August 25. 2010 Ih 1 (Jortlanh (Dbsmier Page 13 V I Ml I I AISHIM New Orleans’ Woes Explored )Ulixl S easons j and Cannon's Rib Express Present: REGGIE HOUSTON’S C’EX ALL STARS Sundays 5-8pm at Cannon’s Rib Express 5410 NE 33rd Ave (Next to New Seasons) Sunshine, BBQ and a FREE, all-ages, outdoor show by a New Orleans’ sax legend, Grammy nominated pianist JANICE SCROGGINS, bass virtuoso BEN JONES & powerhouse drummer TYRONE HENDRIX. Phyllis Montana-Leblanc wears a New Orleans Saints football jersey in a scene from the Spike Lee documentary, ‘If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise. ’ June 6 June 13 June 20 July 4 What could be better? Spike Lee ••• • JVX HVTVI »»HIM 14 f I I I * I If ) surprise guest musician will sit in! u I y Ju ly 18 Ju ly 25 Aug 1 Aug 8 Aug 15 Aug 22 Aug 29 S ep t 5 S ept 12 S ep t 19 S ep t 26 Spike Lee returns to Gulf Coast for new documentary (AP) — Spike Lee’s new HBO documentary starts on a high note: Super Bowl Sunday 2 0 10, when the New Orleans Saints claim victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Saints fans, many still reeling from Hurricane Katrina’s aftershocks, are deliriously happy. “It’s a rebirth,” says an over­ joyed New Orleans native. “It’s divine intervention, man,” says another local. But cautionary words are voiced as well. The Saints are world cham­ pions, but in the real world there are bills to pay and neighborhoods to rebuild. Then, only 17 minutes into “If God Is Willing and da Creek D on’t Rise,” the BP oil spill enters the narrative. The party is over. Lde, the gifted director and docu- mentarian, had long planned a re­ turn to the G ulf Coast for a five-year follow-up to his acclaimed “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.” He began shooting Feb. 7, when the Super Bowl was played. The triumph by the Saints seemed a glo­ rious conclusion for his new film. “We thought we had our ending on the first day,” Lee said in a recent interview. “Little did we know.” By the time the offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded on April 20, killing 11 workers and re­ leasing a gusher o f oil, Lee had wrapped production and was well into the editing process. “But I knew we had to make that a part o f the piece," he said. He does, dwelling on the BP di­ saster for roughly 40 minutes o f the four-hour, two-part “If God Is Will­ Mayor Mitch Landrieu, formerNew ing,” which premiered Monday and Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, as well Tuesday on HBO. as Pitt and fellow celebrity activist But there is much more on his Sean Penn. mind and in his film. To his credit, former FEMA Di­ The stage is set with painful, all- rector Michael Brown is among too-familiar images o f Katrina's im­ those who participate. mediate wrath in 2005. Like other interview subjects who, Then, as the film goes on, the when it counted, fell short, Brown government’s failure to protect New points fingers. He says former Home­ Orleans from the storm surge is com­ land Security Secretary Michael pounded by seemingly endless fail­ Chertoff “didn’t know what he was ures to aid the recovery. Former doing. Let's be frank.” residents who want to come home The date was Sept. 2, 2005, in remain displaced. Public education Mobile, Ala., and, prior to the live continues to struggle. Health care TV appearance, “I had been de­ needs are still unmet. The police scribing to the president how bad department is in shambles. And on things were. Telling him what I and on. needed. Why things weren’t work­ The five years didn’t pass with­ ing. ... And then we walk out and he out successes, and the film covers makes that [Brownie] comment, and those as well. They include a legal I'm like, ‘What the hell!” ’ victory against the Army Corps of Hayward is well represented by Engineers for shoddy maintenance the infamous clip where he states o f a navigation channel that resulted his regret for the oil spill, promises in some o f the worst flooding. And to make it right and adds his thanks there are nonprofit reconstruction "for the strong support o f the gov­ efforts such as Make It Right, led by ernment." actor Brad Pitt, that have built af­ But it goes beyond “strong sup­ fordable, storm-resistant homes in port,” said Lee, who believes BP has the Lower 9th Ward. been allowed to call the shots in its But then, just months after the own interest, and often counter to Super Bowl win, the BP disaster the public good. struck. “What has been puzzling people, “The story was changing every and I include myself, is how much day,” Lee recalled. “We had to keep BP has had control o f the situation,” adapting, to stay on top o f it as best he said, echoing a sentiment heard as possible.” from many in his film. Scores o f people share their sto­ Heartbreaking but defiant, “IfGod ries on-camera, including ordinary, Is Willing and daCreek Don’t Rise” often overlooked local figures. picks up where “Levees” left off, as There are also experts and advo­ a catalog o f plagues that largely cates, plus familiar faces such as could have been averted. former Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Why they weren’t is not so puz­ Babineaux Blanco, New Orleans zling, said Lee. “It’s greed.” <♦!**$>*> fry B* W t j i l reggiehouston.com Re#»* ..... / ».y M i f i n J —X / i / i t