Do the Right Thing: Crash Course Film Criticism #6 

Buggin out left Brooklyn for New Mexico and started his own chicken restaurant.

When I first saw Mookie grab the trash can, I thought he was going to slam it on the ground to silence everyone and then start monologuing about how this pointless conflict took the life of his friend.

One of the greatest movies of all time. It is still regrettably relevant to modern day life issues. One of the most interesting pieces of trivia about the movie is that the actor who played Sal didn't see his character as a racist while the writer/director Spike Lee did. It is fascinating to view the actors performance when taking into account that both of the artists have different interpretations of the character.

The bit that really got me this time is how they just carried off Radios body in the cruiser, imagine your buddy dying an unjust violent death and being denied even the most basic right and dignity to say goodbye to, bury and mourn them properly, i certainly can't. That bit got me hardest for some reason.

Ahhhh, one of my favourites. When I first saw it, I'm not sure I got it, but then I saw Spike Lee say that a white man came up to him and asked him why Mookie did what he did at the end of the film, and Spike said no black person had ever asked him that before, and insight poured down from the heavens and into my skull.

Just a small side note, no one in fact breaks the fourth wall in this film, although it would appear that is does because the characters are looking directly at the camera. However they are not speaking to the audience. Instead the shot is taken from a first person POV which gives it that sense of breaking the 4th wall.

Love this film... I also recommend Spike's "When the Levees broke: A requiem in 4 acts" on the horror of Hurricane Katrina and its impact in poor black and white citizens.... Brilliant

I walk by Spike Lee's production studio in Brooklyn fairly often--about a mile from where the movie is suppose to take place. There's a big statue of Radio right inside that you can see through the windows. Interesting place.

Comic book issues of Marvel's Black Panther were actually shown in the film in the scene where some of the neighborhood black youth says, "If Black Panther eats pizza, we eat Pizza"

One of the finest films Ive ever seen(and Ive seen many). I think the message here is that, even though people may try to get along and often even do, there is a human tendency to dislike anyone who is different and, if pushed hard enough, like in this case by the intense discomfort of the broiling heat, which amplified all frustrations and antagonisms, it can bring people to crack up and allow their dislikes to explode into violence, as happened here.

Smiley was my favorite character in this movie, he was such a sweet spirit. Second favorite was probably Rosie or Mookie’s sister

Boy howdy is this film more relevant now.

I disagree that Sal is a 'harmful character'. The montage you celebrate shows that all the characters have the potential for harm. He only does three 'wrong' things- he refuses to put non-Italians on his wall, which was his prerogative; he flirts with Mookie's sister, which Lee suggests is inappropriate for reasons he explores more completely in Jungle Fever; and he smashes the boombox, and as much as I love Public Enemy I also wanted to smash it at that moment. Raheem was attacking Sal with the noise....then he literally attacks Sal, and to say Sal should have reasonably predicted that his action would result in Raheem's death is applying a fairytale filter counter to Lee's intention. In the heat of the moment, all Sal was trying to do was stop the noise. If Raheem had been another Italian demanding free extra cheese, the boombox would still have been doomed.

i hate this because im suppose to write an essay on this movie and this video is 100% exactly what my essay needs to be in every aspect and now i cant unhear it to write my own

Imo no movie has handled racism as good as do the right thing It’s wild how smart this movie is. I wish it was more respected in film bro communities

You’ve done it again, algorithm.......

I know this channel is usually a professional, educational setting but BEDSTUY IN DA HOUSSSSEEEEE!!!

Very nice breakdown of the movie. I saw this movie when I was a kid in a theatre in the ghetto. I didn't really understand it back then, but I found the racial tension fairly playful at first and then the ending very uneasy.

I agree with the critic stating it's incoherent: Buggin' Out spends half the film trying and failing to boycott the pizzería, the characters refuse and outright laugh at the idea of doing anything against Sal, and Sal himself establishes that he has "never had any trouble with these people." Yet when the time comes, they take it on Sal for something everyone saw the cops did.

this movie is rich with potential criticism and you spend most of the time stating facts and not arguing for an interpretation

tbh this isn't a film criticism, it's just a summary

Most of Spike Lee's movies were viewed as polarizing back in the 90's even in African American communities. I'm not some huge SL fan, but I understood some of the messaging in his movies. I also think he was quirky and annoying at times. PS: MALCOLM X was his best film.

you got a nice voice dude and gave a solid analysis of the movie

Outstanding review of a great film, Michael. Do the Right Thing still causes seismic waves. Looking forward to Lost in Translation.

