It’s reel-y hot out here…

Do The Right Thing – 20^th Anniversary Edition

Produced, Written, and Directed by Spike Lee

40 Acres & a Mule Filmworks/Universal Pictures

1989; Color – Approx. 2 Hours

Do The Right Thing (Universal, 1989)

By C. Daniel

He scratches his head at ads for Tyler Perry’s sitcoms. He wants black America to remain very conscious even after witnessing the election of Barack Obama this year. He has iconic films on the table about Jackie Robinson, Joe Louis and James Brown that are persistently being eluded by Hollywood’s massive budgets.

Still — Spike Lee keeps on turnin’ up the heat!

Peep an opening scene fading in with a rousing jazz riff of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” and Rosie Perez aggressively dancing to Public Enemy’s classic “Fight the Power.” True, that was 20 years ago; it’s even more incredible that the lasting sounds and images got the Library of Congress, American Film Institute and the National Film Registry paying close attention, too!

Now going into its second decade, Lee’s fiercely directed, Oscar-nominated classic, Do the Right Thing, is now released as a double disc anniversary set. The film’s multiethnic views take on racism and the baggage of cultural expectations that come with it (impressive how everything takes place in one neighborhood on the hottest day of the summer nonetheless).

Lee is special as a social critic and creative mind; he doesn’t let anyone (particularly black people) off the hook at all. Prior to this epic film, Lee documents superficial black sexuality with his debut film, She’s Gotta Have It (1986), and the internal discrimination on black college campuses with School Daze (1987). Taking on the lead role this time around, Lee is Mookie, a pizza delivery man who balances supporting his family and dealing with the tensions between his employer and the community. Primarily shot between the pizza shop and the street corner, we can trust that the film’s incredible dialogue sets the tone for profound social commentary.

Does it matter if you’re African American, Korean, White, Latino(a), Hispanic, Italian, Jewish or even the police? No because Lee is not gonna shy away from the controversy: our insecurities with each other. Whether it’s the sounds of “Fight the Power” blarin’ from Radio Raheem’s boombox (15 times throughout the film) in the pizza shop, Pino asking Sal to move the shop into an Italian neighborhood and away from “the Planet of the Apes,” Bugged Out trying to boycott the pizza shop with the help of a content black community or the upper class white Clifton moving “back” to the neighborhood, Lee is forcing us to think and look in the mirror. He somehow knows how to properly place historical quotes, profound philosophies (predominately from Malcolm X), moral codes and dramatic revelations into an incredibly entertaining textbook I would actually read. The picture is amazing. With heavy warm and earthtone coloring (an editing technique used to suggest heat) through crisp digital remastering and 5.1 Surround Sound, viewers go on more than just simply a journey through the hottest day in Bed Stuy, a popular neighborhood in Brooklyn.

The cast features a range of legendary and acclaimed talent – Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, John Turturro, Richard Edson, Joie Lee (Spike’s sister), Martin Lawrence (in his debut film role), Sam (not yet Samuel L.) Jackson, John Savage, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, Roger Guenveur Smith and late comedian Robin Harris.   

 The anniversary set is a full history lesson itself with four hours of insightful bonus features. The first disc includes a feature with commentaries from Lee, cinematographer Ernest Dickerson, production designer Wynn Thomas and actress Joie Lee. 11 deleted and extended scenes are included along with a commemorative documentary highlighting the cast, crew and film’s impact. On the accompanying disc, the film’s relevance gets a completely assertive, personal and insightful makeover. Lee’s grainy personal footage of initial script reads and cast meetings make the cut. Everyone gives their perspectives on race and Lee’s artistry. A photo gallery of the final riot scene is included. Barry Brown, Do the Right Thing’s editor, speaks candidly about meeting Lee, becoming his friend, and working closely with him on the film. The bonus feature’s centerpiece, the Cannes Film Festival press conference, features the highly conscious and articulate filmmaker expressing to film critics and journalists his thoughts on racism, art, black life, filmmaking and blacks in Hollywood.

Do The Right Thing is quite the phenomenal piece of cinematic history it was in 1989 if not more now. Guess Lee was right in one of the feature documentaries; he knew he was creating something special that would become a part of history.