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‘Do The Right Thing’ With Sean Fennessey and Wesley Morris

August 27, 2019 · Do the Right Thing (1989) · Comedy · Drama · 1:40:44

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Sean Fennessey▶ 34:19Opening sequence with Rosie Perez dancing, Buggin' Out on the Wall of Fame scene, Fire Hydrant scene with Frank Vincent, Pino and Sal debate scene

Best Quote

Sean Fennessey▶ 51:28References having something in best quotes but doesn't specify what

What's Aged the Best

Sean Fennessey▶ 53:08Public Enemy's 'Fight the Power' song
Wesley Morris▶ 52:01The movie's timelessness and Public Enemy's 'Fight the Power' song

Casting What-Ifs

Sean Fennessey▶ 1:01:19Robert De Niro — Robert De Niro as Sal would make it a different movie - De Niro might be cheered by viewers in ways Danny Aiello's Sal isn't, creating a morally different film
Wesley Morris▶ 1:00:08Robert De Niro — De Niro would make it 'a De Niro movie' and tip the engagement balance, destroying the equality among characters that makes the film special. It would be morally different with easier audience sympathy for the racist character

Dion Waiters Award

Sean Fennessey▶ 1:02:58Listed nominees including Bill Nunn as Radio Raheem, Robin Harris as Sweet Dick Willie, Rosie Perez, Sam Jackson, and Martin Lawrence, but didn't make a definitive pick
Wesley Morris▶ 1:05:30John Savage — John Savage as the white boy in the Larry Bird jersey

Half-Assed Internet Research

Sean Fennessey▶ 1:06:03Presented various production facts including Spike Lee's inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock, two-week screenplay writing timeline, original ending differences, filming location details, production design choices, and security issues during filming
Wesley Morris▶ 1:06:43Responded to research facts with commentary on why the final ending was better than the original reconciliation ending, and discussed the racist nature of critical reactions compared to Arnold Schwarzenegger films

Apex Mountain

Sean Fennessey▶ 1:16:35Spike Lee — Questioned if this is Spike's peak, mentioning Malcolm X, 25th Hour, Mo' Better Blues as alternatives, but concludes it's apex mountain for Spike
Wesley Morris▶ 1:17:47Spike Lee — Do the Right Thing is Spike Lee's apex filmmaking, and Danny Aiello's best performance ever

Joey Pants Award

Sean Fennessey▶ 1:20:26Listed several candidates including Frank Vincent, Frankie Faison, Roger Guinevere Smith, Miguel Sandoval, and noted Giancarlo Esposito used to win this category before Breaking Bad
Wesley Morris▶ 1:21:05Frank Vincent — Frank Vincent - 'it's always Frank Vincent'

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Sean Fennessey▶ 1:30:41Asked multiple questions: Did Mookie throw trash can to save Sal or express rage (thinks it can be both), why is Pino so mad, how long before Mookie and Sal patched up, did Tina and Mookie stay together (definitive no)
Wesley Morris▶ 1:30:46Mookie's motivation is truly unanswerable and could be both reasons; Pino is mad because he got rejected by a black girl; Mookie and Sal didn't really patch up, just needed each other practically; Mother Sister and Da Mayor stayed together after she made him shower

Who Won the Movie

Wesley Morris▶ 1:37:03Spike Lee — Spike Lee - made his career, created one of the greatest movies America has ever produced, a perfect movie about America's biggest unsolved problem that people will still be watching in 100 years

Movies Referenced (27)

Jungle Fever (1991)

5 mentions · Wesley Morris▶ 14:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Malcolm X (1992)

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 10:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Dark Crystal (1982)

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 33:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Matrix (1999)

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 0:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Weekend at Bernie's (1989)

5 mentions · Wesley Morris▶ 5:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

25th Hour (2002)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 45:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Die Hard (1988)

3 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey▶ 32:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gloria Bell (2018)

3 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:19:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steel Magnolias (1989)

3 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey▶ 30:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Wedding Crashers (2005)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 16:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

After Hours (1985)

2 mentions · Wesley Morris▶ 33:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Barton Fink (1991)

2 mentions · Wesley Morris▶ 1:18:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (9)

Spike Lee

57 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It▶ 1:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Martin Luther King

6 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 10:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ernest Dickerson

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Juice, Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X▶ 12:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Richard Fearless

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for Lost in Space, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, The Replacement Killers▶ 57:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Eric Sadler

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for Three Kings▶ 8:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Quentin Tarantino

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, From Dusk Till Dawn▶ 50:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alfred Hitchcock

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest▶ 1:06:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Doh

1 mentions · Wesley Morris · Known for Drive▶ 1:33:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Wes Anderson

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for The Royal Tenenbaums, Isle of Dogs▶ 50:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (50)

Rosie Perez

19 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey · Known for Fearless, White Men Can't Jump, Untamed Heart▶ 34:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert De Niro

14 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey · Known for Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver▶ 59:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Savage

10 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Deer Hunter▶ 1:04:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robin Harris

9 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for Do the Right Thing, House Party▶ 49:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Turturro

8 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for Barton Fink▶ 46:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Right Said Fred

8 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for Grumpy Old Men▶ 2:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Frank Vincent

7 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for Goodfellas, Casino▶ 38:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Danny Aiello

6 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for Do the Right Thing, Moonstruck▶ 4:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Dinkins

6 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey▶ 23:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Jordan

6 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey · Known for Space Jam, He Got Game▶ 25:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chuck D

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for Friday Night Lights, End of Watch▶ 48:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Martin Lawrence

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 1:03:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (6)

Roger Ebert

10 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 3:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Malcolm X

7 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for Malcolm X▶ 10:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joe Klein

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for Primary Colors▶ 26:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Arthur Miller

2 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey▶ 22:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Stewart

1 mentions · Wesley Morris▶ 22:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ryan Coogler

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Black Panther, Creed▶ 1:22:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