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Breakfast Tuesday, 22 April, 2003, 08:07 GMT 09:07 UK
Spike Lee
Film Director Spike Lee
"Possibly Lee's finest work to date"
Spike Lee's films are probably best known for their take on black culture and the political points contained within.

His 1991 film Jungle Fever tackled mixed race relationships while his epic Malcolm X was interpreted by right wing press as race-hate propaganda.

His new film, the 25th Hour is about a convicted drug dealer's last day of freedom before he is sent to prison.

The filming for 25th Hour found itself victim of the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York.

  • Spike Lee joined Natasha and Bill live on Breakfast

    Filming was just about to get underway, and although many directors would have put the project on hold, Lee decided to continue absorbing the horror of events into 25th Hour.

    Commenting on September 11th, Lee said :

    As a New Yorker, I felt it would be criminal to make this film as if nothing had happened


    By including the city's sense of loss within the film, Arena magazine says it's one of the better films of the year and 'possibly Lee's finest work to date.'

    The story is about a big time drug dealer whose 'business' has gone bust as all around the city of New York mourns.

    As the central character Monty Brogan (played by Ed Norton) contemplates a seven year jail stretch, it soon becomes apparent that fate has plans for him.

    Natasha put it to Spike that though the central character was in fact a "baddie" there is enormous sympathy for him :

    Even though you know he is a heroin dealer, coke too, you see him as a human being

  • 25th Hour is released on 25 April
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