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//"It's the hottest day of the summer. You can do nothing, you can do something, or you can... Do The Right Thing."// This tagline really embodies the entirety of this 1989 Spike Lee film, but I suppose that is what is to be expected from a tagline. This film was the first of its kind- the first film with strong racial undertones that demanded the attention of everyone who saw it. Directed and written by Spike Lee, the film follows Mookie, who works as a delivery boy at Sal's Pizza. Set on the hottest day of the summer, Mookie's interactions with his neighbors and friends exemplify modern racist views and how subtle actions can lead up to the most tense explosion of events. Sal and his two sons (played by Danny Aiello, Richard Edson, and John Turturro) run the pizza place where Mookie works, and are pretty much the only three white characters in the movie. However, Sal is adored by his loyal customers and does not seem to come in contact with much trouble from them. That is, however, until Buggin' Out demands that the pizza parlor's walls have some men of color in framed photos alongside the white celebrities Sal chose to display. This conflict, addressed early in the film, continues to appear as Buggin' Out exhorts his frustration onto his peers, who generally agree with him. Before the release of //Do The Right Thing//, many movie critics and reviewers predicted that the film could be wildly controversial because it could incite many black viewers to protest. Not only did this not happen, but Spike Lee criticized the critics (ironically) for assuming that black audiences would be incapable of restraining themselves during the fictional film. Cinematographer Ernest Dickerson effectively set the mood and tone of the film with the use of red and orange hues throughout the neighborhood in order to make everything seem about 100 degrees hotter. The forced acknowledgement of the heatwave reminded the audience how exaggerated arguements can get when everyone is hot and miserable. One of my favorite parts in the film is when Radio Raheem talks about the everlasting conflict between Love and Hate. Although I am told this speech is taken from another film, I don't think that in any way lessens the appropriateness of it making an appearance in Do The Right Thing. "The story of life is this: Static. One hand is always fighting the other hand; and the left hand is kicking much ass. I mean, it looks like the right hand, Love, is finished. But, hold on, stop the presses, the right hand is coming back. Yeah, he got the left hand on the ropes, now, that's right. Ooh, it's the devastating right and Hate is hurt, he's down. Left-Hand Hate K.O.ed by Love." This quote by none other than Radio Raheem is speaking of the struggle of not only the blacks, but really, of everyone. There will always be an imbalance of love and hate, and therefore will always be a fight between these two strongest of emotions. This part of the film relates to the theme of the movie because the racial oppression being felt by all of the black characters is almost overwhelming to them. It's hard to keep the feeling of love in mind when there is so much anger and arguments going down all over the place. Another thing about Radio Raheem is that from his boombox is always playing "Fight The Power" by Public Enemy. This song is again echoing the mindset of all the frustrated kids like Buggin' Out, who put it upon themselves to change the way things are, like the wall of white celebrities in Sal's Pizzeria. One of the things that makes this movie most notable is of course its theme of racial equality, and how often the black community (symbolized by this mostly-black neighborhood) is looked down upon. Mister Senor Love Daddy, the town's radio DJ and film's voice of reason constantly narrates what he sees outside the window of the radio's studio, and is constantly heard telling everyone to settle down. Not only does this narration help to give an outside perspective on the unseen lunacy of the town's actions, but also serves to make important sidenotes, such as influential black figures in history. A character in the film that directly affects the meaning of the film is Smiley (played by Roger Guenveur Smith), a mentally ill guy who is always seen selling postcards with a picture of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.. These two men are known for their differing views on how to treat societal racism; Malcolm X advocating violence in order to make a point, and MLK Jr. preaching only non-violent means of communication and action. These two figures are seen again at the end of the film, where a quote from each of them is the last to be seen on the screen. In closing, the immediate impact of this film is one that I cannot exactly say for sure, because I wasn't even born yet when it came out. However, it is clear to see that there is a timeless message in Spike Lee's creation. Although the film is entitled Do The Right Thing, it is tough to really know what the right thing to do always is. At the end of the film, when Mookie throws the garbage can through Sal's Pizza's window in a response to Radio Raheem's unjust death, many argue that this only furthered the racial conflict in the neighborhood. This is both an example of how violence creates more chaos, and how violence can be the climax where things can only then be put back together, much like the scene of the day after the fire where Mookie attempts to make amends with Sal. Thinking back, I remember thinking there had also been another message in this film. When Sal gets upset with the kids causing trouble when he was trying to close the restaurant for the night, the admired Sal himself spat out a few racial slurs. This to me, was shocking. I had looked at Sal as a good man who understood the equality that is often covered up within races, and when he treated Raheem and Buggin' Out the same as everyone else had treated them, it made me think that maybe Spike Lee was saying everyone has these racist ideas, even if they do not outwardly act on them.
 * FIGHT THE POWER. **