Do the Right Thing (1989) — Riley Cross Reviews

My Pick for StungEvents: The Heat of the Season

You want a night in where you don't have to log your dinner movie on a website just to prove you exist? I hear you. In six years behind the counter at Blockbuster, I saw more arguments over late fees than actual romance, so I know exactly what you’re looking for when you hand me a disk. You want a movie that keeps you awake, forces you to talk, and actually makes you feel like you’ve learned something by the time the credits roll. You don’t want to turn your brain off; you want to turn it up.

You might think you've seen enough of this film just because the synthesizer horn loop has been used in commercials every ten years, but you haven't experienced it until you are watching from the comfort of your living room couch. I remember editing trailers for this during my evening shift—it is frustratingly difficult to compress three hours of gas and gasoline into two minutes—but the satisfaction of that specific, explosive moment is undeniable. It is Spike Lee, uncut and unfiltered, treating Bed-Stuy with a level of affection and rage that is hard to find elsewhere.

This is the perfect choice for a "Night In" when you have had a wretched day at the grind and need to process a little bit of righteous anger rather than scrolling in silence. The music alone is worth the price of admission; when Public Enemy kicks in over the LA Rams cheer, you don't have to be a hip-hop head to feel your blood pressure rise. It is hot, it is loud, and it is deeply human, even when the characters are screaming at the sun.

Bottom line: Spike Lee poured every ounce of Brooklyn's soul into this, and if you don't feel the heat by the end, check your thermostat.