Do The Right Thing

I also had a chance to finish Do The Right Thing today, Which is generally regarded as Spike Lee's masterpiece. It is a 1989 meditation on race related hate. It features early performances by John Turturro, Rosie Perez, Martin Lawrence, and Samuel L. Jackson. It also featured top notch performances from Spike Lee himself, Danny Aiello in his Academy Award nominated performance, and real life couple Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee as bickering community elders. The first two thirds of the movie plays like a comedy, introducing us to the whole neighborhood of characters as they go about their buisness on one of the hottest New York days of the year. In the last act, though, a misunderstanding turns ugly quick and because of hate and racial prejudices, the film becomes anything but a comedy. I really liked the camera angles and the way Lee attempts to frame each character by them self when speaking to give focus to the words they are saying. I liked the imagery of the never ending heat wave to show the seemingly never ending racial tension that sweeps the community. I, however, felt uneasy with the fact that Lee refuses to take a stand either for or against the violence that is depicted in this film. It ends with two quotes, one from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and another from Malcolm X that highlights their difference in philosophy. I believe that it is his refusal to either condone or condemn that makes this film a masterpiece and one of the fewer more recent films on the AFI's top 100. It is a rare film that makes you think and come to your own conclusions without it being shoved down your throat. It seems crazy that it has been over 20 years now since this was released. The wardrobe has aged, but the general story is just as timely. Racism is ignorant. Anyone who generalizes a group of people and blames problems in their own community on this group are lazy. Do something to yourself to make it better. Lend a hand instead of hurling an insult. Judge people on their individual merits and shortcomings. Everytime I hear something said about another race, which in Texas, is usually Mexicans, I instantly lose respect for that person. If you don't want to grant the same freedoms and equality to others as you enjoy, then leave America. Freedom doesn't come with conditions based on race or what language you speak. I know people who have fought hard to keep it that way in America and every time racism shows up, A giant step backwards is taken. So, In closing, See this film. As you can tell, It's very powerful and evokes strong emotions...and think about how stupid you sound next time you make a dumb ass comment.