Review of BlacKkKlansman (2018) by Katie W — 12 Aug 2018

This is a film. As a movie it is OK. The cinematography, camera movements, art direction, etc. are all good. The costuming is perfect. But this is not exactly something I went to see for entertainment.

This Spike Lee Joint has ambitions to educate and encourage civic debate. There are multiple long monologues that are part illuminating and part self-indulgent. There is humor smoothing the intake of some of Spike's more pointed jabs.

There are a few set pieces that are quite clever. The film achieves a lyric quality as fists are raised in contrasting chants of power. Hopefully everyone knows that this film is based on a true story.

John David Washington does a commendable job of introducing us to a likeable and complex character of Ron Stallworth. He holds up a question into the light of loyalty to his "people" be they black or blue.

The film's content is pointedly current in debating Hamlet's eternal question of taking up arms, and asking can change come from inside a system or must be forced by revolution outside of it. As villains, the motion of this movie is made possible by deft but incredulously obvious performances by Jasper Pääkkönen and Ashlie Atkinson as Felix and Connie.

I have to ask whom is this movie for. Aside from the very young, this one is very much preaching to the choir. And as may be obvious, what is the point in that?