This video is completely unfair to Sal and the movie as a whole, and leaves out much of the context of the final scene. First, Sal is not a racist because he puts pictures of famous Italians on his wall. It's his business and he has the right to decorate it however he pleases. If he was racist against black people, why would he open up a shop in a black neighborhood? He is constantly challenging Pino's racism throughout the film, including in his very first scene. There is a scene toward the end where Pino is trying to convince Sal to leave the neighborhood, because he's ashamed of working in a black community and Sal shuts him down. Sal outright tells Pino that anyone who would make fun of him for that isn't really his friend, that his real friends are the black community that support their business. Sal tells him that he's "proud of as hell" to be part of a black community, and he shows affection and friendship toward black characters at several points. (Da Mayor, Mookie's sister) Buggin' Out is a compulsive race baiter who uses very real, very legitimate causes to start petty fights that don't have anything to do with the larger struggle. He's insecure and materialistic (The initial fight with Sal was because Sal charged him extra for cheese, and then again when the white guy on the bike accidentally steps on his shoe, which the guy immediately apologizes for) and uses race as an excuse to lash out. The ending scene involved him and Radio Raheem barging into Sal's shouting and making threats after the business is closed. What owner wouldn't refuse service? If you barge into a business blasting extremely loud music and being rude and combative after the business is closed, you're going to get kicked out no matter what race you are. I don't agree with Sal destroying the boombox, and I don't agree with his use of The N Word, but if you're going to claim Sal is an unsympathetic racist for that reason alone, then you have to say the same thing about nearly every character in the movie. And that, ultimately, is the entire point of the movie, that racism is a deeply toxic thing that is embedded in all sides of the community. Don't forget that one of the Jamaican characters goes on a rant about how much he resents successful Korean immigrants, despite being an immigrant himself. That same Korean immigrants then go on a rant against Jewish people, right before a rant by a white police officer against Puerto Ricans. Nearly every character in this movie engages in some degree of stereotyping and slur words, every character is racist to some extent, and the film demonizes all of it. Race is portrayed as something that allows people to act on anger that ultimately comes from other sources. Buggin' Out thinks Sal is cheap and feels slighted, (Despite the fact that Buggin' Out himself was extremely rude in asking for more cheese) and then uses race as a justification for his anger. Notice that his "boycott" is completely unsuccessful and practically everybody tells him that Sal's is a hallmark of the community. The only person who joins him is Radio Raheem, who is himself extremely rude and entitled, both to Sal and the Korean storeowners. Crash Course completely missed the point of this movie. It's not a simple tale of white racism and black victim-hood, it's a multifaceted story where all people of all races are simultaneously victim and victimizer. It shows us that racism exists everywhere, and that is often an excuse for people to be petty and rude to another, to dehumanize them and accuse them of the worst crimes when their motivations are much more mundane (Is Sal really a hateful bigot because he tells Radio Raheem to shut off his music, or does he just want a quiet atmosphere in his restaurant so his customers can enjoy themselves and talk?) The real tragedy of racism is that it blows misunderstandings and grievances between individuals out of proportion, leading to horrible consequences that wouldn't have happened if it werent for this underlying distrust of each other. Sal didn't deserve to lose his pizzeria, but more importantly, Radio Raheem didn't deserve to lose his life. Nobody comes out of this story perfectly innocent or perfectly guilty, and that was Spike Lee's intention. The genius of this movie is that does not offer us easy answers that make us feel good about ourselves, it shows us the difficult, painful, and complicated truth beyond race relations. You can't boil a brilliant film like this down to "Sal is initially sympathetic but he was really the Big Bad all along!" Poor show, Crash Course.

By far my favorite Spike Lee film.

I don't think this Channel can be topped. Easily the best stuff on youtube, hands down.

I love this movie. When I first saw it as a kid in the mid '90s I knew it was something special, and was probably my first art film.

I think Mookie's decision to throw the trashcan through the pizza store window was meant to divert the anger of the people (that had just witnessed the police kill Radio Raheem) from Sal to his restaurant. Thus, saving Sal's life.

one of my favorite films that I watched in film class about to watch it again.

THE BLAME IS ON BUGGY AND THE COP

The dance in the beginning of the movie... 😂

Love the star wars figurines in the background.

Finally I’ve been watching for years but finally I have the first comment!!!!!!! Now how to use this wonderful gift of being the very first......whoever you are whatever you are doing wherever you live know only that you are an amazing person keep being who you are and don’t let anyone ever change you ❤️💜🖤

Spike Lee raised our level of consciousness years ago.Unfortunately, this issue of race seems to be driving itself in circles. If the USA is one of the greatest countries on earth, imagine how it would be without racism. Well enough of my wishful thinking so lets get back to bigotry and systematic racism.

