Spike Lee's Best Work Since Malcolm X

Rating: 8/10 (11 August 2018)

One of the most moving yet hilarious films I've seen this year. Spike Lee knocks it out of the park with his best work since Malcolm X.
John David Washington is so great in his role. He's got a real commanding presence and I can't wait to see him in future projects. Other actors worthy of a shoutout are Adam Driver (who gives the best performance I've seen from him since Silence, although he really is great in everything I see him in), Topher Grace is haunting yet captivating as David Duke, and lastly a tiny shoutout to Ryan Eggold who is hilarious and slightly likeable (despite being a Klansman).
Besides the acting, I also thought the script was great. It was hilarious and intense, just like Get Out. The cinematography is great as well. Lastly, I know a couple people didn't like the ending. Unashamedly, I thought it was great, obviously not in a good way. It took you out of the movie, but that's what it was supposed to do. It was a presentation of sorts, like "We showed you this, now look at this and think about how we feel." It was something that stood out and I support it.
I have some issues however, none that made me dislike it in any way. I don't think some choices necessarily fit as much as they thought it did. I know it was Spike Lee's vision, but I just don't think it fit. For example, when Ron and Patrice are walking/talking about blaxploitation films, the posters of such films pop up on the screen. It took me out immediately. It just felt like Lee was saying in all caps "THIS IS YOUR HOMEWORK!" I just don't think the posters popping up was needed. Another example is during Kwame Ture's speech, where the camera shows distinct faces flying across the screen. I know Lee probably had a meaning to it, I just didn't really think it fit. Aside from that, I wasn't really a fan of the editing. It was kinda strange. It would cut to different shots every word a character spoke some times which just looked odd. It was distracting, but it didn't make me hate the movie or anything. Lastly, I think it went a bit too far on some things that took unnecessary time out of the movie. The primary example is a 4-minute scene where Lee is calling out Trump. I'm all for it, but I felt it should have focused on the story at hand rather than waste time on something he touches on at the end.
Despite that, I still think BlacKkKlansman is one of the best films of the year and I think it's message is strong. I liked that it showed both sides of the cop/racism incident. I don't think it's better than Get Out, but the importance is just as big. I had chills at the end like everyone else in the theatre and I truly believe BlacKkKlansman will hold up in the time to come.
8.7/10