There are a ton of them in Spike Lee’s much-discussed film, which opens Friday and considers violence on Chicago’s South Side through a satirical sex comedy inspired by Aristophanes’ play “Lysistrata.” Here’s just a sample. (Spoiler alert: If you’re going to see the movie, you may want to wait to read these.) Stay tuned for my full review.
“We retain his verse to show love for the universe.” —Dolmedes (Samuel L. Jackson), recognizing the film’s inspiration (Aristophanes’ “Lysistrata”) and informing that much of the film’s dialogue rhymes
“Y’all make my tired ass tired.” —Miss Helen (Angela Bassett)
“Even the hos is no-shows.” —Bacchos (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), on an empty strip club, mid-sex strike
“Mass incarceration is the new Jim Crow.” —Fr. Mike Corridan (John Cusack)
“Even though we live in terror town, we deserve respect.” —Lysistrata (Teyonah Parris)
“Spray paint, not bullets.” —Graffiti on the South Side
“No peace, no pussy.” —Groups of women around the world, including in Canada, Japan, the Dominican Republic, Greece, Pakistan and Brazil, supporting the sex strike
“Women! You need us! Do your duty and give up that booty!” —Some of Englewood’s older men, in response to the sex strike
“I’d rather have an African lion in the White House than a lyin’ African.” —Major King Kong (David Patrick Kelly), one of many racist military officials Lysistrata and her unarmed supporters take control over
“Back then it was a violation of the gang code to murder a child.” —Miss Helen
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