She Hate Me (2004)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Spike Lee

Writers (WGA):

Michael Genet (story)
Michael Genet (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

30 July 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

One heterosexual male. 18 lesbians. His fee $10,000... each.

Plot:

Fired from his job for exposing corrupt business practices, a former biotech executive turns to impregnating wealthy lesbians for profit.

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian | Candle | Interracial Sex | Topless Female Nudity | Jail

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Anthony Mackie	...	John Henry 'Jack' Armstrong
Kerry Washington	...	Fatima Goodrich
Ellen Barkin	...	Margo Chadwick
Monica Bellucci	...	Simona Bonasera
Jim Brown	...	Geronimo Armstrong
Ossie Davis	...	Judge Buchanan
Jamel Debbouze	...	Doak
Brian Dennehy	...	Chairman Billy Church
Woody Harrelson	...	Leland Powell
Ling Bai	...	Oni
Lonette McKee	...	Lottie Armstrong
Paula Jai Parker	...	Evelyn
Q-Tip	...	Vada Huff
Dania Ramirez	...	Alex Guerrero
John Turturro	...	Don Angelo Bonasera
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Frank Wills
David Bennent	...	Dr. Herman Schiller
Isiah Whitlock Jr.	...	Agent Amos Flood (as Isiah Whitlock)
Michole White	...	Nadiyah (as Michole Briana White)
Sarita Choudhury	...	Song
Savannah Haske	...	Rachel
Joie Lee	...	Gloria Reid
Michael Genet	...	Jamal Armstrong
Roslyn Tate	...	Lucy Armstrong
Christine Pepe	...	Gia
Kym Hampton	...	Stacey
Pauline Tautu	...	Leilani
Angela Forrest	...	Ruby
Martha Williams	...	Fifi
Aura Grimolyte	...	Ticha
Chris Magna	...	Nino Bonasera
Rick Aiello	...	Rocco Bonasera
Chris Tardio	...	Franco Bonasera
Samrat Chakrabarti	...	Ahmad
Kandiss Edmundson	...	Millie
Kristina Klebe	...	Ruth Lacey
Jamilah Rutherford	...	Terri
Marion McCorry	...	Senator Kay Sweeny Jacobs
Hal Sherman	...	Detective Boyd
Reynaldo Rosales	...	Jimmy
James McCaffrey	...	Bob
Kim Director	...	Grace
T.V. Carpio	...	Gail
Gerald Anthony	...	Mr. Jennings
Peter Michael Marino	...	John Dean
Don Harvey	...	G. Gordon Liddy
Gary Evans	...	H.R. Haldeman
Murphy Guyer	...	John Erlichman
Keith Jochim	...	Richard Nixon
Brian Simons	...	Jeb Stuart Magruder
Jeff Hughes	...	Oliver North
Richard Kelly	...	Klansman
Wynne Anders	...	Nurse
Jade Wu	...	Midwife
P.J. Brown	...	Sgt. Paul Leeper
Paul Albe	...	James McCord
Wass Stevens	...	Frank Sturgis
Lemon	...	Eugenio Martinez
Carlos Leon	...	Virgilio Gonzalez
Christopher Wynkoop	...	Bernard Baker
Kendra Day	...	Karen
Larua Goodwin	...	Norma
Laura Goodwin	...	Norma
Kisha Batista	...	Jo
Sope Phang	...	Michelle
Alison Folland	...	Doris
Tristan Taormino	...	Olga
Muriel Herrera	...	Lorna (as Muriel Hurtado Herrera)
Jim Ward	...	Officer Carl Shollfer
Lars Hanson	...	Detective John Barrett
Tim Miller	...	Bank President
Albert Zihenni	...	Flood's Partner
Sandra Endo	...	NY1 Field Reporter
Marty Murphy	...	Officer #1 (as Martin Murphy)
Michael Devine	...	Officer #2
Peter Kybart	...	German Pastor
Patrick Reale	...	Bodyguard
Rodney 'Bear' Jackson	...	Federal Correction Officer #1 (as Rodney Bear Jackson)
Bradley Williams	...	Federal Correction Officer #2 (as Bradley C. Williams)
Charles Santy	...	Police Officer
Alice Liu	...	Oni's Girlfriend
Naja Hill	...	Nadiyah's Girlfriend
Shakara Singh	...	Evelyn's Girlfriend
Zakiya	...	Ruby's Girlfriend
Poorna Jagannathan	...	Song's Girlfriend (as Poorna)
Sarah Desage	...	Fifi's Girlfriend
Niesha Butler	...	Stacey's Girlfriend (as Neisha Butler)
Catherine Rogers	...	Jo's Girlfriend
Natasha Caraballo	...	Michelle's Girlfriend
Conni Freestone	...	Karen's Girlfriend (as Connie Freestone)
Piper Corbett	...	Norma's Girlfriend
Wynn Hall	...	Doris' Girlfriend
Shira Bocar	...	Rachel's Girlfriend
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jacqueline Lovell	...	Witness to Suicide (unconfirmed)
Spiro Agnew	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mike Caravella	...	Prison Guard (uncredited)
Stephan Cox	...	FBI Agent (uncredited)
Kool Kyle	...	Himself (uncredited)
Jason Maradik	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Richard Nixon	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Jessica Peters	...	Child in Playground (uncredited)
Kai Wong	...	Man in Courtroom (uncredited)

