Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: WTF is a Spike Lee "Joint"?

This is topic WTF is a Spike Lee "Joint"? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-19-2008, 07:36 PM:

What the hell is this "joint" nonsense? Does he think he's better than us?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-19-2008, 08:39 PM:

I've been asking myself that question for the last 20 years. You will not find an acceptable answer. The best answer I've heard in that timeframe was the "unfinished sentence" excuse, meaning "a Spike Lee Joint (venture/effort/production)"...but that's just as retarded and awful of an answer as his movies.

I stand firm that my original assessment of the term is that joint=shit.

Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 09-19-2008, 10:20 PM:

I always thought that was weird, too.

My best guess is that he means 'joint' as in a place to hang out, like a pizza joint, or as in, 'come hang out back at my joint'.

So instead of making 'films', he makes 'joints': a cool place to go hang for a couple of hours where you'll feel right at home.

Or something like that.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-19-2008, 10:28 PM:

That "joint" thing probably comes from the same place as another equally-annoying expression -- that something isn't released, it "drops." As in, the new Moody Blues album drops next Tuesday. It sounds dopey.

Posted by Charles Greenlee (Member # 3856) on 09-20-2008, 01:00 AM:

Maybe Spike Lee rolls really big ones? I dunno, maybe some smokers could help here? Joint makes me think of something where two things meet, like bones or something, or a place where people meet; "This is a happening joint"; Or lastly what the hippies smoke. "Patchouli is not a deoderant!" Damn kids and their tiedye and flowers.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 09-20-2008, 11:22 AM:

I always figured it was a metaphor for how he wants his movies to have an effect on the viewer similar to smoking a joint.

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 09-20-2008, 12:47 PM:

quote: David Stambaugh
I always figured it was a metaphor for how he wants his movies to have an effect on the viewer similar to smoking a joint.

So no motovation to do anything and always hungry. hehe

Posted by Greg Anderson (Member # 235) on 09-20-2008, 03:12 PM:

I once asked a co-worker this same question and added, "...and why doesn't anyone else call their movies joints?" The answer I got was, "You are so white." (This answer came from a white guy, by the way.)

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-20-2008, 03:21 PM:

Perhaps one of our African American members can elighten us as to the Spiksters jive.....

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 09-20-2008, 06:27 PM:

It's a marijuana reference.

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 09-20-2008, 06:37 PM:

-Joint (anatomy), a location where two bones make contact
-Joint (audio engineering)
-Joint (building), a junction where building elements meet without a static load being applied from one element to another
-Joint (mechanics), where two rigid bodies move in relation to each other
-Joint (geology), a fracture in a rock mass which has no offset
-Joint (cannabis), a cannabis cigarette
-Joint warfare, warfare involving several military branches (services)
-Universal joint
-Woodworking joints, used to join pieces of wood
-Joint, a TV movie by Yaky Yosha
-A film by Spike Lee
-JOINT, the first opening to the anime Shakugan no Shana II

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-20-2008, 07:33 PM:

Spikey-poo has always seemed a bit racist to me.

Posted by Mike Sellars (Member # 4042) on 09-21-2008, 12:32 PM:

It's a 'thing', like Jimi used to say... god, you people ARE so white!

[Razz]

Mike

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 09-21-2008, 04:56 PM:

Here in the Washington D.C. area the word 'joint' in used as a noun to replace words that users don't have enough brain power to think of at the moment. This usually comes from smoking too many 'joints' that directly affects the amount of brain cells needed to remember words. A good example that I can give - I overheard customers talking about a movie that they have not seen and the quote was "Ima gonna hafta go see that joint".

There is a lot of slang being used here that I have never heard anywhere else. Like "Triflin". Even on the radio here in D.C. they use these slang words quite often. It's almost triflin'....errr. I mean troubling. [Big Grin]

Posted by Charles Greenlee (Member # 3856) on 09-21-2008, 05:46 PM:

I like Allison's Response.

quote:
-Joint (anatomy), a location where two bones make contact
-Joint (audio engineering)
-Joint (building), a junction where building elements meet without a static load being applied from one element to another
-Joint (mechanics), where two rigid bodies move in relation to each other
-Joint (geology), a fracture in a rock mass which has no offset
-Joint (cannabis), a cannabis cigarette
-Joint warfare, warfare involving several military branches (services)
-Universal joint
-Woodworking joints, used to join pieces of wood
-Joint, a TV movie by Yaky Yosha
-A film by Spike Lee
-JOINT, the first opening to the anime Shakugan no Shana II

It pretty much agrees with my note since most of the definitions boil down to a joint being where 2 things meet. I find other uses of the word silly. I do wonder, does Spike Lee have his films spliced with joint compound? ::Ducks: Ok! ok! I know that was bad.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 09-23-2008, 10:50 AM:

quote: Joe Redifer
Spikey-poo has always seemed a bit racist to me.

Oh, he is. I have seen interviews where both he and that "Queen" Latifah character have said they hate white people.

Also, note how Spikette never smiles or opens his eyes past half-mast unless the interviewer is black. Then, he's laughing and giggling like a schoolgirl - and generally looking like Dudley Dickerson.

