Personal Response
This movie truly made me feel uncomfortable with myself. At one point, I felt like I had to force myself to keep watching because the movie felt too raw, almost too blunt. It gave me the feeling of cheap entertainment, and I caught myself thinking, “Why am I watching this if I don’t enjoy this kind of content?” I also have to admit that the Black cultural background portrayed in the film was not initially to my liking, and that realization made me feel racist, which I hate. I should not feel so bothered by a movie like this.
I think part of what influenced my reaction is that English is my second language, so there were many moments where I did not understand what the characters were saying because of the heavy accent or the informal, non-standard English. Seeing adults speak in a way that, to me, feels improper reads as uneducated, which made me uncomfortable. And because I consider myself an educated person, I disliked watching something that did not feel educated in that sense.
From a film critique standpoint, though, I think Spike Lee did a very good job placing the viewer inside this environment and cultural atmosphere. The fact that the movie made me feel uncomfortable actually shows successful world-building, strong direction, and an effective script. Otherwise, I would not have reacted so strongly. So even if I did not fully like the content, I can recognize that the filmmaking was well done.
In terms of the story, I believe the movie holds a lot of wisdom. Da Mayor predicting things, the heat making everyone irritated, and the characters being stuck in their own ways all contribute to rising tension. Almost no one in the film shows flexibility or willingness to listen, which leads to violence in the community. The filming techniques, such as the close-ups and the characters speaking directly to the camera from low angles, were very interesting and added style and personality. I could also tell that the art direction was thoughtfully done and deserves recognition.
I’m not sure if Mookie did the right thing at the end of the movie. I think the answer depends on who you ask. I believe he acted out of loyalty, defending the honor of his friend, but I don’t think violence was the right response. Sal wasn’t entirely wrong, and he personally didn’t do anything that justified having his pizzeria destroyed. He did not deserve that outcome. So personally, I don’t think Mookie made the right choice. But I also think this is exactly why Spike Lee ends the film with those powerful quotes, showing the tension between violence, justice, and survival, and leaving the audience to decide for themselves.