Spike Lee, known for his prolific efforts in highlighting issues on social injustice, now takes aim at Chicago politicians and residents with his new film Chi-raq. The film’s title, in particular, derives from the popularly-known statistics; a statement furthermore bolded in the film’s trailer preceding flashing red text reading: This is an Emergency.

“Homicides in Chicago, Illinois, have surpassed the death toll of American Special Forces in Iraq,” according to the trailer’s narrator.

The legitimacy of this stats, dating back from 2012, is still up to question.  While many Chicago-based newspaper articles negate it’s truth, and no matter how bias these sources may be, growing gun violence is still a prevalent crisis within Chicago, or as Orchestra Director Mr. Heath puts it: “the murder capitol of the United States.”

Mr. Heath lived in the South Side of Chicago for three years before moving to his current stay in Evanston.  He continues: “The title is fair.  If anything, it (Chi-raq) will help by bringing to light the social issues that create such a violent culture.”

From a political perspective, Chicago Alderman Will Burns disagrees.  He argues: “When you brand the south side as ‘Chi-raq’, that has a negative impact on trying to bring economic development to these communities.” (Chicago Tribune).

Mr. Lee’s intentions have been challenged by politicians prior the film’s release.  The pot has been stirred enough for Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel to join in; who considered revoking the benefits of state tax credits from the production during it’s stay in urban areas of the city.

No matter the incentives for a tax break or heated backlash overall, Spike Lee completed the film.  The title remains the same.  The stance of Chicago politicians remains the same.  More than 150 articles have been written by the Chicago Tribune concerning Chi-raq.  

But Lee’s intentions come furthermore into question, if his desire to make a positive impact on Chicago’s urban livelihood does indeed transcend art or the commercial thirst for an Oscar.  After all, the film does premiere in the Oscar-baiting season.

Critics take aim at this impression, along with Spike Lee’s residence belonging to Brooklyn; not Chicago. His foreignness to the city may grant to a misleading interpretation then of Chicago in a movie about Chicago.

Most critics and politicians though are unaware of the true concept of Chi-raq; being a modern adaptation of a Greek play called Lysistrata.  It’s strangely a satirical piece on gun violence, with a real life Chicagoland issue serving as the relevant backdrop.  The film is no way near to resembling a documentary.

The movie features John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, and Nick Cannon.  Cannon plays a surprisingly convincing gang leader whose violent rampages are suppressed by a sex strike enacted by his own girlfriend.  

Outlandish as it is imaginative and conflicting as it is amusing; the film is not as powerful as the artistic tirade on racism Spike Lee’s more famous work Do the Right Thing was.  Chi-raq sacrifices an evenly-paced narrative to blatantly get to the point; that Chicago is in need of some lovin’.

The question still remains, if the assimilation of Chicago to a war zone is fair.  Mr. Heath adds, “I’ve never had any issues with crime in Chicago.  I’ve only had problems in Evanston and Milwaukee, actually, but never in Chicago, and I lived on the South Side for three years recently.”

In the long run, Chi-raq has only accumulated only $1.1m from it’s opening weekend and mixed reviews at odds.  Mr. Heath concludes, “There are a lot of misconceptions about the South Side.  It’s a fascinating place with a lot of interesting people.”