Tag Archives: Spike Lee

Spike Lee Celebration at CALS Ron Robinson Theater – Part 2: The Rodney Block Collective

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The Central Arkansas Library System is celebrating the works of Spike Lee in the CALS Ron Robinson Theater and you’re invited!

Join us on Saturday July 13 as we host The Rodney Block Collective for a performance featuring the music from all of Spike Lee’s films.

Rodney Block is a Dumas native who has been thriving in the local music scene for the past several years.  He is much sought after to appear at special events and parties. He is also a fixture on the live music scene at many venues around Little Rock.

Tickets for The Rodney Block Collective concert are $15 for general admission seating. The doors open at 7:00 pm and the concert starts at 8:00 pm.

Spike Lee celebration at CALS Ron Robinson Theatre – Part 1: DO THE RIGHT THING

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Do the Right Thing PosterThe Central Arkansas Library System is celebrating the works of Spike Lee in the CALS Ron Robinson Theater and you’re invited!

Join CALS on Friday July 12 as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Do The Right Thing” with a screening of Spike Lee’s 1989 classic film.

On the hottest day of the year on a street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, everyone’s hate and bigotry smolders and builds until it explodes into violence.

The film stars Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, John Turturro, Frankie Faison, Robin Harris, Joie Lee, Bill Nunn, and Spike Lee himself.  Aiello earned an Oscar nomination in the Supporting Actor category, and Lee picked up an Oscar nom for his original screenplay.

Tickets for the “Do The Right Thing” screening are $5 for general admission seating. The doors open at 7:00 pm and the film starts at 8:00 pm.

Rock the Oscars 2019: BlacKkKlansman

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The Oscars are tonight.  One of the films nominated for Best Picture is BlacKkKlansman by Spike Lee.  Though previously nominated for Best Screenplay (Do the Right Thing) and Docmentary (4 Little Girls), this is the first time Lee has been nominated for producing a Best Picture nominee and for Best Director.

There are at least three Little Rock connections to the film.  First, it opens with vintage news footage of members of the Little Rock Nine being escorted into Central High in September 1957 (even though the film erroneously says August 25, 1957).

Second, Adam Driver stars in the film, and has earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination.  His father now lives in Little Rock. Driver also participated in the 2017 Arkansas Cinema Society’s “Premiere” event. Following a screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Driver and ACS founder Jeff Nichols took part in a discussion.

Third, Little Rock native and Hendrix College alum Ashlie Atkinson appears in the movie. She is also a former intern at Arkansas Times.

Denzel W as MALCOLM X tonight at CALS Ron Robinson Theater

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Malcolmxdvdset.jpgTonight (February 7) at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater, there is the chance to view Denzel Washington as the enigmatic and charismatic MALCOLM X. The screening starts at 6:30.  Admission is $5.00

This movie is a part of the CALS Movies of a Movement: the Civil Rights & Social Change Collection.

The 1992 film is a biographical epic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader.  It covers his early life and career as a small-time gangster, to his ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam.

It was directed by Spike Lee who also co-produced (with Marvin Worth) and co-wrote (with Arnold Perl) the film. Joining Washington in the cast are Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr, Spike Lee. and Delroy Lindo.