Doing the Right Thing (Even Though It's Late)

Do The Right Thing, a film by Spike Lee, is a superb film that covers a very touchy subject. Many films, when they try to tackle the subject of racism, come off as preachy and pretentious. Lee's film strays from its peers due to its unique style. Lee's version of New York exists in a heightened reality, the colors are vibrant, the characters are larger than life (though not caricatures), and the camera portrays them in unique ways. Had this film been made in a more straightforward fashion, it would've come across as yet another film that tries to take on a difficult subject and fails. The abstract nature of Lee's film, while straying from what is thought of as 'real life', draws attention to the all the important issues of a neighborhood such as Bed-Suy, while not being preachy.