Do the Right Thing

Spike Lee’s absolute masterpiece Do the Right Thing is every bit as relevant in 2020 as it was in 1989.  As amazing as this film is, I’m waiting for the day that it’s no longer relevant in today’s society.  I can’t stop thinking about this film after my recent first viewing. Lee’s depiction of the heatwave-stricken Bed-Stuy neighborhood is filled with a gritty sense of authentic realism.  Each of the characters is unique and incredibly memorable, as Lee gets us to empathize with each and every one, with the exception of the racist staff of Sal’s Pizzeria.  Sal (an Oscar-nominated performance by the late Danny Aiello) is one of the most reprehensible villains in cinematic history.  What makes him a more disturbing antagonist is that there are many hateful bastards like him throughout the world.  Darth Vader, Freddy Kruger, and The Terminator are all works of fantasy, but Sal isn’t.  But my favorite character is Da Mayor (Ossie Davis).  He’s one of the older, wiser residents, encouraging the main protagonist Mookie (Spike Lee) to “always do the right thing” (Rick Dalton points here!). The colorful, stylized cinematography and set design convey the setting brilliantly.  This is one of the few summer movies in which you can visually feel the heat, for you can see the actors’ sweat in high-definition.  Setting the majority of the movie on one day sometimes makes it feel like it takes place in real time, only adding to the realism. If you haven’t seen this film, I won’t spoil the ending.  But I will give a trigger warning: there is a scene of police brutality that may be a little too realistic for some viewers, considering current events such as the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. That being said: not only is this a must-see for anyone wanting a socially conscious character study, but it is a pivotal film to understand race relations in America.  Continue supporting Black Lives Matter, sign petitions, go to protests, and show your support for BIPOC during this trying time in American history. Fight the powers that be. For those who haven’t seen this film or want to revisit it, it’s available to rent for free on Amazon and FandangoNOW.