Yes, it has been 20 years. Twenty years since one of cinema’s most powerful films debuted on the screen. “Do the Right Thing” is arguably Spike Lee’s greatest film. Nothing like it existed before it came out and there hasn’t been anything like it since. It’s the reason I even wanted to tell my stories through film. When the film was released I was too young to see it. When I finally did see it, in middle school, I was still perhaps too young but I was shaken by its power. I’ve watched it several times since, hypnotized by it’s dynamic brilliance of passionate visual storytelling. This defined Spike Lee as more than just a filmmaker. He is an artist.
“Do the Right Thing” is a revolutionary achievement. A fiery social protest film evoking the rhythms of hip hop’s intensity and it’s early sociopolitical investment in the urban community. It is an urgent, furious love letter to the issues of racism, classism, and the trials, tribulations, and celebrations of everyday urban life. It was shot like a brilliant kaleidoscope of colors swirling into one glaring force of radiance. Filled with a strong cast of characters who are mesmerizing social archetypes to convey Lee’s message. The booming rhythm of the movie is illuminated through the endless power of Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power.” It is one of the greatest hip hop songs ever recorded during a time when hip hop was used as an intelligent weapon to fight urban oppression. This movie is its companion piece.
We watch the day-to-day interconnected lives of pizza delivery guy Mookie, his boss Sal and Sal’s two sons Vinnie and Pino, the neighborhood kids, the wanna-be activist Buggin’ Out, the elders Mother Sister and Da Mayor, and soul brother number one, Radio Raheem, along with a host of various other characters. As the humidity progresses on this hot summer day, so do the tempers of the neighborhood people, soon the deep tensions start surfacing and it explodes into a volcanic fury of brutality and rage. It was and still is a highly controversial film and a metaphor for America’s race relations.
What I find so amazing about the film is Spike’s fearless vision, the film’s unapologetic nature, and the strong, unflinching images it highlights. It’s one of the most groundbreaking and influential movies ever made. It’s stylistically amazing and its bold, unwavering perspective is just as radical as it is refreshing. It’s like a sucker punch in your face—the one you won’t forget—because it's the one you needed to learn from.
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