Spielberg Negotiates Rare Peace Agreement Between Feuding Directors

Posted on Sep 22, 2008

manolomen.com

Insert “Do the Right Thing” joke here: Spike Lee extended an olive branch to Clint Eastwood via Steven Spielberg.

It’s good to know that there are still people, in this time of great strife, who believe in the power of diplomatic negotiation over brute force ... even if the people in this particular case happen to be two Hollywood directors apparently possessed of egos the size of Sarah Palin’s home state. Come to think of it, though, that description could apply to many a politician currently flexing his or her chops on the global stage with far worse consequences than any big-screen disaster ever wrought. If Clint and Spike can do it, why can’t they?

According to the New York Post, Clint Eastwood and Spike Lee were able to get past the little culture war that came to a head last June when Eastwood responded to Lee’s race-based critiques of some of his films by growling that Lee should “shut his face.” All it took to set things straight was a little chat with three other Hollywood players during a recent Lakers game.

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New York Post:

“I was at an NBA finals, Lakers versus the Celtics,” Lee says. “[At] halftime [I’m] going to the restroom. I saw Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Eddie Murphy sitting together. I stopped by to say hi and Jeffrey jokes, ‘Leave Clint alone’ and we all laugh.

“But Steven and I went off to the side and discussed it, and I asked him to relay a message to Clint that I meant no disrespect, that I was extending the olive branch,” he adds. “Steve called Clint in the morning the next day. And it’s finito.”

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