BlacKkKlansman (2018)

Rating: 7/10 (25 February 2019)

BlacKkKlansman centers around the true story of Ron Stallworth, an African-American police officer who successfully infiltrated and exposed a Colorado chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970's. John David Washington and Adam Driver (who portray Ron and his partner) both deliver exceptional performances as officers who must navigate the hatred and cruelty of the Klan first-hand. Directed by Spike Lee, the film also deserves praise for its ability to balance several genres and shifting tones - from gritty drama to black comedy (and even a bit of Blaxploitation thrown in for good measure).
We're almost 40 years removed from the actual events of BlacKkKlansman, yet the film is possible more politically relevant today - and the screenwriters are intent to make sure you realize that. The script, which is politically-charged and has a lot of truth to speak regarding America's historic and persistent issues with race relations, repeatedly seems more interested in making the political point, than telling a story that makes the political point. BlacKkKlansman is eye-opening and thought-provoking - but for a medium whose "golden rule" is "show, don't tell," the film simply too often relies on the later approach.