One of my Top 3 favorite movies of all time is Spike Lee’s provocative and controversial 1989 film “Do The Right Thing.” It takes place on the hottest day of the summer in one Brooklyn neighborhood and has more heart, laughs, tension, and drama than most movies today. This year marks its 20th anniversary.
If you’ve never seen it, now is the time to go out and rent the sucker. You’ll see early performances by Samuel L. Jackson, Rosie Perez, John Turturro, and Martin Lawrence. You’ll witness Spike Lee at the top of his game as a screenwriter, actor, and director. You’ll hear Public Enemy’s anthemic “Fight the Power” in the context that it was meant to be presented in. You’ll wonder at the vibrant colors in Ernest Dickerson’s cinematography.
You’ll see late actors Ossie Davis and Robin Harris, who have never been better. You’ll be presented with tons of likeable characters and watch the mounting racial tension with dread. You’ll ask yourself a lot of questions and struggle with the answers.
The Root has devoted a large part of its website to celebrating the film, and editor-in-chief Henry Louis Gates sat down with Lee for a series of interviews. It’s a great conversation (with clips from the movie), and I learned something else that people don’t talk about too much: Michelle and Barack Obama’s first date was a screening of “Do the Right Thing” at the Chicago Art Institute!
Fight the power indeed.
20 years later, the Obamas are in the White House, and “Do the Right Thing” remains one of the most influential of modern films. I have the Criterion Collection DVD, but it looks as if i might have to buy another one, because the new 20th Anniversary DVD contains a lot of the same extras and a new commentary track from Lee.
Have you seen “Do the Right Thing”? How recently?
This definitely makes me like the Obamas more, but now I ask the question: if the man is a fan of ‘Do the Right Thing,’ should I still fight the power?
I haven’t watched this since I purchased the Criterion Collection DVD several years ago. I will need to dust it off this week I think. That and my annual 4th of July viewing of Jaws.
There’s always a man with more power. Even if Obama is the prez, he’ll hopefully never be The Man!
How come they ain’t no brothas on the wall?
I saw “Do the Right Thing” for the first time last year - It was truly an experience, and one of the most unique films I’ve ever seen!