Movie Review on Do the Right thing
Do the right thing, a film by well-known director Spike Lee. Lee is known for his hit movies such as Malcolm X and Jungle Fever. This particular movie takes place in Brooklyn, New York at a pronominally minority neighborhood on a hot summer day. Due to the extreme heat, tension begins to rise escalating through out the neighbor hood, majority of this tension stemmed from racism. Lee conveyed a memorizing film that focused on the struggle with racism, that took place in the late 1980’s, and which still goes on today’s society. With cinematography, to directing, and the production, Lee was able to create a marvelous movie.
One of the biggest traits that help construct this film is the cinematography. The movie gives the viewer a more intimate feel of the character with its amazing one-person medium shot, as if the character is directing talking to the viewer. Examples of this medium shot was the scene of Radio Raheem speaking about the significance of his Love&Hate knuckle rings. The scene isolates everything around Raheem, giving the full focus on him. Another great demonstration of this filming technique was exhibited in the scene with The Mayor. In the scene of The Mayor, shows him speaking on his past, as he continue to speak the camera slowly zooms in, giving the viewer a stronger feel of the character.
The remarkable directing is constantly showed through the film. One part of the great directing Spike lee was able to present was to give the spotlight on police brutality that took place. The cops choked Radio Raheem to death while he was, thus showing brutality of African Americans from the police. Lee made sure to shot Raheem feet as he gets choked out, in order to show how far his feet was from the ground. Although this film was made in 1989 it still connects to the police brutality African Americans face today.
From the cinematography, to directing, and the production, Spike lee was able to cultivate a classic well known film that will forever live on. Lee intention while making this film was to hit race relations, police brutality, all while showcasing the astonishing camera views and angles. Lee film took a chance by speaking on such controversial topics and able to change the norm of conventional cinematography, making Do The Right Thing a timeless classic.