Spike Lee: Do the Right Thing

Celebrating just more than 20 years since its seminal debut, Do The Right Thing remains one of the most important and controversial films of its era. Employing director Spike Lee's hometown of Brooklyn as the essential setting, this explosive film masterfully explores race and class relationships. Both a critical and popular success, Do The Right Thing became a landmark film that brought serious issues in the African American community to light and established Lee as a major director in American cinema. Lee also wrote the screenplay, produced, and even starred in this deeply personal film, which was applauded for its commanding visuals provided by Danny Aiello  and John Turturro, and an assertive soundtrack featuring Public Enemy's "Fight the Power."

Including an unprecedented insider's look at the film, with behind-the-scenes visuals and interviews, this impressive book celebrates the impact of Do The Right Thing on our culture throughout the years. The film is even credited with bringing President Barack Obama and the First Lady together on their first date!

Celebrating just more than 20 years since its seminal debut, Do The Right Thing remains one of the most important and controversial films of its era. Employing director Spike Lee's hometown of Brooklyn as the essential setting, this explosive film masterfully explores race and class relationships. Both a critical and popular success, Do The Right Thing became a landmark film that brought serious issues in the African American community to light and established Lee as a major director in American cinema. Lee also wrote the screenplay, produced, and even starred in this deeply personal film, which was applauded for its commanding visuals provided by Danny Aiello  and John Turturro, and an assertive soundtrack featuring Public Enemy's "Fight the Power."

Including an unprecedented insider's look at the film, with behind-the-scenes visuals and interviews, this impressive book celebrates the impact of Do The Right Thing on our culture throughout the years. The film is even credited with bringing President Barack Obama and the First Lady together on their first date!

Library Journal

The movie came out in 1989. Now here's an inside look at it from the filmmaker himself and film journalist Matloff, including interviews and assessments of the cultural impact.

SPIKE LEE is a writer, director, actor, producer and author who revolutionized the role of black talent in cinema. Widely regarded as a premiere African-American filmmaker, Lee is a forerunner in the ‘do it yourself’ school of independent film.

Lee's most recent theatrical release is “Miracle at St Anna," and other critical and box office successes have included “Inside Man,” “25th Hour,” and “Summer of Sam.” Many of Lee's films have earned various awards and nominations, including his 1989 film, “Do the Right Thing,” which garnered an Academy Award® nomination for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film and Director awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Brooklyn, Lee returned to the south to attend Morehouse College. After graduation, Lee continued his education at New York University where he received his Master of Fine Arts Degree in film production. Lee then founded 40 Acres and Mule Filmworks based in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. Since 2002, Lee has been Artistic Director of the Graduate Film Program at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

JASON MATLOFF is a film journalist who has been writing about movies for more than a decade. He was on staff at Premiere Magazine for several years, where he put together oral histories on the "Indiana Jones" trilogy, "Ghostbusters," and "Platoon." His articles and interviews have appeared in Premiere, Spin, Empire, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe and The Hollywood Reporter. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.