School Daze
Set at historically black Mission College, the movie depicts the confrontations between two groups of students who have different ideas and are not able to accept the one of the opponent.
26 August 1960, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
1960
13 December 1960, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
1 February 1957, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
24 July 1965, New York City, New York, USA
18 December 1917, Cogdell, Georgia, USA
22 June 1962, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
31 July 1964, Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA
21 December 1948, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
23 September 1964, San Francisco, California, USA
14 November 1957, New York City, New York, USA
1959
November 29, 2006
The film's political issues are far more interesting than its artistic attributes--this messy picture feels as if Spike Lee is just incidentally interested in what makes musical movies workFebruary 13, 2005
The film's central argument is that black matriculation is undercut by internal divisions.June 07, 2004
An uneven but probably necessary stepping stone between "She's Gotta Have It" and "Do The Right Thing"September 23, 2008
A shapeless mess that falls far short of the high expectations created by Lee's first feature.January 01, 2000
School Daze, with its pompous patchwork plot, is an arrogant, humorless, sexist mess.September 07, 2015
Skin tone is crucial to understanding School Daze's brazenness as a major-studio film.January 01, 2000
Although the film has big structural problems and leaves a lot of loose ends, there was never a moment when it didn't absorb me.May 20, 2003
For every tough-minded confrontation between the different student factions, School Daze is apt to offer a love scene less than vital to the plot, or an overlong musical scene whose effect is that of treading water.September 23, 2008
Some of the issues get lost in the mix, but strong performances by Lee and Fishburne make this a watchable and thought-provoking venture.January 01, 2000
Spike Lee had something in mind while he shot School Daze, his follow-up to the cult hit She's Gotta Have It. Unfortunately it's still lodged behind his cranium.November 08, 2016
Everything about School Daze is frantic, and the energy is addictive.June 24, 2006
Lee has a small, intimate talent; here, he goes for the big podium and blows it.