Dana and Tom with returning guest, Andrew Corns (The Revisionist Almanac), and new guest, Sean Phillips (Math Teacher Movies) revisit Do the Right Thing (1989): written and directed by Spike Lee, score by Bill Lee, starring Spike Lee, Rosie Perez, Danny Aiello, Giancarlo Esposito, and John Turturro.

Plot Summary: "Do the Right Thing" is a film set in the scorching summer heat of Brooklyn. It's a story that captures a single day in the lives of a neighborhood's residents, showcasing their joys, struggles, and the simmering tensions that come to a head. At the heart of the narrative is Sal's Famous Pizzeria, a local institution run by Sal and his sons, Vito and Pino. As the day unfolds, we witness a mosaic of characters—Mookie, the pizza delivery man; Radio Raheem, whose boombox blasts Public Enemy's "Fight the Power"; Buggin' Out, who demands representation on the pizzeria's Wall of Fame; and Da Mayor, the neighborhood's elder statesman.

Through a series of interactions, misunderstandings, and confrontations, the heat and the bubbling racial tension reach a boiling point, culminating in a tragic act of violence that forces the community to confront the complexities of race, identity, and justice. "Do the Right Thing" is a raw, unflinching look at the choices we make and the consequences that follow, urging viewers to reflect on what it truly means to "do the right thing."

Guests:

Andrew Corns

• Host of the Revisionist Almanac
• @revalmanac on IG, X, YouTube, TikTok, and Letterboxd
• Previously on Gaslight (ep. 210)

Sean Phillips

• Creator of Math Teacher Movies
• @mathteachermovies on IG and Letterboxd, @mathteachermov1 on X
• Co-Host of The Guy at the Movies podcast with Joe and Sean or @guyatthemovies on YouTube.

Chapters:

00:00 Introductions and Guest Introductions

01:47 Getting to Know - Sean Phillips

06:27 Cast and Recognition for Do the Right Thing

08:55 Relationship(s) with Do the Right Thing

12:45 Is This the Most Relevant American Film?

21:36 What is Do the Right Thing About?

24:33 Recommended Viewing for Spike Lee?

26:53 Plot Summary for Do the Right Thing

28:17 Did You Know?

29:28 First Commercial Break

31:53 What's Happening? with Andrew and Sean

36:56 Ask Dana Anything

38:47 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

58:18 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

01:19:47 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty

01:20:34 Second Commercial Break

01:21:25 Ask Dana Anything #2

01:34:07 In Memoriam

01:35:56 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

01:44:26 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

01:50:02 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Total Score

01:53:06 Remaining Questions

02:06:18 Duncan Family Photo

02:07:28 Thank You to Our Guests / Final Thoughts

02:10:19 Credits

02:11:34 Sign Off

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For more on the original episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/do-the-right-thing-1989

For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com//post/do-the-right-thing-1989-revisit-w-andrew-corns-and-sean-phillips

For the entire rankings list so far, go to:Full Graded List - Greatest Movies of All-Time

Ronny Duncan Studios

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