"Do the Right Thing" (1989): When you look at Spike Lee's work over the past 15 years, it is easy
to forget that he once made good films. Sure, all of his films have been flawed
-- some so glaringly that they border on unwatchable ("Girl 6," "She Hate Me"). But when Lee makes a
... moregood movie, there's no
denying his craft and power. Of the best films made by the director, none stands
out more than the racially charged, evocative "Do the Right Thing." The film is
set on the hottest day of the summer in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bed-Stuy.
In it, Lee peels back layers to expose the racial divide in this country that
leads to senseless violence, destruction and death. Sure, the film contains the
soapbox polemics that have come to define and hinder nearly all of Lee's films,
but here it works, as he paints a deft portrait of a neighborhood sweltering not
only from the heat, but from racism and classism. The audience watches
helplessly as Spike takes us on a guided tour of a community that is destined to
be consumed by flames. (Universal Pictures/ Courtesy: Everett
Collection)Close
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