Great essay here. Easily, Lee's best written and directed film of all time. IMO. Some will say X, Mo Better Blues or even Inside Man but no, this film is brilliant.

You look like Phillip DeFranco and Joey from Friends morphed in our creator's blender.

This is an excellent movie, Im amazed I hadnt even heard of it before this series. That said, I dont fully agree with your analysis, you seem to be putting all the blame on Sal for the final altercation, and while he has part of the blame and obviously could have tried to deescalate the situation the same could be said of Bugging Out and Radio Raheem, you omit their flaws and only talk about Sal's.

I've never seen DTRT, I need to see it!

This review is so disconnected from the movie like that winter jacket is from the weather the movie depicts lol

man u aint even criticize it, u just summarized it fam

I literally watched this movie yesterday! Thank you so much

Going to have to disagree about Sal here. H smashed the radio because they came into his business after it was closed and they were told to leave. Did Sal Do The Right Thing? No, he let his anger get the better of him and escalated the situation, though I do agree he holds some racist tendencies. And while Sal certainly has the right to hang whatever pictures he wants in his place of business, he could have compromised with Buggin' Out since he did make a valid point. Radio Raheem is also not blameless in all of this. Yes his death was a tragedy but before that he was trying to kill Sal for breaking his radio, a major point you left out. To me, Do The Right Thing is about viewing a complex situation from all points of view and watching how seemingly innocuous occurrences can manifest into all out chaos. Still, the fact that we are stil debating the overall meaning of the film so many years later is a testament to its power.

love the content pls never end the series

I look forward to this every week!

I disagree with this interpretation of Sal's character.

Thank you I am writing an exam on this film later today. I am not going to debate my opinion though saving it for the exam.

I saw this last semester in my motion pictures class.

This is one of the few Spike Lee movies I've seen OldBoy Bamboozled and Get on The Bus being the others I remember, and maybe it's me but I can't say they grabbed me in any way. I remember seeing Do The Right Thing and thinking it's alright but it didn't feel all that ground breaking or anything.

Giancarlo esposito the best😎

Thx for this video, learn so much more .. want more film talks !

Nice work Michael. I will have to make it a point to watch this movie. You are really very good at this btw. I don't really remember your background even though I have followed you and Hank for a half dozen years (don't get old , your memory goes to pot) but there is a spot for you in film reviewing. My compliments to the team as well.

this dude looks like a younger version of joey from friends

Brilliant and brilliantly done. Knew nothing about this film (though love Lee's Inside Man), I now want to see this.

Was the white guy supposed to be a yuppie I just thought he was a regular working-middle class irish(Celtics fan) guy that bought a brownstone when they weren't trendy or expensive.

Thank you, great analysis of this timeless movie.

Black Panther eat pizza, we eat pizza boiiiiii

Man, how cold is it there in the Chad and Stacey Emigholz studio? subscribe on patreon to help that dude to put a heater on.

Criticize the Dark Knight.

Loud Speaker as incoming of hip hop Sal as sympathetic racist (confronts viewer to look at own racism)

... you have a thick coat on inside of a building? Just something that jumped out at me during the video.

The best analysis of the film. It was my first time watching it this evening- in full and 30 years on.

based roger ebert. miss him.

Goddamn, Ebert was always right on the money

Never seen this film but I will totally know !!!

I watched this film as a kid and, though being black, felt very badly for Sal. Then I got older and experienced racism and saw racism from police. Then my view changed and the film became a lot more interesting to me. Characters who I didn't understand suddenly made a lot more sense, and I got the resentment against Sal and the anger a lot more.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I zoned out while watching this movie. Not that I didn't like it, I was just bitter about not getting to watch what I wanted to watch. But I want to watch it again and actually pay attention this time.

I like how everything in the background (like the license plate) is slightly crooked. You’re also inside wearing a puffy vest and a long sleeve shirt. Hilarious. Super modern and artistic lol. “Do the right thing”. Man, your channel has gone down the tubes. Nice job.

lost in translation yes!

That movie taught me that you can do right by people for decades but you do one wrong thing then they will ruin you.

Excellent!

Still in the freezing studio?

I like this guy in the video,, hes good for crash course,,

DAMN WHERE'S YOUR SPOILER ALERT THO

Such a great film.

good vest

The weakest part of the film in my opinion is Spike Lee's acting.

