"Do the Right Thing" (1989) - Movie Review

“Do the Right Thing” has so much of love and hate as that of one character has it in his hand as rings, right as love and left as hate. It raises the questions and the justification of the injustice done to many and leaves answerless. Made in 1989, the film not only qualifies as handling the racial tension with anger and violence walking over a wire but the technique in presenting has so much significance in the art of movie making. Spike Lee’s controversial movie of that time has mixed messages and we are baffled by how much of it exists right among different places under the name of country, state, culture and of course religion.

The film will have uncharacteristic comedy and end with a tragedy of humans as such a failed device of love. We will see an expected agitator and an unexpected simple man reacting on the spur of the moment. It is one bloody hot day in the neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York which is Bedford-Stuyvesant. People are sweating; the air is burning and some where in the daily livelihoods of this multi cultured and multi ethnic people is this swinging truth of hatred. Mookie (Spike Lee) a young man is working on a local Pizza place owned by Sal (Danny Aielo who gives a memorable performance) an Italian American with his two sons Pino (John Turturo) and Vito (Richard Edson). The day revolves around the shop and the streets meeting characters sword fighting words of racism either as a joke and most of the times in serious tones. How it snow balls into one big avalanche is “Do the Right Thing”.

Afraid by many that this would cause riots among the community (it did not though), Spike Lee ends the film with a contradicting note of what exactly is the right thing. Every body knows non-violence is the right thing but what happens when some one comes with the only notion of hurting? Do we sweet talk them in to the nature of love and explaining blood is bad? Or do we give a strong hard punch on their face? The immediate answer would be to punch from many of them including me but what happens if that results in some one mistaking or misinterpreting us? Where is the end? This whole revolving question goes on and on and as Lee planned in us. Racism is intolerable but even the most noblest and honest person will have fear while walking in a race or religion oriented neighbourhood if he or she is some one the people in that place have their own opinion as he/she has. Does it mean he/she is a racist on both the sides or is the person looking out for his/her safety? So much has the fear in to us that we have started to thrive on it. The medium of communication or to even a slightest reach out for dialogue never happens. As I have said in many reviews, it is easy to hate.

The characters in the film, most of them exist and appreciate each other’s presence. Sal explains the unnecessary anger his son Pino has towards the African American people when he truly believes his nativity to the neighbourhood both personal and in financial aspects. The scene where he sits across the table to share a soft spoken words of wisdom is what most of us require. But like Pino every one is impatient and mainly grows anger which outshines our logic. Similarly we have the old Da Mayor (Ossie Davis) who wanders over the street and gives his view to liberate some of the blur sighted youths. No one listens to both Sal and Da Mayor.

The film is one another reminder how a casual breath of remarks or unwanted comments pile up to become something detrimental and fatal. Pino continuously rubs shoulders with Mookie and Mookie does the same too when needed. But one thing is surprising, how come so many people do not go to work or do something apart from loitering around or sitting all day? May be that is one another reason Lee wants every one to look at as some one said, Idle brain of course is a terrific work shop for the devil.

The movement of different ethnic and cultural people in the land of US is a great thing but at the same time is the conflict of minds too. In 89 it reflects so much of it and sadly it extends even to the current situation. The camera angle is placed near to the faces of certain characters when confrontation and altercation happens. It is made such that they get on the audience’s face and as their sweaty skin rubs on, we get irritated as them. The element of hot and humid weather is such a precise depiction of the scenario and in fact it is an instrumental factor to burn the soft people to insolent personalities. And it happens here.

The action of the person who ignites the riot can be questioned, dissected and analyzed to death for its righteousness. But how can we miss the loss of a human being? And when it is being questioned, who started this whole thing in first place? See, the situation itself has started questioning and with every effort possible, we begin to find the blame. Blame is on every one, for their independent actions, their off hand remarks, carelessness, irresponsibility and hatred. If one thing “Do the Right Thing” strongly states, it is what many great films shout, “Listen”.