Review of BlacKkKlansman (2018) by Terese O — 02 Sep 2018

Terrific. this could serve as a model for how to put together a highly watchable movie. interesting true story, dressed up with a few movie-esque extras such as the love story with a black power activist and the explosive ending, great cast, fast-moving script that alternates between funny and exciting, and amazing editing.

Spike lee makes this story really move, accelerating from a promising start to a thrilling conclusion, then brilliantly segueing into a searing coda that brings this 1970s story into the present. meanwhile, the 70's reign again in all their sometimes comical glory, starting with wide ties and bell bottoms.

There are a lot of afros and they look great, if very retro, on the pretty people sporting them. the sound track deftly intensifies mood and story, ranging from "brandy" to classic soul to "mary don't you weeP" sung superbly by prince.

the cast is excelelnt. John washington is an utterly likable good guy, touching in his idealistic hopes to improve the system from within. Adam driver is a more reluctant hero who steps up. I googled to find out which parts of the story were invented, and apart from the two features mentioned above, most of this really happened.

the real ron stallworth confirms he really did call david duke, the head of the kkk, using his "white" voice, and proceeded to have many conversations with him, during which other cops listening in sometimes had to run out of the room to keep from laughing out loud.

Stallworth was once assigned to guard duke, who never realized he had spoken with him many times on the phone, and did get a photo of himself hugging the horrified duke.