Review of Do the Right Thing (1997) by Scott N — 24 Jan 2010
One of the best films ever made and a movie I think should be required to watch in every high school. The best movie I've ever seen about racism.
The best thing about this film is that the audience is left to choose their own opinions. It's what separates this film from movies like American History X. I think it's a tragedy American History X is #37 on imdb and do the right thing isn't even on the top 250.
The following are my own observations and opinions I formed about the film.
Everyone's motivations in this film make sense and from each of their perspectives it makes sense to them. Do I think they all made the right decision? Not at all. Spike Lee once said that by viewers asking if Mookie did the right thing that people are valuing white property over the life of a black man. I don't believe Mookie or the policeman made the right choice. Mookie's actions however were justified. Just because something is justified though does not always make it the right thing to do.
There's a part in the film where a group is about to take on the owner of a Korean grocery store and the Korean owner says "I no white! I black! You...me...same! We same!". The man didn't do anything wrong I felt and there was no reason to threaten him other than his race. Luckily, the group realizes "he's alright".
There are no real villains in this, at least in the form of a person. The enemy is how these characters let race define their actions.
This review of Do the Right Thing (1997) was written by Scott N on 24 Jan 2010.
Do the Right Thing has generally received very positive reviews.
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