My Review on BlacKKKlansman (2018)
Well family it's been a busy summer and an exciting time for film this warm season. I've personally been running a lot these past few months, but I am back in full force with my film reviews. Some films that I can recommend are Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018), Equalizer 2 (2018) and Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018). Though I am a week late on this review, it is MUST that I provide commentary on Spike Lee's, "BlacKkKlansman" (2018)!!!
Whew, what a ride this film was! This biographical drama film is directed by Spike Lee and written by Charlie Wachtel. It is based on the memoir "Black Klansman" (2014) by Ron Stallworth. Carrying the film with style and grace is John David Washington as Stallworth accompanied by the dynamic Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, and Topher Grace. Set in 1970s Colorado Springs, the plot follows the first African-American detective in the police department, who sets out to infiltrate and expose the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan.
Stallworth enters the police force in a low level position as a records keeper. This is not where he desires to be due to mistreatment from other employees and asks to be reassigned. Eventually he gets reassigned to investigate a rally held by civil rights leader Kwame Ture. While undercover at the rally, Stallworth meets the president of the black student union at Colorado College, Ms. Patrice Dumas (Laura Harrier). After the rally, Dumas takes Ture to his hotel. While in route she is stopped by patrolman Andy Landers, a corrupt, racist officer in Stallworth's precinct, who sexually assaults Patrice and threatens Ture.
Laura Harrier and John David Washington "BlacKKKlansman" (2018)
After the rally, Stallworth gets reassigned to the intelligence division. While sitting at the office and reading the paper, he finds an advertisement to join the Ku Klux Klan. Stallworth calls and pretends to be a white man, and speaks with a member of "The Organization", as they called it. Stallworth recruits his Jewish coworker, Flip Zimmerman, to act as him in order to meet the Ku Klux Klan members in person. They learn of a pending racial attack on the student union and they must work diligently to keep this incident from happening.
The true significance of this story is Stallworth's fearless commitment to the mission he was tasked with. Spike Lee's direction is superb here, really bringing his "A" game while maneuvering this brave tale.
John David's performance as Stallworth is superb and effortless as his character stands in the face of hate with no fear.
The film is unapologetic in how it must tell the continued story of America's black eye known as Racial inequality and Racial hatred between different groups of people. Much of what we still see today and some real footage provided at the end of the film is a reminder of how we must stay ahead of our past and present failures if we are to ever have any semblance of unity .
Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman" (2018) shows us that:
1. There can be no comfort in simply forgetting what has happened and
2. No one should be allowed to turn a blind eye to what is still happening!!!
AV3 out....
