Review of Do the Right Thing (1997) by La Trice S — 02 Jul 2009
"Do the right thing," Da Mayor says as Mookie wanders by, on his way to deliver the pizza. "Is that it?" he replies. The irony behind the title of the movie and that line is that everything in this movie, while apparently being about the difference between black and white, is horribly gray.
Everyone thinks they're doing the right thing, from Sal, who chooses to keep his wall of fame covered with Italian Americans representing his own heritage, to Buggin' Out, who wants to see 'brothers' on that same wall since African Americans make up most of Sal's business.
From there, everything builds and builds until people are so dead set on doing what they think is right that they go about accomplishing what they're doing in the most wrong way possible. And throughout it all, people are spewing hate at each other for no real reason other than their own misguided prejudices.
The movie wanders a lot, but it's okay because almost every scene is dripping with humor and meaning. This is probably one of the best movies that the 80s had to offer, and missing it is a tremendous mistake.
This is Spike Lee's masterpiece.
This review of Do the Right Thing (1997) was written by La Trice S on 02 Jul 2009.
Do the Right Thing has generally received very positive reviews.
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