Spike Lee re-edits HBO series following backlash over inclusion of 9/11 conspiracy theorists

2021-08-26T15:17:00-04:00

Facing mounting criticism for spotlighting conspiracy theorists in his new HBO documentary series about the Sept. 11 attacks on New York, the filmmaker Spike Lee said Wednesday that he was re-editing the final episode.

The final episode of Lee’s four-part docuseries “NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½,” which explores New York’s greatest challenges in the 21st century, including the attacks on 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic, featured members of the conspiracy organization Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, who believe the World Trade Center was destroyed by a controlled demolition. The filmmaker faced criticism and backlash over the group's inclusion in the show after it was made available for preview.

Critics stated that the episode appeared to balance the perspectives and even at times side with the perspectives of the conspiracy theorists.

Lee’s response in a statement to the media reads: “I’m Back In The Editing Room And Looking At The Eighth And Final Chapter Of NYC EPICENTERS 9/11➔2021½. I Respectfully Ask You To Hold Your Judgment Until You See The FINAL CUT.”

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Lee defends the inclusion of the conspiracy group stating, “I mean, I got questions. And...

Gentrification through a cinematic lens

2015-07-29T16:54:00-04:00

Real Estate Fiction, a two-part short film series that compiles clips from movies that deal with issues of gentrification and land-grabbing, isn't the magnum opus of Los Angeles Plays Itself, but it's infused with the same analysis-as-entertainment spirit. Part one of the 20-minute short features clips from Batteries Not Included, Boyz'n'The Hood, Do The Right Thing, Le mani sulla citta, and numerous other films from around the world, interspersed with brief critical dialogue at the beginning of each chapter heading.

Divided by chapters with titles including "Conspiracy Over the Urban Scene," the film artfully investigates the tensions between city dwellers and the pressures of (usually greedy) developers and speculators. It's entertaining primarily because it explores realities that so often make for exceptionally dry academic reading. The concise commentary touches on the complexities of urban development, speculation, and repurposing without offering the depth and nuance of a ful...

Archinect - News

Spike Lee re-edits HBO series following backlash over inclusion of 9/11 conspiracy theorists

Gentrification through a cinematic lens