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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 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Most Rewatchable Scene

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

Best Quote

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

What's Aged the Best

Sean FennesseyPublic Enemy's 'Fight the Power' song▶ 53:08
Wesley MorrisThe movie's timelessness and Public Enemy's 'Fight the Power' song▶ 52:01

Casting What-Ifs

Sean FennesseyRobert De NiroRobert 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▶ 1:01:19
Wesley MorrisRobert De NiroDe 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▶ 1:00:08

Dion Waiters Award

Sean FennesseyListed 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▶ 1:02:58

Half-Assed Internet Research

Sean FennesseyPresented 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▶ 1:06:03
Wesley MorrisResponded 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▶ 1:06:43

Apex Mountain

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

Joey Pants Award

Sean FennesseyListed several candidates including Frank Vincent, Frankie Faison, Roger Guinevere Smith, Miguel Sandoval, and noted Giancarlo Esposito used to win this category before Breaking Bad▶ 1:20:26

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Sean FennesseyAsked 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)▶ 1:30:41
Wesley MorrisMookie'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▶ 1:30:46

Who Won the Movie

Wesley MorrisSpike LeeSpike 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▶ 1:37:03

Movies Referenced (32)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Malcolm X (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 10:38
Philadelphia (1993)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Wesley Morris▶ 6:00
The Matrix (1999)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 0:23
Weekend at Bernie's (1989)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Wesley Morris▶ 5:27
25th Hour (2002)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 45:38
Die Hard (1988)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey▶ 32:46
Wedding Crashers (2005)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey▶ 16:35
Barton Fink (1991)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Wesley Morris▶ 1:18:58
Basic Instinct (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Wesley Morris▶ 1:13:13
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean Fennessey▶ 16:21
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 4:24
Inside Man (2006)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 1:15:17

Directors Referenced (9)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Spike LeeIMDb ↗Lb ↗57Sean Fennessey, Wesley MorrisDo the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It▶ 1:24
Martin Luther KingIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 10:33
Ernest DickersonIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Sean FennesseyJuice, Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X▶ 12:13
Richard FearlessIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Wesley MorrisLost in Space, Mission: Impossible - Fallout▶ 57:58
Eric SadlerIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean Fennessey, Wesley MorrisThree Kings▶ 8:06
Quentin TarantinoIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean FennesseyReservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, From Dusk Till Dawn▶ 50:36
Alfred HitchcockIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyPsycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest▶ 1:06:09
James DohIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Wesley Morris▶ 1:33:34
Wes AndersonIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyThe Royal Tenenbaums, Isle of Dogs▶ 50:30

Actors Referenced (50)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Rosie PerezIMDb ↗Lb ↗19Wesley Morris, Sean FennesseyFearless, White Men Can't Jump▶ 34:19
Robert De NiroIMDb ↗Lb ↗14Wesley Morris, Sean FennesseyCape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver▶ 59:56
John SavageIMDb ↗Lb ↗10Wesley Morris, Sean FennesseyThe Deer Hunter▶ 1:04:06
Robin HarrisIMDb ↗Lb ↗9Sean Fennessey, Wesley MorrisDo the Right Thing▶ 49:52
John TurturroIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Sean Fennessey, Wesley MorrisBarton Fink▶ 46:20
Right Said FredIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Sean Fennessey, Wesley MorrisGrumpy Old Men▶ 2:48
Frank VincentIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Sean Fennessey, Wesley MorrisGoodfellas, Casino▶ 38:58
Danny AielloIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Sean Fennessey, Wesley MorrisDo the Right Thing, Moonstruck▶ 4:57
David DinkinsIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey▶ 23:18
Michael JordanIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Wesley Morris, Sean FennesseySpace Jam, He Got Game▶ 25:36
Chuck DIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey, Wesley MorrisFriday Night Lights, End of Watch▶ 48:31
Martin LawrenceIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey▶ 1:03:13

Writers Referenced (6)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗10Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 3:21
Malcolm XIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Sean Fennessey, Wesley MorrisMalcolm X▶ 10:38
Joe KleinIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 26:38
Arthur MillerIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey▶ 22:21
Michael StewartIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Wesley Morris▶ 22:27
Ryan CooglerIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyBlack Panther, Creed▶ 1:22:59