Multiple genres in one!

Rating: 8/10 (2 September 2018)

Got to say as soon as the trailer for this film dropped a few months ago, I was completely hooked on the film and couldn't wait to see what was in store. Overall I thought the film was very good, but maybe not as good as I thought it could have been. For the most part this film was very interesting to watch crossing multiple genres whilst carry the heavy subject matter and handling it really well.
Spike Lee has managed to direct a film that has such a fantastic balance to it in terms of tone. The subject matter and language used throughout the film is dark and extremely strong however this is balanced perfectly with some brilliant humour that contrasts so well. The film really needs it otherwise this film could get to depressing. Beautifully shot from start to finish I'd have to say one of his better films, all round really good and actually surprisingly entertaining for such a dark story.
John David Washington and Adam Driver are just brilliant as Ron Stallworth and Flip Zimmerman. Their chemistry on screen is fantastic throughout, although it does start out in a very different place to where it ends, there is a real arc between to two men in the film. Involved in some really uncomfortably funny scenes either with each other or when the klan are involved. Both are scene stealers in the very different situations they are in as Ron Stallworth. Cant wait to see what film they do next. The other standout for me was Jasper Pääkkönen who played Felix. The part I like most about his portrayal is the fact that they didn't try to back him a cartoon character in that way. Spike Lee in a weird way, in my opinion, has tried to humanise the character of Felix ,(if that can be done for a member of the klan), instead of just going down the road of the cartoon like the character of Ivanhoe which is very cartoonish. All the performances across the board are great these just standout.
The film has faced some criticism for how it has portrayed some of the events in the film and that they are dramatised. For example the real Ron Stallworth, to my knowledge and research, didn't phone the klan he instead wrote them a letter. If its minor details like this that are being slightly changed then all the better for it. What would you rather watch the version we got with the phone call or him writing a letter, I think I prefer the version we got. If it bugs people out some much then just google Ron Stallworth and find out for yourself also show me a film "based on a true story" that doesn't dramatise certain events.
Overall I think the film is very good 80% out of 100 or 8 out 10 maybe not as good as I thought it was going to be, but that my own stupid expectations getting in the way. I know that internationally this film will probably go down well however in America erm....... I don't know. In this extremely bizarre, weird and divisive time for that country I dunno.....maybe its the right time, if not now then when. The ending with the clips of Charlottesville is extremely poignant and emotion, its a chilling reminder in how little America and the whole world has come and the direction its going in.