by Jamie Foxx is one of the most talented and versatile actors of his generation. Over the course of his decades-long career, Foxx has shown incredible range, starring in comedies like Booty Call and Horrible Bosses, dramas like Ray and Collateral, and big budget action films like White House Down and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. He is also an accomplished musician and stand-up comedian.
Foxx is a true multi-hyphenate, but he gives a lot of credit for his success to two legendary directors that he has frequently collaborated with – Quentin Tarantino and Spike Lee. Foxx says that these two filmmakers, with their distinct styles and storytelling sensibilities, have shaped him as an actor and taught him invaluable lessons that he carries with him on every project.
Quentin Tarantino – Bold, Unapologetic Filmmaking
Quentin Tarantino burst onto the film scene in the early 1990s with Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, known for his graphic violence, nonlinear storylines, sharp dialogue, and loving homages to grindhouse and B movies. Tarantino’s films are bold, brash, and unapologetic in their style, tone, and subject matter.
Jamie Foxx starred in Tarantino’s Django Unchained in 2012 as the title character, a freed slave trying to rescue his wife from a sinister plantation owner in the pre-Civil War South. The film was controversial for its liberal use of racial slurs and its violence, but Foxx has praised Tarantino’s vision and audacity as a filmmaker.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Foxx said of Tarantino, “He taught me how to be bold and unapologetic. When I worked with him, I felt like it was okay for the actors to come to the front…Quentin allows you to be free. His writing alone is music. You read his words, and you hear a symphony.”
Tarantino gave Foxx the freedom to build the character of Django in his own way. By the end of the film, Django transforms from a subservient slave into an uber-confident gunslinger and hero – it’s a bold, cathartic journey that only a director like Tarantino could pull off. Foxx clearly relished the opportunity to bring Tarantino’s words to life in such an iconic role.
Spike Lee – The Power of Storytelling
If Tarantino makes bold cinema, Spike Lee makes socially conscious, politically-charged cinema. Lee has been making films since the 1980s that tackle issues of race, inequality, violence, and injustice. Many of his films, like Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, and BlackKklansman, weave timely cultural themes with compelling, groundbreaking visual storytelling.
Jamie Foxx collaborated with Lee on the 2000 satire Bamboozled, about a frustrated black TV writer who creates a modern minstrel show that becomes an accidental smash hit. Foxx played the opportunistic actor who stars in the show in blackface.
In speaking about Lee, Foxx told the LA Times, “Spike taught me the power of storytelling. Working with him validated me as an actor with serious ambitions. He forced me to dig deeper into who I am.”
Bamboozled uses biting satire and absurdist humor to confront the racism of the entertainment industry. Foxx had to walk a fine line between comedy and tragedy. Lee pushed Foxx to connect with his character’s moral conflict and bring nuance to such charged material. Foxx has applied these lessons of tapping into a character’s truth and balancing tone to every role he’s done since.
Why Jamie Foxx Treasures These Director Relationships
These two directors – Tarantino and Lee – have left enduring marks on Jamie Foxx’s career for a few key reasons:
- They took chances on him
Prior to Django Unchained, Foxx was not well known for serious, dramatic roles. He was primarily a comedic actor. But Tarantino saw potential in Foxx, gave him the lead role, and facilitated his transition to weightier material. Lee gave Foxx his first major film role back in 1996 with The Truth About Cats & Dogs and continued to cast him in prominent parts. Foxx is grateful that these directors saw more in him than just a comedian and variety show star.
- They pushed him as an actor
Both Tarantino and Lee have unique directorial styles – Tarantino with his long, unbroken takes and Lee with his passion for finding truth in each moment. These techniques forced Foxx to stretch himself as a performer. He credits them with coaching him past his comfort zones to tap into new levels of emotion and realization in his acting.
- They displayed mastery of the craft
Foxx clearly admires Tarantino and Lee as consummate filmmakers. Everything from their writing to their visuals to their handling of actors impresses Foxx and reminds him to aspire to their high level of excellence. Foxx sees them as masters of the medium, and he jumped at the opportunities to watch them work their magic up close.
- They told important stories
Whether confronting racism, oppression, and inequality, or remixing and subverting traditional movie genres, Tarantino and Lee told stories that mattered. Foxx found their themes compelling and timely, and he was inspired to bring those stories to life. Foxx appreciated how these directors used film to reflect society back to itself.
Key Lessons Jamie Foxx Learned from Tarantino and Lee
In his approach to acting, producing, and storytelling, Jamie Foxx carries forward many lessons and nuggets of wisdom from his work with Quentin Tarantino and Spike Lee. Here are some of the most significant things Foxx seems to have learned from these two celebrated directors:
From Tarantino:
- Be daring and provocative – great cinema means taking risks
- Let your passion and influences shine through in your work
- Write rich, textured dialogue – words have rhythm and music
- Create unique, unexpected characters that subvert expectations
- Be genre-bending – put new twists on classic cinema tropes
- Immerse actors in their roles through long takes and on-set action
From Lee:
- Tackle relevant social issues in a creative way
- Tell diverse, inclusive stories not often seen in Hollywood
- Use humor to underscore societal problems and absurdities
- Employ visual flair and inventive cinematography
- Elicit raw, honest emotion from actors by any means necessary
- Depict the complexity of real life – avoid simplistic heroes and villains
Jamie Foxx: Multifaceted Talent, Timeless Lessons
Jamie Foxx continues to have an acclaimed and varied career after learning from two all-time great directors in Tarantino and Lee. He starred in the Pixar hit Soul, led the TV sitcom Dad Stop Embarrassing Me, and played boxing legend Mike Tyson in an upcoming biopic. He brings his full range of talents to every project – comedy, drama, action, and music.
Foxx is proof that the lessons of bold filmmaking, masterful storytelling, and baring your soul translate across any medium. By internalizing the directorial sensibilities of Tarantino and Lee, Foxx has made an indelible impact on screen and soundstage. His career is a testament to absorbing lessons from the greats who paved the way, then forging your own path by following your creative passions. Jamie Foxx has certainly made the most of his invaluable time collaborating with and learning from two of cinema’s true icons in Quentin Tarantino and Spike Lee.
