A Spontaneous Chat with Spike Lee at Cannes about the Knicks and Numerology

Spike Lee touched down at Cannes today to support his latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, which premieres in competition tomorrow and stars Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky. I approached him at an intimate party, hosted by Hyde Beach Campari and The Hollywood Reporter, and before I knew it, we were sitting down at a table overlooking the ocean and he was reminiscing about Cannes past, marveling at the Knicks’ playoff success, and scrolling through his Instagram, explaining his photos to me. At the end of our conversation, I spontaneously decided to bring up the last (and only) time we previously interacted.

When’d you get in? Are you jetlagged?
A little bit. I got in this morning. And I’m here for a minute.

What number Cannes is this for you?
The first time was in 1986. She’s Gotta Have It. This is my fifth or sixth time. And then I was the President of the Jury in 2021.

What sticks out to you from being jury president?
Oh! When I gave away the Palme d’OR winner [Julia Ducournau] right away. [Laughs.] 

What feels different about Cannes to you after all of these years?
The world changes, so the festival changes. But it’s always been a great experience for me. And it’s also where films are introduced to the world. Not just American filmmakers.

How have you changed? How do you feel different as a filmmaker?
I’m a lot older now. I’m 68! I think I’m getting better, you know? I’m gonna keep building a body of work. But I’m particularly excited to be here with Denzel Washington. I’ve been told it’s the first time he’s been here. The world premiere of Do The Right Thing was at Cannes, May 19, 1989. And the world premiere of Highest 2 Lowest is May 19, 2025. And even more importantly, tomorrow, May 19, is Malcolm X’s birthday. So it lined up. It’s Denzel’s first film here at Cannes, and he gave the performance as Malcolm X.

What do you make of that? Is that some kind of sign from the universe?
Hell yeah. Numerology. Some things just, you can say it’s God, Allah, the spirit…It’s a mystery when things line up. But I don’t think it’s a mistake.

How are you feeling about the Knicks right now?
You know I’m missing games one and two!

Would you rather be there? If you had to choose…
I can’t split myself in half. But I’m there spiritually.

Do you have any superstitions when you go to the games? Do you wear or say certain things? Sit in a certain way?
I’ll tell you this. I don’t wear kelly green! [Laughs maniacally.] The only green I have is probably a Jets jersey, signed. Other than that, I have no green. Hell no! Have you seen the footage from after the game the other night?

No, I’ve been here!
It’s a riot in New York City! You haven’t seen it? You gotta go on Instagram. Hold on. I need to go get my phone. Go on Instagram! It’s complete mayhem. I gotta get my phone.

[He gets up and leaves for several minutes, then returns and opens his Instagram and begins scrolling through his photos, showing them to me.]

Do you do your own Instagram?
Official Spike Lee. Yeah!

Is that a private plane?
No! Delta.

I thought maybe you were balling out on the way to Cannes.
I’m not Denzel Washington! [Laughs.] Look. I’m posing like my man Steph Curry.  Do you know what this is? This is a Knicks flag on Martha’s Vineyard. Look at these Timbs.

Are those custom?
Yeah, at the store in Soho, they laser them on. [He points to a photo of himself and Timothee Chalamet at the Knicks game.]

What do you and Timmy talk about?
The Knicks!

Just the Knicks?
The Knicks!

Who’s a bigger fan?
[He gives me a long, intense look.] Is the Pope Catholic? Did the Pope go to Villanova?

Who’s your favorite Knick of all time?
Walt Frazier. He’s my guy growing up as a kid. Do you have internet here? You have to go look at what happened in New York City. It’s bedlam. It’s insane. More than New Year’s Eve.

Will you join the bedlam when you get back?
There’s a shot of me driving through the crowd in my white Escalade. You know what people were saying? People said I’m the Knicks Pope. You gotta watch this on Instagram.

I promise to look it up.
I’m not Catholic, though. [Laughs.] I’m the atheist Pope.

Okay, speaking of you being in a crowd in a car, I have a story for you. Ten years ago I was at a Beyoncé show.
Where?

In Brooklyn, I think. Or maybe Queens.
Barclays Center?

I can’t remember. But there was wall-to-wall traffic back to the city and no cabs and the subways were packed and I was trying to get to Manhattan, and you were sitting in traffic with your windows down in a huge black car. And I happened to be standing in the street next to your car and I said, “Spike! Can I get a ride back to the city with you?” And you laughed and said, “No way!” Anyway, I’m sorry, because that was insane of me.
[Laughs.] Aw man. I apologize.