Review of BlacKkKlansman (2018) by Circleville C — 11 Aug 2018

If you are looking for a fun, powerful and must watch film for 2018, look no further than BlacKkKlansman. Spike Lee has created a film that follows the true story of Ron Stallworth, masterfully performed by John David Washington, a rookie undercover officer infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan during the 1970's.

There is a powerhouse cast full of stars, Adam Driver (from Star Wars 7 & 8) as the white Ron Stallworth, Topher Grace (from That 70's Show), Michael Buscemi and even Harry Belafonte among many others. The movie quickly takes the viewer into the 1970's complete with the style, music, cars, and the slang; although, something rarely shared on film, this is from the perspective of black citizens.

Prior to the timeline of the movie, the Ku Klux Klan was very much known to be involved in radical and violent acts, which is eluded to briefly when it is demanded they be called "The Organization". As they attempt to rebrand themselves, and while Stallworth is infiltrating them, David Duke gives himself a new title and begins to take the white supremacy propaganda directive into the political realm.

Spike Lee weaves the ideals of the 1970's Ku Klux Klan (to politically use immigration, tax reform and other policy subjects to conceal the racist white supremacy agenda giving them more power and unsuspecting followers to follow through on creating a white America) and how that translates into today's most contentious political and racial climate in America with a very delicately gloved hand wielding a hammer.

The release of this movie was no coincidence - August 10, 2018, the one-year anniversary of the Charlottesville Rally, which ended in the death of an anti-racist protester at the hands of a white supremacist that also left 19 others injured.

This movie is real, it is raw, it is fun, and it is beautiful. The film portrays so many layers that it may take some time to absorb it all. I give BlacKkKlansman a 5-star rating for its willingness to dive into a story that is so necessary to hear at this time in America and its ability to deliver a magnificent final product. This is not a movie that everyone will want to watch, but it is one that I wish everyone would take the time to see, whether they agree or not, as it is one of the most important and powerful movies of the year.