“BlacKkKlansman,” directed by Spike Lee, is an electrifying film that keeps audiences interested by giving them an inside look at the true story of how an African-American police officer managed to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan.
Ron Stallworth was one of the first African American police officers hired in his Alabama police force. He ran an undercover investigation in which he managed to become a member of the Ku Klux Klan. This motion picture tracks the events of how Stallworth was able to uncover the plans of the Ku Klux Klan through a white surrogate. It also shows the pure racism the group exercises, which we still experience today. The movie shows the cross-burnings the KKK would perform, how the group further divided our country and the actions the police force took to stop them, which at many points in the movie were subpar.
The star of this cast is John David Washington, who plays Ron Stallworth, and is the son of well-known actor Denzel Washington. Alongside Washington is Adam Driver, who plays his white surrogate, Flip Zimmer. Laura Harrier plays a black activist named Patrice who develops an intimate relationship with Ron Stallworth.
As the director, Spike Lee delivers a hit, which is no surprise given his other directorial box office hits, including “He Got Game,” “Love and Basketball” and “Jungle Fever.” Although “BlacKkKlansman” has only been in theatres a short time now, it has already earned two awards: the Cannes Grand Prix and Prix du Public UPS. The only criticism I have of this movie would be that the material is heavy and a bit upsetting.
Although Lee was able to incorporate some humor, the heavy material was a lot for an individual to endure. The film simply could not avoid having a dark undertone as it involves the true story of the most divisive, destructive and racist organization in America’s history. So, if you prefer escapist movies that are filled with laughs and mindless action, this movie may not be for you.
If you would like to get a better sense of whether or not you should view “BlacKkKlansman,” Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 95% with an audience score of 81% while IMDB gave it a solid 7.9/10. These ratings are very strong considering great movies such as “The Sandlot” and “A Knight’s Tale” only received 56% on Rotten Tomatoes while other classics like “Back to the Future” received 96% from the site.
Overall, I would rate this movie an 8.5/10. Furthermore, I would highly recommend this film and believe that if you appreciate history, action and comedy there's no doubt you will like it too.
Tags: “BlacKkKlansman,” Spike Lee, movie, Rotten Tomatoes, racism