Do the Right Thing (1989)
I guess I’m racist?
Presentation:
Spike Lee’s magnum opus is a shockingly well shot film deserving of its Criterion status. It marks a point in history, which feels uncannily relevant in 2025. The framing is excellent using nearly every cinematography technique such as deep focus, POV shots, breaking the fourth wall, zooms, dutch angles, handheld and dolly shots, hard lights. It’s actually quite impressive and it all makes Brooklyn come to life. What makes the film leave such a strong impression is how Lee captures the personality and lifestyle of the black community. Very idiosyncratic things like sneakers, boomboxes, playing on the streets, chilling on the sidewalk, it’s all communicated very well to make you care. Everything feels so vibrant, though some of the performances feel overtly staged, occasionally breaking you out of the immersion. It’s also pretty funny at times. What makes the film have a lasting legacy is its relevant political commentary. This was back when Lee ambiguously played both sides of the nuanced racial issue, and it’s excellently done.
Story:
The film is a representation of the political climate of the time and a litmus test to the audience. Which side will you agree with? You are free to believe either Sal is the one to blame or Radio Raheem is. The problem is the majority of the film takes place in Sal’s pizzeria, so we naturally will side with him. It’s like a serial killer or drug dealer movie - even though what they are doing is bad, we are meant to root for Tony Soprano because he is the main character and the perspective we are given. While Radio Raheem’s death tragically strikes a nerve, his character is barely developed and it’s hard to gain sympathy for a side character, which weakens a lot of the ambiguous debate for me. I mean does Spike Lee really think we are going to side with someone with barely 3 scenes and barely any dialogue, just on principle? Lee has a gap in his understanding of narrative.
Spike Lee is Mookie both symbolically and literally. The director actually plays this character and thus presents his real viewpoint through Mookie's actions, the turning point being when he throws the garbage can into the window to vent his frustration. Despite being neutral in the film, Lee has stated in interviews that Sal is racist and is in the wrong and if you believe he isn’t then you are racist. So I guess I’m racist because I didn’t think he was ultimately to blame. Although he does make a few ignorant comments, he seems much less racist than his son and does seem to want to contribute to this black community in his own way. In any case, I saw this film not in terms of who was doing the right thing because everyone was somewhat bad, except for Da Mayor. It shows you what happens when you let racial tensions unchecked on every side. But I still feel compelled to address some of the moral choices in the film.
Analysis:
Pictures on the wall. The main motivation for the boycott and confrontation is Sal doesn’t have any black people on his wall of fame. Despite being in a black neighborhood, it’s pretty justifiable given he is Italian and he’s free to put whatever Italian actors he wishes. I mean could you expect the opposite and go into a Black owned restaurant and demand they cater toward white people in their decoration? I can understand the sentiment, but the reality is it’s a private business and the owner ultimately has this right just as the customer has the right to boycott. But I suppose 50% will believe this wall of fame is for the public to decide.
Breaking the boombox. This is the fault of Sal. As the owner he has every right to dictate the rules of his establishment, but you can only escort people out, not break their property. It may seem a little unfair if someone disrupts your business, but that’s what calling the police is for. That being said, Radio Raheem is wrong in thinking he is allowed to live whatever way he wants and however he pleases, even on someone else's property. This kind of thinking is pretty spot on in representing Black frustration and why many people will side with Spike Lee. This ultimately leads into a fight where Radio Raheem attempts to strangle Sal, to which the police then detain and incompetently kill him.
The riot. I believe this is the controversial point, which makes Mookie’s side look bad. Sal doesn’t kill Radio Raheem, the police does. Rioting the pizzeria doesn’t do anything, so why trash his place? The pointless violence destroys their own community. There’s something to be said about voicing frustration, but as Malcom X is quoted, this isn’t even self-defense. This is misplaced anger.
Nevertheless, this accurately depicts the logic of those siding with Mookie, which is one of empathy and compassion for Black frustration. As someone from an Asian household, I can’t really relate to this culture of unaccountability. If all this is racist, then I don’t really see how treating the Korean worker is justified at all. This really boils down to every fight or every political debate ever. Some people view morality with logic, some people view it through compassion. The film similiarly offers two approaches, MLK's and Malcom X's. One of peace, one of resistance. Given that Spike Lee favors the Malcom X's fight the power philosophy, his perspective in this movie makes sense. But I think Lee might actually be more convincing to the opposition of his argument.
Conclusion:
This is probably the best depiction of racial climate in the USA and is basically what Eddington aspires to. A fantastic portrayal of the Black community that immerses you into their vibrant lifestyle. As for the message of the story, I can’t help but feel egg is on the wrong face, but that’s why I guess I’m racist. The film is about doing the right thing, which is fortunately ambiguous in this film because he doesn’t provide a compelling argument. Still, totally worth watching even if you don’t agree with the director’s viewpoint.
Recommendations
I guess I’m racist?