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FIRST LOOK

First Look: Spike Lee's Miracle at St. Anna

by Alex Billington
January 4, 2008
Source: blackfilm.com

Despite he's quite controversial, I'm fond of Spike Lee as a filmmaker. Inside Man, his most recent film, was a great movie and part of that was due to Spike Lee's extraordinary abilities. One of this year's upcoming WWII films is Miracle at St. Anna, directed by Spike Lee. Set in 1944 in Italy, the film follows the story of four black American soldiers who get trapped in a Tuscan village during WWII. The film could turn out to truly be something to behold, but without any trailers or marketing yet, there's nothing to speculate off of. However, we just stumbled across the very first photo from the film.

Miracle at St. Anna stars Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller, Matteo Sciabordi, John Leguizamo, and Joseph Gordon Levitt. The photo comes courtesy of blackfilm.com. There's not much to take away from this photo, except seeing Derek Luke I'm reminded of how talented of an actor he is, just look at Catch a Fire or Friday Night Lights.

Spike Lee's Miracle at St. Anna

"Miracle at St. Anna" chronicles the story of four black American soldiers who are members of the US Army as part of the all-black 92nd "Buffalo Soldier" Division stationed in Tuscany, Italy during World War II.

They experience the tragedy and triumph of the war as they find themselves trapped behind enemy lines and separated from their unit after one of them risks his life to save an Italian boy.

Directed by Spike Lee from a screenplay written by James McBride, the author of the acclaimed novel of the same name, the film explores a deeply inspiring, powerful story drawn from true history, that transcends national boundaries, race, and class to touch the goodness within us all.

The film currently doesn't have a release date yet, but is expected to arrive in theaters sometime in the Fall of 2008.

Explore tags: First Look, Hype, Movie News

Nick O.

When I came to the site and saw that picture without reading the headline I instantly thought of Quentin Tarantino's "Inglorious Bastards', even though it's a very long ways away.
Davor

this looks like is going to be a really good movie looking forward to this one
mikel

I'm looking forward to this one as well. Looks like it will be Lee's biggest-scale film yet.
Guy

Arrk! The Tommy Gun evil continues. I never knew the whole US Army was equipped with them... I'm mildly worried looking at the photo, the chunky guy on the left looks like a "fat but well intentioned" character actor whilst the guy on the right looks like a black version of Sergeant Rock. Then again its Spike Lee so here's hoping he pulls this one through. If he did this could make a great film, particuarly considering the awful history of the black units in Italy.
Mikey

who is the guy on the far left with the child ???
ramez

Im iffy on spike lee. After seeing the horrendous "he got game" i've never really supported him. Hopefully this'll change my mind.
http://www.drduvel.net Dr.Duvel

"Despite he's quite controversial ....." In 2008, Alex will be working hard on his Grammar ;o)
http://www.simplyscripts.com Don

The screenplay is available at: http://www.tf1international.com/download/MIRACLE%20AT%20ST%20ANNA%20SHOOTING%20SCRIPT.pdf
Scott

The script for Miracle at St. Anna is truly a piece of art! With Spike Lee at the helm, along with the cinematography of Matty Libatique (Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain) and producers Roberto Cicutto and Luigi Musini (Hotel Rwanda), this film should garner some Oscar nominations.
Sis SJR

I am sure that Mr. Lee's film will bring in an Oscar. My observation, is that his main concern is about people; people, who should be recognized as people who have made positive contributions-- to the people. In addition, his reasons for making such films, I believe, are not centered on himself but are a continual reaching out to open doors and to keep them open for those who especially need encouragement to utilize their talents and abilities to enhance our world. In my closing, God-Speed to you Mr. Lee.
jeff

oh here we go, it'll be full of racist remarks and what not in true spike-lee fashion. i can pretty much sum up the story already... black guys face racism during training black guys hate america black guys fight together, led by a racist southerner (majority of blacks liked their commanders during the war even if they were white, just wasnt a big deal to them, but im sure we'll hear alot of bullshit from spike.) black guys win the battle and learn to love everyone, including the evil white man. this movie will be the same old same old, the great 92nd div. will be tarnished on the screen and be made to look like whiners about the ills of society. the 92nd were hard asses who followed orders and fought bravely, and no they didnt consider themselves "african-americans", they were true americans thru and thru. its a shame spike is going to put his politics onto these men's memories, they deserve far better than that. leave the 92nd alone lee, they werent some band of angry southern boys trying to repair society, they were great american soldiers. lol try doing a film about black americans who fought with patton's third army, or the other black units in the bulge, oh they didnt hate da' white man, but they did hate the germans. or many other units during that war. or even try a difficult project and make one about black units in ww1, those guys didnt just play music for the troops, they were some of the meanest m-effers during the war.
GothicLiner

I've read the book. The military details are wildly inaccurate, and the characters stereotypical. The fact that author James McBride also wrote the screenplay is not encouraging. One hopes that Lee got some solid technical advice to clean up McBride's mess, but given the director's egocentricity I doubt this is so.
Agreed

Lee has shined here and there, but he often seems to exaggerate racial indifferences. This is NOT a good way to combat white people doing the same thing, Spike . . . if you're listening. It simply detracts from your impact. I have also read that this is a terrible movie. But hey, I like "Inside Man", except for the racist garbage in it. Woot!
sean mason

spike lee always criticizes good films. for example;flags of our fathers. I personally thought that foof was a great film but to have the bad remarks made about it in no way should be justified. Sure, everyone has an opinion,but for him to make bad comments and then come out with a film that was not nearly as good is the sad part.
Christian

Actually read the history of the Italian campaign and the 92nd Infantry Division in particular. Fact is the entire division was routed in the Serchio valley. After the battle the 92nd was reconstituted from 3 regimental combat teams of African Soldiers to one regiment of white Soldiers from a former anti-aircraft unit (these units were often converted since by 1944 the luftwaffe was greatly depleated), the 442nd Infantry regiment made up of Japeneese American Soldiers (known as the purple heart regiment for its casualty rate) and one remaining regiment of africans. Overall this is a bad movie made from a bad novel full of one dimensional characters. The simple minded country giant, the ganster militant, the good two shoes, ect. Also the company commander (played by the redneck cop from the Sheild) has hair length goin down his neck. Everyone seems to have a thompson submachine gun and the M1 Garand rifle (that the majority of Soldiers carried is hardly shown).