Welcome to Brooklyn in 1989
Mookie is a kid just trying to make it. He doesn’t have enemies, he doesn’t truly have friends, he’s just trying to make it. He works as a pizza delivery boy for Sal’s, run by an Italian American named (you guessed it) Sal. He and his sons own the place and they happen to be located in one of the toughest places in Brooklyn. After Sal has an argument with one of the locals named Buggin Out over the lack of a black man/woman on Sal’s wall of fame (which features only Italians), tensions begin to rise. Buggin Out begins to start a fire against Sal, which Sal begins to feel. First people begin to rumble about how Sal should be boycotted. Tensions eventually come to a head when Buggin Out and Radio Raheem burst into Sal’s and demand a black man on the wall. Tensions explode and things happen, the neighborhood no longer is together.
It’s a simple story, but a powerful one. First, let’s talk about how Lee presents the film. He treats Do the Right Thing like a broadway play. All of his characters have surreal names. Buggin Out, for example (played by Giancarlo Esposito), spends the entire film being loud and obnoxious. He raises points regardless of logic. He has to be heard the entire time. Thus his name, Buggin Out. Da Mayor, who is played by the late Ossie Davis, is a peace keeper. He’s friends with everyone and he tries to keep the peace the best way he can (see the ending of the film for an example). These characters, and more, represent their own personas. They play a part not only with their names, but also with other purposes. Lee’s intentions seem to be that these personas form different parts of black society back in 1989. Lee’s style of presenting all of this was more play-esque than movie, and it worked well. From the beginning scene, when you see Rosie Perez dancing on stage (she is clearly on a stage with a backdrop), to all the scenes where the characters are looking directly at the audience, his style is inspired by the stage. Mixing the stage and movie together created some powerful characters and scenes.
Before the L.A. riots of 1992, Lee knew through these types of characters that tensions were boiling in America. Black people all across the nation couldn’t stand by and watch small things, that maybe other folks took for granted, be restricted from their grasp any longer. The picture on the wall isn’t that big of a deal to Sal, but having one picture on the wall with 15-plus white Italians meant everything to Buggin Out. The desperation of needing that space and needing that recognition of existence, and needing that chance for an opportunity, all of this meant everything to Buggin Out and thus black society’s needs; even if it meant fighting to get it on there and destroying everyone else around them to get it done. Lee knew that this type of tension was boiling and while America ignored it, it was going to mean the end of a restaurant sooner rather than later (restaurant being the lifestyle the country knew).
I might be wrong about this, but I feel good about the meanings. I had to watch this film more than once to try to grasp the understanding of what Spike Lee was trying to provide a country that was blind. Sure, people will criticize his methods. In 1989 the film was heavily scrutinized by the media. Lee was presented as a racist, whose only purpose was to build upon racial tensions. In truth, Lee wanted to uncover what everyone knew and show the world that if they didn’t do something about it then before you know it your world could be gone. Do the Right Thing was a perfect vessel for this to happen. It showed how racist and less-than-understanding multiple cultures could be. It taught us that the happy neighborhood you live in could be the nightmare you didn’t expect. It said that if you didn’t try to understand and adapt with other people’s cultures then you couldn’t really live with that culture. It wasn’t about black and white, it was simply about adapt and learn, otherwise you’ll never live together and understand each other. This was an absolutely amazing film and I wish more people, who didn’t see it when it hit theaters the first time around, would take a look now and see how much of a masterpiece it truly is.
Now with that said, the only problem I can see is how brutal the truth can be at times. Most people will embrace this now, and are ready for it. Some will misunderstand it and some will downright hate it. That’s the tough part of the film and one part where Lee himself openly, silently, admits that maybe it won’t reach everyone. Regardless, Lee will reach as many people as he can and someone will be ready and some won’t. That’s the tough part of the film and the only downfall I can see. Keep an open mind and take it slow and you’ll see what he’s trying to do.
There’s nothing untruthful about the film, there’s nothing easy, it simply just wants you to think about your actions and ultimately do the right thing.
Twenty years old and still looking good
When it comes to Blu-ray Universal Studios know how to deliver. This studio has produced the most consistent looking HD transfers that never lose a step. From Hellboy to Do the Right Thing, you never lose quality when it comes to Universals Blu-ray staff. I can’t say enough. I usually don’t credit individual studios for such achievements, but ask Steven McGehee (steven@digitalchumps.com), he’ll come up with the same conclusion I’ve just presented, Universal knows how to put a movie into an HD format on a Blu-ray. Watching this film on a 1080 set and having it look as visually enticing as a movie that was made this year, is just remarkable. No graininess, full of vivid colors and life, the picture looks stunning. Add audio to that as well and you have yourself one of the more perfect versions of an HD presentation. Bravo to Universal for giving a damn about their movies and making sure that each one, especially the ones we’ve reviewed, have consistently looked good. Seriously, just a really damn good job on it.
As for features, here’s what you’re looking for:
– Do the Right Thing: 20 Years Later (HD)
– Deleted & Extended Scenes (HD)
– 20th Anniversary Edition Feature Commentary from Spike Lee
– Commentary with Spike Lee, DoP Ernest Dickerson, Production Designer Wynn Thomas and Actor Joie Lee
– Behind the Scenes
– Making Do the Right Thing
– Editor Barry Brown interview
– The Riot Sequence
– Cannes, 1989
– BD-Live
Another set of props needs to be given to Spike Lee and Universal for treating one of the more valuable movies in its collection with such love. You get some really solid commentary, excellent featurettes (good stuff with the HD featurette with actors/crew) and some vintage material that really puts you in 1989 and shows you the tension that went along with this film. Good stuff to back-up a very powerful film.