Read the real story which explains why it a boring mess

Rating: 3/10 (23 August 2018)

Ron Stallworth fooled the clan on the phone. This is basically a 'one joke' movie. After he does this he never, ever sees even a single KKK klansman in person during the 9 month investigation. Becuse he's black his partner does ALL the undercover work for 9 months. His partner is not Jewish as portrayed, Stallworth's entire romance never happened, the bomb plot and klansmens death in the explosion never happened. Boring because there was no violence, no KKK attacks just blabbering endless N word chatter. The lie detector scene, used for suspense, never happened. Boring because the 9 month investigation ended with ZERO arrests. Again, the partner did ALL the undercover work, took all the risks. So no reality based tension. It is said the operation disrupted 2-3 cross burnings and nothing much more. One true funny moment when Stallworth is assigned to guard David Duke and takes a very funny photo with Duke.
The use of Harry Belafonte to retell a lynching story from perhaps the 1910-1920 era was misplaced. He's too recognizable as a 'current' 80+ year old man now in real time. Hence, he could not have been an 80 year old in 1972. An unknown old man should have been used.
30 minutes into the film I am wondering where this 'story' is going. No KKK plots of any kind, no KKK violence of any kind, no real threat to the undercover cop which explains why there were NO arrests ever made.
This 'one joke' premise makes for an interesting event but does not stretch to an entire film. Good acting from the lead actors. Nice music tracks. Boring way too long film. Contrived ending. Could have just shown David Duke surviving and thriving currently.