Timely, disturbing, and often funny...

Rating: 7/10 (20 August 2018)

As expected from a Spike Lee joint, BlacKkKlansman explores race relations in an shamelessly dark and off-beat manner. It succeeds in triggering a genuine reaction out of you; Disturbing, but often very funny, thanks to the resolute performances of Washington and Driver. There are some pacing issues due to some overlong, pretentious sequences, and I wasn't a fan of the ending, which leaps ahead in time to showcase fairly recent events of social unrest that have minimal connection to the story that was dramatized. I'm not saying these horrid events should go on ignored, but it was just an abrupt and preachy way to close what was a very well-crafted film. I don't think BlacKkKlansman is the masterpiece most critics claim it is. It's certainly a timely and important movie, but there were a few choices Lee made that soured part of the experience for me.