Directed by
Spike Lee

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Genet		(story)
Michael Genet		(screenplay) &
Spike Lee		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jean Cazes	....	executive producer
Jamel Debbouze	....	executive producer (as Djamel Debbouze)
Preston L. Holmes	....	producer (as Preston Holmes)
Spike Lee	....	producer
Craig M. Spitzer	....	co-producer (as Craig Spitzer)
Fernando Sulichin	....	producer

Original Music by
Terence Blanchard

Cinematography by
Matthew Libatique

Film Editing by
Barry Alexander Brown

Casting by
Kim Coleman

Production Design by
Brigitte Broch

Set Decoration by
Ford Wheeler

Costume Design by
Donna Berwick

Makeup Department
Belinda Anderson	....	additional hair stylist
Carole Barone	....	fourth makeup artist
Francesca Buccellato	....	second makeup artist (as Francesca P. Buccellato)
Joseph A. Campayno	....	third makeup artist (as Joe Campayno)
Carol 'Ci Ci' Campbell	....	additional hair stylist (as Carol Campbell)
Leonard Drake	....	key hair stylist
Anita Gibson	....	key makeup artist
Arsen Gurgov	....	hair stylist: Ellen Barkin
Craig Lindberg	....	special makeup effects artist
Jeffrey Rebelo	....	second hair stylist
Tania Ribalow	....	makeup artist: Ellen Barkin
Anita Roganovic	....	hair stylist
Ta Kisha Sturdivant	....	additional hair stylist
Amanda Ross	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Caroline Cochaux	....	executive in charge of production
Colin Cumberbatch	....	production supervisor
David Pomier	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Juan Castilo	....	second unit director
Mike Ellis	....	first assistant director
Michael A. Pinckney	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Caroline Irons	....	scenic artist
Kevin Ladson	....	property master
Rosa Palomo	....	art department coordinator
Morgan Pitts	....	assistant property master
Jeffrey Rollins	....	on-set dresser
Greg Sullivan	....	charge scenic artist
Jessie Walker	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Jamie Baker	....	foley recordist
Carlie Bergman	....	adr recordist
Courtney Bishop	....	adr recordist
Travis Call	....	sound recordist
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ruth Hernandez	....	adr editor
Ken Ishii	....	sound mixer
Debora Lilavois	....	assistant sound editor
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Jeff Pullman	....	sound utility
Philip Stockton	....	supervising sound editor
Steven Visscher	....	foley editor
Karl Wasserman	....	boom operator
Larry Wineland	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Drew Jiritano	....	special effects supervisor
Neil Ruddy	....	special effects
John Stifanich	....	on-set special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Danny Albano	....	digital artist
Joel Ariniello	....	digital artist
Dan Ashton	....	scanning and recording supervisor
J. John Corbett	....	visual effects
Joseph DiValerio	....	digital artist
Hong Kim	....	digital effects artist
Sal Migliore	....	digital intermediate data operator
Diane Pearlman	....	animation & visual effects producer
Monty Phillips	....	digital artist
Jim Rider	....	digital effects artist
Joshua Roberts	....	associate producer: digital services
Steve Wright	....	digital compositor: Cinesite

