It's the hottest day of the year...

You can do nothing, do something, or Do the Right Thing.

I hadn't seen Spike Lee's breakout film in quite some time, but I've been trying to see films that use location as character and this one certainly fits the bill. The Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant should have gotten top billing.

This film primarily reminded me of two things I've known for a while.

1. Spike Lee is not a good actor. Thankfully he's stopped taking a prominent role in his films, opting instead for occasional cameos.

2. Spike Lee is an extremely talented film-maker. His direction and story-telling in this film are top notch. His blending of multiple characters into a cohesive neighborhood shows a Robert Altman-like talent for ensemble film-making.

Even after having seen this film several times before, the end brought tears to my eyes. This really is a powerful film that is stands up well even if the clothing and hairstyles can only be taken as retro rather than current.

That and I've had "Fight the Power" running through my head all day.