A sexually voracious Brooklyn woman has three
lovers, all of whom compete for her affections. COMEDY/DRAMA
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She's Gotta Have It (1986)Written and Directed by Spike Lee
Starring Tracy Camilla Johns, Tommy Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell, Spike Lee, Raye Dowell, Joie Lee |
She's Gotta Have It was Spike Lee's first film. For that alone, it deserves to be seen. Unfortunately, if you don't watch this one first, you'll either consciously or unconsciously compare it to the ones you have seen, and his later efforts are far more focused and effective. She's Gotta Have It is essentially just an hour and a half spent watching three idiots fall in love with the same selfish, manipulative woman. There's no emotional connection to the audience, because every character is insufferable, therefore there's no reason for me to get invested.
Our main character is Nola Darling (Johns), a sexually adventurous woman who has three lovers. There's the sensitive but controlling Jamie (Hicks), the gorgeous but narcissistic Greer (Terrell), and the funny but goofy Mars (Lee). All three of these men have fallen in love with Nola, but she uses them whenever she feels the need. They all know about the other guys, and they try to prove why they're the best choice. Nola, however, isn't looking to make a choice. She's happy sleeping with all three. If you've zoned out by now, you'll understand why I had trouble getting into this movie. Frankly, everyone can do better, and watching their love lives without a plot to invest in isn't really worth my time. I would probably rank She's Gotta Have It near the bottom of my Spike Lee watchlist, right around Bamboozled. It's just not compelling enough to get into, and the whole time I'm just wondering why anyone would accept a situation like this. It's very clear from the beginning that love is that last thing on Nola's mind, and every guy wants her to himself. Compared to Spike's later work, this is just not enough. |