Stunts
Peter Epstein	....	stunts
Cort Hessler	....	stunt driver
John Patrick McLaughlin	....	stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Caroline Aragon	....	camera intern
Lamont Crawford	....	key grip
Cynthia Edorh	....	still photographer
Kris Enos	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Jendra Jarnagin	....	additional electrician
Willow Jenkins	....	video assist operator
David Lee	....	still photographer (as David C. Lee)
Mark McDevitt	....	camera loader
Diego Quemada-Diez	....	camera operator
Ricardo Sarmiento	....	camera operator
Darrin Smith	....	lamp operator
John Velez	....	gaffer
Aurelia Winborn	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera

Casting Department
Jason McCallum	....	casting assistant: baby casting
Kristen Paladino	....	baby casting
Winsome Sinclair	....	extras casting
Deana Vinciullo	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Pattie J. Barbosa	....	additional costumer

Editorial Department
Jill Bogdanowicz	....	senior digital film colorist
Sam Daley	....	dailies colorist
Ryan Denmark	....	first assistant editor
Alex Jablonski	....	second assistant editor
Carolyn Lluberes	....	post-production assistant
Brad Reinke	....	digital intermediate producer
Linda Williams	....	digital intermediate editor

Music Department
Chris Barrett	....	assistant music engineer
Terence Blanchard	....	conductor
Terence Blanchard	....	orchestrator
Todd Bozung	....	music supervisor
Howard Drossin	....	orchestrator
Olga FitzRoy	....	assistant music engineer
Geoff Foster	....	score recordist
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Steve Juliani	....	music preparation
Branford Marsalis	....	musician: score
Raul Midon	....	composer: song "Adam 'N' Eve 'N' Eve"

Transportation Department
Willow Jenkins	....	driver: Spike Lee

Other crew
Beth Avery	....	location scout
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer
Baya	....	assistant: Jamel Debbouze
Michael M. Bilandic	....	directing intern (as Michael Balandic)
Carmen Cardenas	....	production assistant
Juan Castilo	....	assistant: Spike Lee
John Charles	....	software engineer: Sony DAC
Janelle Connor	....	assistant: Preston Holmes
J. John Corbett	....	title designer
Ana de Souza Dantas	....	production secretary (as Ana Maria Dantas)
Deborah Evans	....	production accountant
Carlos V. Gutierrez	....	production assistant
Malaika Johnson	....	location assistant
Cinqué Lee	....	video archivist
LeRoy McCarthy	....	assistant location manager
Yaminah McKessey	....	production assistant
Wolfgang Muchow	....	producing intern
Karen Nazarov	....	stand-in: Monica Bellucci
Amy Nickin	....	production legal
Jason Perez	....	production assistant
Alexandra Radlovic	....	assistant: Fernando Sulichin
Michael K. Reynolds	....	chef
Evelyn Santana	....	publicist
Eugene Stamos	....	co-key craft service
Elijah Tanumyroshgi	....	assistant: Fernando Sulichin
Alexandra Torterotot	....	production office intern
Denise Violante	....	production assistant
Elizabeth Wade	....	assistant production coordinator
Joseph White	....	location coordinator
Nils Widboom	....	location scout
Tom Yeager	....	location manager
Coati Mundi	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Thanks
David Byrne	....	thanks
Francis Ford Coppola	....	thanks

Production Companies

• 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
• Rule 8

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Classics (USA)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Mikado (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Pathé (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Tornado Film (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2005) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• FF Film & Music (2005) (Hungary) (all media)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• LNK Audiovisuais (2005) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Big Film Design (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recording studio
• C5  post-production sound services
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong graphic sexuality/nudity, language and a scene of violence.

