BlacKkKlansman

Directed by Spike Lee, this is a powerful film based loosely on a true story that took place in Colorado Springs in the 1970s. An undercover black police officer, played by J. D. Washington (and also, sort of, by Adam Driver, who plays a Jewish officer) infiltrates the K K K, which had (has?) a robust presence in Colorado Springs (which also happens to be a city with a large number of HQs of right-wing and evangelical organizations). Topher Grace plays David Duke, once the Grand Wizard of the K K K, who has positioned himself as an Executive Director and looks forward to the time when, through political action, his group can get one of their kind in the White House.

The film, which is fairly traditionally shot, is clearly presented to foreshadow the increase of K K K and white supremacist activity taking place today. In fact, news footage of Donald Trump and the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally of 2017 is shown in the film, and the message is clear. At times obvious and even almost corny, The BlacKkKlansman is an important and sadly timely film.

Honestly, it was fantastic. Superb story and great acting. The movie perfectly balanced humor and heavy-hitting topics while really addressing the American plague that is the KKK. Also, John David Washington and Adam Driver are national treasures.

Based on a true story, the first black detective at the Colorado Springs Police Department infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan with the help of a white undercover officer.

Not content with the battles portrayed on the screen between black civil rights groups and the Klan, Spike Lee has squared up against Donald Trump and the political state of America today. Throughout the film, there are not-so-subtle nods to the US President's rhetoric and how it echoes the KKK's leader David Duke: at one point he says he wants 'to make America achieve its greatness again' and chants 'America first!' during a speech.

The messages the film is trying to get across are not subtle, but it doesn't have to be when the messages have never been irrelevant. At one point, the true and horrific story of the public torture and execution of 17-year-old Jessie Washington in 1916 is told. This story is unfolding as the camera cuts back and forth to the Klan's initiation meeting which makes for a powerful scene of intense juxtaposition (Lee explained in the post-film Q&A that, ironically, this cross cutting technique was invented by the director of Birth of a Nation, an intensely racist pro-KKK 1915 film).

The final minutes are fearful to watch as Lee brings us to the present time and the last few shots (which I won't spoil here) left me with a genuine tear in my eye and an uneasy feeling in one of the most basic, primitive part of my being - fear for the minds of my fellow man and the state of the world I'm meant to be leaving to my children.

Best Quote: "America would never elect someone like David Duke as President." - "Coming from a black man, that's pretty naïve."

BlacKkKlansman, is great movie, that manages to be thought provoking and funny at the same time. The cinematography is excellent. The only issue I had with this movie was the pacing, but nothing major. Oh, forgot to mention, great ending as well!

Amazing true story of a small team of police infiltrating a local klan chapter to try to stop looming violence.

Driver is first class as the white undercover presence, with Washington himself oozing presence throughout as the black officer who conceives the plan, runs the show and in a number of hilarious high points gains the respect and trust of the big Klan chief over the phone.

Whilst there is arguably room for a little bit of trimming, this remains highly engaging throughout with a great script and fine performances. The amazing trick here is how Lee seems to very cleverly shift from laugh out loud comedy to troubling sometimes fairly intense scene and back without missing a beat.