I really really enjoy this film. It shows us and gives us a view of an urban block centered in Brooklyn. The cinematography serves to give us this feeling of oppressive heat. Add this to the constant conflict with arguments, Sals, etc. and you get a very uncomfortable atmosphere. Not only does it put us in this spot with the action and cinematography but with camera angles and lenses as well. Most confrontations are filmed in standard coverage, however the angles are dutch with wide angle lenses. We get sucked into the character and what he is saying, its basically impossible to ignore. Also the telephoto lenses in the medium shots and outside scenes really contributed to this idea of oppressive heat that really just makes everyone uneasy. Since its a hot day, everyone is fed-up, its to hot, its just all too much. So when we are hit with this message of "do the right thing," we don't know what the right thing is. It's easy to choose sides for a minute, then something happens and your on the other side. It's all over the place, and hard to read. I feel this is perfect because this is exactly how people are when its hot and they are couped up and almost trapped, they get very short fused and almost unpredictable. I can certainly see why it was found to be controversial at the time or before its release. However the story and characters are so memorable, and really easy to get wrapped up in, that the controversial aspects seem to just float away. Its honestly to good to miss.

Mookie: Pino, fuck you, fuck your fuckin' pizza, and fuck Frank Sinatra.

Pino: Yeah? Well fuck you, too, and fuck Michael Jackson.

5 out of 5