Review of Do the Right Thing (1997) by Nate W — 08 Sep 2010
Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" is a socially conscious, racially charged cautionary tale about the anger and hatred simmering beneath ordinary people, and how the tiniest spark can ignite those volatile emotions into a violent eruption.
Lee opens the movie with an 8 a.m. wakeup call; a colourful slate of characters eventually make their way into the street of a normally quiet Brooklyn neighbourhood on the hottest day of the summer. As the temperature rises, so do tempers, threatening to boil over before the day is done.
"I'm gonna kill somebody today," mutters Sal, the local pizzeria owner perfectly played by Danny Aiello, an ominous forecast of the harrowing consequences that we all see coming over the course of the movie.
Lee builds the tension gradually, allowing cooler heads to diffuse preliminary conflicts, all the while suggesting the inevitability of the climactic riot. Just as important a character as any played by the outstanding cast is the heat itself, which Lee makes us feel via bold colours and a bustling soundtrack.
His direction brims with energetic flourish, so that while "Do the Right Thing" is certainly a movie to be discussed for its ideas and themes, it's also a terrific piece of entertainment.
This review of Do the Right Thing (1997) was written by Nate W on 08 Sep 2010.
Do the Right Thing has generally received very positive reviews.
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