Entertaining, slightly odd pastiche of comedy, drama, politics, history

Rating: 7/10 (9 September 2018)

Spike Lee has some great source material here (how was this story not more famous?) and he doesn't screw it up.
The comedy isn't laugh-out-loud funny and some more suspense could have been wrung from the plot. Because the book really didn't contain one, a big ending had to be written in, and it's a bit of a let down. Still, Lee is able to knit an absorbing story out of all the parts.
The incredible thing is most of the rest of it is true, and the two leads Washington and Driver do a good job bringing it off. Topher Grace is well-cast as David Duke, but the rest of the support is a little thin in spite of the film's expansive run time.
Lee must have loved learning about the Klansmen's "Birth of a Nation" movie night. It allowed him to delve into one of his favorite topics, the whitewashing of D.W. Griffith. It might seem a little didactic to those who already know the story, but it's a good history lesson for younger viewers.
Lee bookends the film with political commentary in his typically provocative fashion, which was jarring but affecting. Alas, he's likely preaching to the choir given his audience.
BlackkKlansman certainly gave you something to think about on the way home, like the best of Lee's films did, and for that it's worthwhile viewing.