WHAT I ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE MOVIE:
Just that it's by Spike Lee and about racism.
LET ME EXPLAIN...
There are a number of films on the AFI List whose stories seem tedious. Rather than being drawn into a deep, rich storyline, you end up sitting there for a couple hours, watching people fritter away their time (or is that what I'm doing? Oh well...). M*A*S*H and Easy Rider are two that come to mind, and I'd like to add "Do the Right Thing" to that group as well.
"Do the Right Thing", however, twists the seeming pointlessness of its story on its heads in the end with a climactic explosion. While I certainly appreciate the film's statement that racism and hatred so often stems from tedious, pointless differences, I'm really not a fan of these movies with seemingly aimless stories.
("Easy Rider" also has a "statement" ending, as I call it, but it's a much more excruciating film to sit through.)
What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
The racism element is certainly the crux for why it's on the list, and its illustration of how so much hate and violence can come from such ridiculous differences is done better than other films I've seen. It was nominated for 2 Academy Awards: Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor (Danny Aiello, the Italian pizzeria owner).
Complaints?
Spike Lee can't act.
LET ME SUM UP...
A tedious story with a "statement" ending. Done well, but the tediousness of the story just isn't that entertaining to me.
MY RATING: 4.5/10
TOTAL # OF FILMS WATCHED: 98
(WARNING! Clip contains profanity)
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