Salvatore "Sal" Fragione is the Italian owner of a pizzeria in Brooklyn. A neighborhood local, Buggin' Out, becomes upset when he sees that the pizzeria's Wall of Fame exhibits only Italian actors. Buggin' Out believes a pizzeria in a black neighborhood should showcase black actors, but Sal disagrees. The wall becomes a symbol of racism and hate to Buggin' Out and to other people in the neighborhood, and tensions rise.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 21 wins & 17 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
Comes closer to reflecting the current state of race relations in America than any other movie of our time
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
Mr. Lee's movie is anything but minimalist. It is bursting with character, color, incident and music, including a militant rap number performed by Public Enemy.
– Vincent Canby,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
fresh:
The film -- at once stylised and realistic -- buzzes throughout with the sheer, edgy bravado that comes from living one's life on the streets. It looks, sounds, and feels right.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
26 Jan 2006
fresh:
A powerful and persuasive look at an ethnic community and what makes it tick--funky, entertaining, packed with insight, and political in the best, most responsible sense.
– Jonathan Rosenbaum,
Chicago Reader,
26 Jun 2007
rotten:
Lee cagily provides a litmus test for racial attitudes in 1989, but he does so by destroying the integrity of his characters, black and white.