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:R (Ontario) | Portugal:M/12 | New Zealand:R13 | Finland:K-15 | South Korea:18 | Japan:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Italy:VM14 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Trivia:

Spike Lee came up with the title from watching "X.F.L." (2001). A player named Rod Smart gained some notoriety by nicknaming himself "He Hate Me".

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The red light on the camera is reflected in the bank manager's door.

Quotes:

Fatima Goodrich: [to Jack] You are a money-making chicken.

Movie Connections:

References The Godfather (1972)

Soundtrack:

Adam 'n' Eve 'n' Eve

What was Spike thinking?

I'm sure somewhere in "She Hate Me" lies a good story that would make for an entertaining movie. What we have, however, is a convoluted mess that tries too hard to be a social satire.

The premise: Jack Armstrong (Anthony Mackie), a hotshot VP at a pharmaceutical company, suddenly finds himself unemployed and in need of money. When his ex-fiancée-turned-lesbian Fatima Goodrich (Kerry Washington) offers him $10,000 to impregnate her and her lover Alex (the sexy Dania Ramirez), Jack realizes he could be a sexual cash cow. Next thing he knows, he's in high demand from wealthy lesbians who want children.

The problem is that Lee doesn't know what he wants his film to be. Or, what the story should be. He tackles way too many issues and never tackles any of them very well.

The film opens with a novel title sequence that ends with a broadside against President George W. Bush. Fair enough. Lee's bit actually works. The story then turns into some sort of diatribe against corporate greed, against the blatant excesses of the Enrons and WorldComs of corporate America. OK. Then there's also all this stuff about lesbians and impregnating them. And Jack's conscience about whether he's doing the right thing.

But the film then suddenly turns into a defense of Frank Wills, the black security guard who uncovered the Watergate burglary. Lee makes a valid point that while all the players involved in the burglary and subsequent cover-up went on to have lucrative careers as statesmen, authors, speakers and radio personalities, Wills died in obscurity. A tribute to Wills is long overdue. The man was a hero. But what the heck's his story doing in this film? And in a moment that seems completely arbitrary, Lee also throws in Oliver North into the mix of Watergate figures.

For a satire to work, it needs to satirize something. Frankly, I didn't know what exactly Lee was trying to send up. And, after a while, I didn't care. His movie's neither a sex comedy nor stinging social commentary. In fact, at times "She Hates Me" plays more like some sort of unbridled male fantasy. Not only are all the lesbians attractive, but also they want to get impregnated the old-fashioned way. The one lesbian who chooses artificial insemination fails and so has to plead with Jack to have sex with her.

Subtlety has never been Lee's forte. But in films such as "Do the Right Thing" (1989) and "Jungle Fever" (1991), he somehow found a good balance between satire and social comment. Here, he does no such thing. In "She Hate Me," Lee's about as subtle as a sledgehammer.

What's ultimately disappointing about "She Hate Me" is the often-inane writing. When Fatima tells Jack she always was a lesbian, even when she was dating him, and was merely in denial, she adds, "And I don't mean a river in Egypt." That's how lame the dialogue is. It gets even worse, when Lee and co-writer Michael Genet give Brian Dennehy positively laughable dialogue later.

The corrupt business practices of Enron and its ties to the Bush administration deserve to be told. As does a satire, if you must, of white collar crooks who get off relatively easy and wind up having hugely successful lives as a result of their crimes. But this isn't the film that does it.

Lee's clever, talented and certainly socially conscious, but just seems to be tossing in every idea he had into "She Hate Me." Instead of being bitingly satirical about society's lopsided values, this is a mishmash of a film that is never as funny as it wants to be or as provocative as it should be.