Do the Right Thing
Movie Response

The film, Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee, takes place in Brooklyn, NY in 1988. So far, I am enjoying the movie itself over the script. I feel like the casting director did a good job picking out the actors because they can play the characters well and really bring them to life. The movie itself is about social injustices between certain communities and doing what is considered “right”. One of the biggest questions that Spike Lee wants the audience to answer and take away from the film is “what exactly is the right thing?” The two quotes from Martin Luther King and Malcolm X play a vital role in the overall message of the film. I feel like Radio Raheem resembles both of these quotes through his symbolic love and hate rings. When deciding which side to take against injustice, there are those who remain neutral. After reading Elie Wiesel’s speech, The Perils of Indifference , I believe that choosing no side is the same as choosing the side of the oppressor. To many, violence is never the answer. However, sometimes it is best to pick the violent side over neutrality because at least some sort of action is being done as opposed to allowing inequity to happen. Choosing no voice gives power to those who advocate injustices.

Although I know what is going to happen in the movie because I read the script, I am still interested to see any adlibs and to see certain scenes come to life in moving pictures (for instance, the riot at the end of the movie). Some scenes that I believe were the most important thus far are the scenes between Clifton and Buggin' Out, Buggin' Out and Sal over the wall of fame, Radio Raheem playing his loud music and Sal, Pino explaining how famous black people are not really “black” to Mookie, and when Radio Raheem tells the story between love and hate to Mookie. In these scenes, the audience can get an idea of which side these characters are taking and how they interpret the world.

What Exactly is the "Right" Thing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLYTObRhcSY 

            In the script, Do the Right Thing, by Spike Lee, there are multiple controversial themes shown throughout the screen play. Some of the themes are as follows: self defense vs. violence, love vs. hate, violence vs. peace, blacks vs whites, and the people vs. the police. However, the main message that the script tries to get across to the audience is to do what is "right". Throughout the script, there are scenes where doing the "right" thing is questionable. The "right" decisions made in these scenes are subjective. According to the script, the "right" thing is to fight against inequality and injustice, even if using violence or inappropriate language is necessary. Although some may perceive violence as the "wrong" thing to do despite the situation, others view violence as a statement or a symbol for righteousness. The characters in the script chose certain behaviors in order to prove their point. Some may argue and disagree with their actions. The director does this intentionally to show different interpretations and perceptions of how others see the world and their opinions. For instance, when Clifton stepped on Buggin Out's brand new Jordans, Buggin Out became furious and went off on him. Although one could argue and say that Buggin Out overreacted and took it too far, others can agree that he did the right thing by calling out Clifton and reacting that way because it was not only about the shoes, it was about the unfairness between the residents/people of the neighborhood (blacks) and the people making the gentrification (whites). What seemed to be like a small issue was much more. In Buggin Out's perspective, he is sick and tired of his community being treated so poorly, which ultimately led him to explode over Clifton's ignorant act.