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 09-23-2008, 04:47 PM:

A SPIKE LEE JOINT is just what it is, a way of attempting to differentiate oneself from the crowd, to make a personal statement, to thumb one's nose at those who are overly sensitive, to hide something, to divulge something.... maybe like "Rock this joint" or "I dig this joint" or whatever the f*ck he wants it to mean.... Interpret all day long but it's what he meant it to be.

Spike Lee makes better and more profitable movies than anyone here and by doing so keeps some of us employed. I don't know if he thinks he's better than others but he probably is better than most. INSIDE MAN was a cool movie and I hope ST. ANNA is too.

Joe gets more mileage out of rhetorical questions than anyone else.

Posted by Galen Murphy-Fahlgren (Member # 4535) on 09-23-2008, 05:04 PM:

The only Spike Lee movie I think I've seen was Malcolm X, which I rather liked, and so what if he doesn't like white people? I'm not fond of many white people either.

To answer the original question, I think a joint is a joint, regardless of who smokes it. Maybe Spike just rolls 'em really "fat."

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-23-2008, 05:34 PM:

Wow, so do I read that correctly Jim that you actually LIKE Spike Lee movies? I would rather suffer through Anchorman , I Know Who Killed This Movie, or even a Tyler Perry film.

No other filmmaker brings about the term in my booths "not it" faster and in greater abundance than a Spike Lee [bs]

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 09-23-2008, 05:44 PM:

I'd agree with Joe, but we all know only whites can be racists. Blacks are not; including that doper Spike dude...I rate him as a money grubbing asshole hypocrite.

The ONLY film I thought he did that was remotely good was ...WAIT! I can't think of any! EVERYTHING is pure shit.

I wouldn't bother shitting down his neck if someone ripped his head off...

Yours in Christ and Huggs 2 y'all!

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-23-2008, 06:12 PM:

Jim, if Spike Lee needs to differentiate himself from the crowd by calling his movies a "joint", then that is quite sad. Shouldn't the content of his movies do that for him? They seem to. They all suck much unwiped anus, even more so than the majority of today's releases. They all seem long as hell, too. I bet Miracle on 34th ST will be no less than 3 hours when built. I will happily report the number of folks I count in the auditorium just before the lights go down after the trailers over the weekend here in this thread, and I won't fudge them.

I am fortunate to have shown only one Tyler Perry movie so far, but the trailer on it for that Madea movie or whatever it is looks awful! I'd still rather watch it than Miracle at Santa Anna because at least it would be shorter!

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-23-2008, 07:31 PM:

quote: Tim Reed
Then, he's laughing and giggling like a schoolgirl - and generally looking like Dudley Dickerson.

Yea! "A PLumbing We Will Go", one of my favorite Stooges shorts! What a hilarious piece... I thought Dudley eyes were going to pop out when I saw that as a kid [Big Grin]

.

I have to say I've been a wonderin where all our African- American members have run off to during this intelligent discussion????

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-23-2008, 07:40 PM:

Maybe they don't like Spike Lee, either. You certainly don't have to be white to dislike him. Spike transcends racial boundaries!

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 09-23-2008, 07:49 PM:

I liked Malcolm X and Inside Man. I'm also interested in Santa Anna.

Other than those I can't think of one of his movies I saw or plan to see though.

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 09-23-2008, 09:34 PM:

Not counting the new one, I've seen all 17 of Lee's joints, and I would say that 9 of them are good. 25TH HOUR is clearly the best, and I'm also very fond of CLOCKERS. As far as his lesser known movies are concerned, I'd highly recommend GET ON THE BUS and SHE HATE ME.

I also love his love for Air Jordans, although the shoe that's named after him, the Air Jordan Spizike, is a monstrosity:

How do you take four of the greatest shoes ever made, squish them into one, and come up with that? [puke]

Posted by Todd McCracken (Member # 4718) on 09-23-2008, 10:19 PM:

A Spike Lee Joint is usually a overpriced and disappointing endeavor. Though I did like do the right thing.

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 09-24-2008, 03:28 PM:

quote: Jim Bedford
Spike Lee makes better and more profitable movies than anyone here and by doing so keeps some of us employed.

Since only one of his films have every broken the distinguished $50 mil barrier, I must respectfully disagree. He has kept nobody in business but himself. His movies are box office dogs. Inside Man was the only one to reach over 1600 screens, according to Box Office Mojo. He limits his audience so much by the content and titles of his films, the general public doesn't care to see them. Honestly, how many people want to see something called He Got Game. I'm not implying everyone needs to make mainstream films, but if you're going to make something off-beat, at least make it good.

Posted by Tyler Potts (Member # 4952) on 10-02-2008, 10:16 AM:

Between a historically inaccurate St. Anna, not having a more than average flick in years, and now making a sequel to Inside Man...

I'll be avoid his joints for a while.

Posted by Julie Lucero (Member # 4959) on 10-02-2008, 01:19 PM:

I've always figured the credit "A Spike Lee Joint" was Spike's way of doing something stylish and different, like what Martin Scorsese or John Badham do with their credits, rather than the standard ol' "A So and So Film."

Scorsese sometimes uses: "A Martin Scorsese Picture." And I've seen Badham use: "A John Badham Movie."

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-02-2008, 01:38 PM:

Yes but the words "picture" and "movie" are various synonyms.

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 10-02-2008, 02:02 PM:

To his credit, he doesn't use joynt