Chi-Raq

Based on an ancient Greek play and set in the violence riddled, modernity of Chicago, Chi-Raq is a ripe satire amidst the ever growing inner city crime, police brutality, and movement of Black Lives Matter. It is also a perfect cinematic vehicle for Spike Lee to re-emerge at the helm of subject matters he boldly took on 20 years ago in his classic films; or so it would seem.   This time around, as was the theme of the original play, women are so fed up with the violence of the day, that they impose a sex strike that catches fire around the world.  I so wanted to like Chi-Raq, really I  did.  Who wouldn't if you're a Lee fan?  He brings back his old notables Sam Jackson, Angela Bassett, and Wesley Snipes. He adds in fresh new faces and newcomers like John Cusack, Jennifer Hudson, Nick Canon, and the best of the bunch - Teyonhah Parris (Dear White People).  In all fairness, Wesley Snipes never should have been cast in that particular role of this gang leader going up against Nick Canon.  Shit, he's better than that and what the fuck was a limp Nick Canon even doing in a lead like that with no charisma at all?  Well, he surprisingly lent to the title track, along with Chicago native Jennifer Hudson, in addition to giving her signature dramatic tears to the role.  Now, let's remember that this was a satirical adaption to the distressing violence of our era.  But it just didn't work for me as well as it could have.  It tried to be too many things genre wise to me, that just didn't work, and then salvage a message.  In addition to mis-matched casting and performances, it just kind of felt dated; as if Spike just copied and pasted these not so new issues into his style from 20 years ago, and added new people.  More importantly and perhaps more accurately, is just that these issues have been covered before endlessly and with no apparent end in site.  But instead of Brooklyn/Crooklyn, it's the Chicago/Chi-Raq.