but he also points the pinky at the gangs themselves, so focused on fame and misguided pride that they care very little for civic support. Ire is spread around, and proportionally correctly. Lee serves Chi-Raq best when his perspective shines through, and early and often the director succeeds with that mission.
The two tales Chi-Raq spins are also interesting, but one moreso than the other. The tale of the gunned down girl is emotionally wrenching and powerful, using pictures of numerous gunned down teens enough to drive the point without being too manipulative. Also, this plot leads to that church sermon, which is eye opening but hopeful: I teared up a little. Coupling it with the Greek tale is smart too, as that is in verse and is lighter in tone. Lee’s balance there is inconsistent: when the satire reflects today closely, Chi-Raq is awesome (like a pissed off strip club owner or politician speak), but Lee does veer off the rails from time to time, especially about 2/3 of the way through the film (especially involving the Confederate flag). Though the director gets back on track, the middle section could have used a good edit to make the film hit harder.
Teyonah Parris is a star. Lysistrata nails Lee’s tone and speak, while being sexy and subtle. I loved her in Dear White People, and cannot wait to see her work more. Jennifer Hudson and John Cusack give Chi-Raq emotional validation, lifting each scene they are in to new levels. Angela Bassett regally provides legitimacy and Samuel L. Jackson reminds us that Morgan Freeman isn’t the only black actor who can narrate. Wesley Snipes, Dave Chappelle, and Steve Harris contribute some funny to the proceedings. But the big winner of Chi-Raq is Nick Cannon, who officially becomes an ACTOR here. Cannon exudes charisma, but here he adds complexity to his gang leader that I never saw coming. Looks like Drumline wasn’t a fluke.
I’ve got an idea for a movie. It’s in lyrical verse hear me out. It’s based on a Greek tragedy hear me out. It’s set in Chicago starring mostly black people. Kudos to you Amazon Studios. While other studios balked at Chi-Raq, you stepped up to give Spike Lee a platform for his unique voice. A metaphorical package, if you will.