This movies is base on true facts about living in new york city is all about Neighborhood and race its how it is.

u have to give blacks a chance to define themselves for once in our known history, we where introduced to whites as "whites" by whites,what have we ever defined ourself as that is excepted,talk to us about what we want and stop listening to the whites that push terror

I was still in high school the first time I watched this movie, and I hated it. It definitely gave my white teenage mind something to mull over though. I understand it much better now that I'm older.

I fell down a flight of stairs today

nice

Race and RIce, what's the different?

Would you ever do a series like this about TV? Just finished watching the series 'Flowers' personally the best show I've ever seen. Worth reviewing 😊

Wakanda forever!

Racism is still prelevant in America..Always has been and always will be..also there is still segregation..for instance in most major cities across America you have segregated ethnic neighborhoods.. For example New York City...Manhattan there's the Italian side known as little Italy south of that is Chinatown then uptown is Harlem which is predominantly black then there's East Harlem aka Spanish Harlem which is predominantly black then there's the upper East Side which is predominantly rich Jews..The Bronx..South Bronx is predominantly Black and Hispanic specifically Puerto Ricans..Queens has Jamaica Queens that's predominantly black Jackson Heights is predominantly Japanese.. Long Island City is predominantly Middle Eastern Brooklyn there is Bensonhurst which is predominantly Italian Williamsburg which is predominantly Jewish East New York Bedford-Stuyvesant is predominantly black Flatbush is predominantly Irish Staten Island southside is predominantly black..Boston Massachusetts Roxbury area is predominantly black Miami little Havana is predominantly Hispanic (mostly Cuban) Little Haiti is predominantly black (mostly Haitian) Detroit (inner city) is predominantly black South Detroit is predominantly Middle Eastern and the suburbs are mostly white and Jewish..Chicago southside and westside is predominantly black while northside is predominantly Hispanic and Eastside is predominantly white...Los Angeles East Los Angeles is predominantly Hispanic with the majority of Mexicans..South Central Los Angeles is Predominantly black South Los Angeles is Predominantly Asian (Korean Japanese Chinese Vietnamese Cambodian Filipino) West Los Angeles is predominantly white and Jewish...other major cities specifically inner cities is predominantly black with the exception of Salt Lake City Utah....

Do the right thing seems very similar in style and narrative as Tom Wolfe's novel Bonfire of the Vanities. interesting...

Waiting for the 2001 a space odessey episode

Sal becomes less sympathetic because he becomes justifiably angry after being bullied and disrespected? How so? What a stupid review. What a stupid film.

Korean AMERICAN couple and latinx. Terminology in 2019.

Mr. Egbert's quote inclusion was as useless as the man himself thought our reactions in the first place.

I haven't seen the movie in a few years, but I didn't think Sal's character was definitively antagonized as was said in the video. I don't remember it that well, but I thought he doesn't put pictures of Black people on the wall of fame because it's an Italian family business. And I didn't think he broke Rahim's radio unprovoked, I thought it was because he plays it really loudly and obnoxiously in the store, even after Sal tells him to turn it down. Sure maybe it's not the best way to handle the situation, but it's hard to say he's completely in the wrong. My take-away was that there is right and wrong and a whole lotta grey area on both sides (both the Blacks' and the Italians'), and that in a way it doesn't even make sense to turn it into sides. The disputes are certainly catalyzed by racial tension, but those disputes happen between individuals, not the races themselves. As was argued in the video, I thought the point wasn't to antagonize the Italians or Sal (if anyone is antagonized it's the police), but to give us a glimpse into racial tension (what it looks like, what causes it, and what its effects are) through the example of Bed-Stuy in the '90s.

The only reason you're discussing this movie - political implications. It's like this crash course on film criticism has one truly great movie and then one episode on some random good-ish at best movie that discusses some social or political issue (but only one that is in accord with leftist politics).

Race is such a problem because both sides can't leave it alone.

It is a great film, one of my top 10, however critics such as yourself seems to be unaware of the underlying racism against white people in it.

This movie is a great example of bad people (no matter of race) demanding things that don't belong to them like a picture on a wall in another man's property or disturbing the peace of others like playing music too loud in public places. Then they wonder what happened when police makes their "mistakes". In this movie most of them were having no jobs only demanding food from Sal, who built his place with his own bare hands. And they destroyed it. I don't think this is a right thing to do. The right thing to do is: get your own place, make your own money, put your own pictures on walls and see how it goes. Don't just assume that "power" owes you something. Fight the power...not.

This movie is anti-italian and anti-establishment

*Of course it’s the blacks*

"The struggle continues", eh? Who knew that virtually no distinction between political activism and film criticism existed. Another cringeworthy takeaway from a deteriorating CC. Too bad.

One of the very best of the 1980s.