She Hate Me (2004)

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

Director:

Spike Lee

Writers:

Michael Genet (story), Michael Genet (screenplay),

Stars:

Anthony Mackie, Kerry Washington, Ellen Barkin

6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Bai Ling	...	Oni
Lonette McKee	...	Lottie Armstrong
Paula Jai Parker	...	Evelyn
Q-Tip	...	Vada Huff
Dania Ramirez	...	Alex Guerrero
John Turturro	...	Don Angelo Bonasera

Storyline

Harvard-educated biotech executive John Henry Jack Armstrong gets fired when he informs on his bosses, launching an investigation into their business dealings by the Securities & Exchange Commission. Branded a whistle-blower and therefore unemployable, Jack desperately needs to make a living. When his former girlfriend Fatima, a high powered businesswoman--and now a lesbian--offers him cash to impregnate her and her new girlfriend Alex, Jack is persuaded by the chance to make easy money. Word spreads and soon Jack is in the baby-making business at $10,000 a try. Lesbians with a desire for motherhood and the cash to spare are lining up to seek his services. But, between the attempts by his former employers to frame him for security fraud and his dubious fathering activities, Jack finds his life, all at once, becoming very complicated.

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Plot Keywords:

lesbian | cult director | police sergeant | lesbianism | cigar smoking | 

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Taglines:

From the director of "She's Gotta Have It" and "25th Hour," a new film about one heterosexual male and 18 lesbians.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics

Country:

USA

Language:

English German Spanish

Release Date:

30 July 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ella me odia

Filming Locations:

Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$55,016 (USA) (30 July 2004)

Gross:

$365,134 (USA) (10 December 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, Rule 8

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rapper Kimberly 'Lil' Kim' Jones turned down the role of "Evelyn" in his film. She told Spike Lee that she thought it would ruin her image.

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Goofs

When Jack and Fatima are talking about their old relationship in his home, Fatima puts on her jacket. In the next shot, her long hair is out of her jacket and she is bent over.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

References The Godfather (1972)

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Soundtracks

"Adam 'n' Eve 'n' Eve"
Written and Performed by Raul Midon
Published by Midon Publishing
Raul Midon appears courtesy of Manhattan Records/EMI
Arrangement by Terence Blanchard
Terence Blanchard appears courtesy of Blue Note Records

User Reviews

She Hate Me: 7/10

It's safe to say that most people don't like Spike Lee. He's a radical, he's racist, and a lot of people don't like his movies. That would explain the 3.3/10 rating for She Hate Me on IMDb, considering most of them haven't seen the film. Either that, or they couldn't handle everything that Lee (and co-screenwriter Michael Genet) put onto the plate. However, Lee could barely handle all of it, and it shows. There's so much for Lee to rant on and make fun of that the movie occasionally lags and feels too heavy for having way too much to talk about. At 138 minutes, it does go on for a little too long, but that's the only way Lee can fit everything he wants to talk about into his movie. Surprisingly, it all has a place, and for the most part works pretty well.

John Henry Armstrong (Anthony Mackie), aka Jack, works for a prestigious drug company whose drug for curing AIDS has just been rejected by the FDA. However, CEO Leland Powell (Woody Harrelson) performs some illegal transactions, causing Jack to blow the whistle and subsequently get fired. Not being able to get a job anywhere else, Jack's broke until his ex-fiancée Fatima (Kerry Washington) comes to him with a plan. For $10,000, he will impregnate her and her partner Alex (Dania Ramirez). He's initially reluctant, but he decides to go ahead. Soon, Fatima brings a bunch of lesbians to his place, all for $10,000 each. Jack has morality issues to deal with, but also, his former company frame him for the corrupt business practices.

From the opening credits, where dollar bills float, ending with a $3 with George W. Bush on it, you know that this movie isn't going to be easy. Lee throws in another attack on Bush later, and he tackles the subjects of corporate corruption, homosexuality, the stereotypes of black men (and women), and the importance of whistleblowing. That definitely is too much material to work with, and it shows. In the film, there's about 45 minutes with no talk of the framing of Jack that's being planned. And there's some funny comedy thrown in, that is quite funny, but makes the film disjointed. One serious scene connects directly to a funny one. It wasn't very balanced. And I could have done without the subplot of Jack's parents. It didn't really lead anywhere. And then everything boils down to a courtroom climax.

However, the film is always fascinating when Lee exposes these things. It's too much for him to handle, as I've said, but what he can throw in coherently is interesting and entertaining. The movie is one of the most entertaining of the year, and during the aforementioned courtroom climax, you're rooting for Jack, because you've been through what he's been through. You recognized the cruelty of the company, so you feel with Jack, and because he's such a normal character, you can go along with what he's feeling and everything unfair that happens to him (which is a lot). Although it's comedic, you understand what he's going through when you see animated sperm with Jack's face on it, when he's too tired to continue with the impregnation.

Mackie does a great job. He does some emotional work, and although in one place or two, it seemed like he was going by the book, he puts in a sympathetic acting job. Washington does a more realistic acting performance, but both are great. They both add to She Hate Me, a somewhat muddled but entertaining, funny (if in the wrong places), and criticizing drama. You'll either love it or be offended by it. I think the chance is worth taking. By the way, that flashback with Nixon, et al., might be the funniest moment of the year.

My rating: 7/10

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