NYC Epicenters 9/11→2021½ explained

Genre:Documentary
Director:Spike Lee
Country:United States
Num Episodes:4
Music:Terence Blanchard
Producer:Spike Lee
Language:English
Runtime:90–117 minutes
Network:HBO

NYC Epicenters 9/11→2021½ is an American documentary miniseries. The series follows the chronicle of life and survival in New York City, ranging from the September 11 attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic. It consists of four episodes and premiered on August 22, 2021, on HBO.[1]

Plot

The series follows the life, loss, and survival of New York City ranging from the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Production

In March 2021, it was announced Spike Lee would direct and produce a documentary series focusing on the New York City for HBO, with HBO Documentary Films and 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks producing.[2] Lee conducted over 200 interviews for the series.[3]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.4/10, based on 5 critic reviews.[4] On Metacritic, the series holds a rating of 86 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[5]

9/11 truth movement controversy

The fourth and final episode of the series, as shown to critics for review, contained a half-hour of Lee interviewing members of the 9/11 truth movement, who promoted conspiracy theories that the towers were brought down by a controlled demolition.[6] [7] While the episode also featured scientists who disputed these claims, journalists who viewed the episode criticized Lee, saying that his handling of the content gave "equal voice to both sides".[8] In an interview with The New York Times, Lee said, "The amount of heat that it takes to make steel melt, that temperature's not reached. And then the juxtaposition of the way Building 7 fell to the ground — when you put it next to other building collapses that were demolitions, it’s like you’re looking at the same thing. But people going to make up their own mind. My approach is put the information in the movie and let people decide for themselves. I respect the intelligence of the audience".[9]

On August 25, it was announced Lee would re-edit the episode following criticism, with HBO removing the previous cut from a screener platform.[10] The revised cut of the episode runs thirty minutes shorter, and excludes the interviews which promote conspiracy theories, though Abbey White of The Hollywood Reporter said that a segment in episode three, which presents conspiracy theories about United Airlines Flight 93, was not amended.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Four-Part Documentary NYC EPICENTERS 9/11➔2021½, Spike Lee's Personal Journey Through Two Decades Of Seminal Moments In The Life Of New Yorkers, Celebrating The City, Its Residents And Their Resilience, Debuts August 22. WarnerMedia. August 13, 2021. August 22, 2021.
  2. Web site: Spike Lee Sets Sept. 11 20th Anniversary Documentary at HBO. Variety. Mònica Marie. Zorilla. March 1, 2021. August 22, 2021. August 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210822182549/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/spike-lee-september-11-documentary-hbo-1234918415/. live.
  3. Web site: Spike Lee's New 4-Part Doc 'NYC Epicenters 9/11➔2021½' Debuts August 22 ON HBO. The Playlist. Rodrigo. Perez. August 13, 2021. August 22, 2021. August 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210822182559/https://theplaylist.net/spike-lees-new-4-part-doc-nyc-epicenters-9-11-2021-august-22-on-hbo-20210813/. live.
  4. nyc_epicenters_911_2021. NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½ . tv. 1. September 3, 2021.
  5. nyc-epicenters-911---2021-12. NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½. tv. 1. September 11, 2021.
  6. Spike Lee Reworking Episode of 'NYC Epicenters' After 9/11 Conspiracy Theory Criticism. Rolling Stone. Jon. Blisten. August 25, 2021. August 27, 2021.
  7. Web site: Spike Lee Has Fallen Down the 9/11 Truther Rabbit Hole. Slate. Jeremy. Stahl. August 24, 2021. August 27, 2021. August 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826234349/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/08/spike-lee-hbo-documentary-richard-gage.html. live.
  8. Web site: Spike Lee Removes Conspiracists From HBO 9/11 Series After Criticism. The New York Times. Julia. Jacobs. Reggie. Ugwu. August 26, 2021. August 26, 2021. August 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827003025/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/arts/television/spike-lee-911-edit.html. live.
  9. Web site: Spike Lee, Exultant at the 'Epicenter'. The New York Times. Reggie. Ugwu. August 23, 2021. August 27, 2021. August 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826234351/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/23/arts/television/spike-lee-nyc-epicenters.html. live.
  10. Web site: Spike Lee Is Re-Editing His Sept. 11 Docuseries Episode Featuring 9/11 Truthers. Variety. Jordan. Moreau. August 25, 2021. August 27, 2021. August 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827011442/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/spike-lee-9-11-series-truthers-reedit-1235049118/. live.
  11. Web site: Spike Lee Removes Conspiracy Theories From Final Chapter of 'NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½' After Outcry. The Hollywood Reporter. Abbey. White. August 26, 2021. August 27, 2021. August 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827014456/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/spike-lee-removes-conspiracy-theories-final-chapter-nyc-epicenters-1235003952/. live.

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