Blackkklansman (2018)

Rating: 7/10 (19 September 2018)

This retelling of a most jaw-dropping police investigation ticks many boxes - namely those for artistry, roundedness and tonal consistency. It engaged me early, with the apathetic and blasÃ© persona of our central protagonist something I found incredibly attractive. His take on the KKK presence (which is advertised briefly in the trailer) never seems to tire, though the film by no means relied on this for its appeal. In fact, most of the characters (including those involved with the KKK) were well developed and believable. That said, I have a few issues with this film. Firstly, there is a romance that I did not care a lick about and seemed to be included for relief from the central plot. I found myself feeling irritated whenever it cut away to this subplot, as it felt like there was way more they could be doing to flesh out the cop - KKK cat and mouse aspect. Another big problem, perhaps the biggest one, was the political newsreel tacked onto the end. Throughout, I'd lauded their objectivity, which steered clear of commenting on the grotesqueness of the KKK and their activities. I'm not saying the KKK should be respected or anything, just that their malevolence goes without saying, really. Well, they broke cuff right before the credits rolled. The montage, which I'll try not to spoil too much, basically ended up saying something along the lines of "the KKK is a movement at large in the USA and one that our current president endorses openly and stridently". I am not a Trump supporter, but I don't think revealing your political views right before the curtains were drawn does a lot to help you. For me, it destroyed any trust I had accrued in the filmmakers. Was everything I just witnessed refracted through a political lens? I know this is a little pedantic, but it left me with a sour taste in my mouth.