"Do the Right Thing" is a film about race and race relations that you simply wouldn't see made today in Hollywood. Why? Because the film is brutally honest about race...and would make the heads of many politically correct folks explode by the dialog! No, the film is not a sanitized view of race....the language is raw and vile...but also realistic. And, talking about race WITHOUT racial epithets and the ugliness of racism would have neutered this film....and I like how the film is in your face about the topic.
The story is set in an ethnic neighborhood where mostly Black and Hispanic folks live. There also are shop keepers who are Italian and Korean. And, in many ways this is typical of many inner city neighborhoods...and not just in New York. Everything occurs during very, very hot summer day....and the heat clearly put everyone on edge. Add to that a lot of hatred, a lot of folks talking AT each other and not TO each other....and you have a recipe for a horrible tragedy. But it's best you just see it all for yourself.
I appreciate the story not only because it does not sanitize racism but because it provides a lot to think about but doesn't spoon feed you answers....other than folks just need to listen to each other more than we often do. Many incidents are up to the interpretation of the viewers and the story, though horribly sad, seems very relevant today...not just 1989.
By the way, if you are worried that the film might be some sort of attack on any ethnic group, I don't think it was the film's intention at all. See it and see for yourself.
Also by the way, I am surprised the film wasn't nominated for Best Picture. I am not necessarily saying it was the best film of the year, but clearly it was better than several of the actual nominees.
The story is set in an ethnic neighborhood where mostly Black and Hispanic folks live. There also are shop keepers who are Italian and Korean. And, in many ways this is typical of many inner city neighborhoods...and not just in New York. Everything occurs during very, very hot summer day....and the heat clearly put everyone on edge. Add to that a lot of hatred, a lot of folks talking AT each other and not TO each other....and you have a recipe for a horrible tragedy. But it's best you just see it all for yourself.
I appreciate the story not only because it does not sanitize racism but because it provides a lot to think about but doesn't spoon feed you answers....other than folks just need to listen to each other more than we often do. Many incidents are up to the interpretation of the viewers and the story, though horribly sad, seems very relevant today...not just 1989.
By the way, if you are worried that the film might be some sort of attack on any ethnic group, I don't think it was the film's intention at all. See it and see for yourself.
Also by the way, I am surprised the film wasn't nominated for Best Picture. I am not necessarily saying it was the best film of the year, but clearly it was better than several of the actual nominees.