Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Spike Leedrew a blank while trying to remember the name of the film that beat out his 2018 jointBlacKkKlansmanfor Best Picture at the 2019Academy Awards, this despite memorably shading it at the time. The film was, of course,Peter Farrelly's divisive biographical dramedyGreen Book, about the unlikely bond between a renowned Black pianist (played byMahershala Ali) and his white driver (Viggo Mortensen) as they traveled through the segregated and racist Deep South circa 1962. Among the many criticisms of the film was that it reinforced the white savior trope and simplified racism, with Lee himself calling its Best Picture win a "bad call" at the time. Just don't expect the filmmaker to remember that now. Appearing on the latest episode ofMarc Maron'sWTFpodcast, Lee — amusingly so — could not remember the name ofGreen Bookwhen the topic turned to winning the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2019 ceremony. "When you finally won the Oscar forBlacKkKlansman,was there a part of you that was sort of like, 'About f---ing time'?" Maron asked. "I mean, here's the thing.Do the Right Thingwasn't even nominated for the [Best Picture] Oscar, andDriving Miss Daisywon," Lee said of his 1989 film, which received two noms in the best supporting actor (for Danny Aiello) and best screenplay categories. "BlacKkKlansmanlost out to, uh — what was the name of the film?" "For Best Picture?" asked Maron, who could not quite remember himself. "I don't know." "Someone was being driven in that film too," Lee said with a laugh. Back in 2019,Lee made his displeasurewith his film's Best Picture loss toGreen Bookknown, dodging a question about the win in the press room before later referring to it as a "bad call." He also referencedDriving Miss Daisy's triumph overDo the Right Thingquipping, "Every time somebody is driving somebody, I lose!" In amemorable chat with two BBC reportersat the red carpet of an Oscars after-party, he was asked ifGreen Bookoffended him, replying: "Offend? Are you British? Let me give you a British answer: It wasn't my cup of tea!" David Lee/Focus Features BlacKkKlansman, also a biographical dramedy, told the true story of Ron Stallworth (played byJohn David Washington, the son of frequent Lee collaboratorDenzel Washington), the first Black detective to serve the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name for himself, he sets out to infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan.Adam Driver,Topher Grace, and Laura Harrier also star in the film, which picked up a total of six noms at the 2019 Oscars. Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free daily newsletterto get breaking news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. During his interview with Maron, Lee waxed poetic about no longer being driven by awards. "I'll not let that deter me from what I'm doing," the filmmaker said. "I understand now that Oscars don't necessarily mean that's the best thing. Just keep it moving. I'm mad for a day, then it's just keep it moving. On to the next. Keep it going." Listen to Lee's full interview onWTF With Marc Maronabove. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly
